Wendover Woods and Cobblers Pits, Chilterns

Description

Start: Wendover Library car park, High Street, Wendover (HP22 6DU). Grid ref: SP 868 077

(D/A) From the car park entrance, turn right down the High St to the mini roundabout by the Clock Tower. Turn right along Tring Rd for over 400m to a pedestrian crossing just after Manor Rd on the left.

(1) Turn right up Colet Rd, first left into Barlow Rd and then straight ahead along Beechwood Lane.

(2) At the end of the lane bear right uphill on a wide track for 40m to a major crossing track. Cross it and climb the very steep path into Wendover Woods (A). At the top of the hill the path meets a major track, the Hill Fort Trail.

(3) Turn left along the major track for about 80 meters to an information board on the right. It is worth taking time to explore the Boddington Hill Fort (B). After exploring, leave the information board behind and take the main track directly ahead. Stay on it for nearly 1km to reach the Information Point near the Cafe in the Woods, where refreshments and toilets are available.

(4) Turn left in front of the Information point/parking pay station towards the car park. Turn right before you reach the car park, walking to the right of the road to the exit road. Cross the road.

(5) You can visit the highest point in the Chilterns from here, though it can be difficult to find. If you want to skip it, turn left and follow the instructions from the Waypoint (6).

''To visit the high point, turn right along the road walking wood-side of the fence between woods and road. Ignore the first path on the left that leads to a picnic area. As the road turns right, bear left into the woods and follow the path to the stones marking Haddington Hill the highest point in the Chilterns (C). Return to the road and turn right."

(6) Continue past the entry barrier and along the tarmac entrance road for 500m. Where it dips down to the left, take a path leading off right past a wooden barrier into woodland and follow it for 200m to a crossing footpath. The path to the right is not well marked, so be alert.

(7) Take the right-hand path up to a gate and into a field. Cross the field to the left of a triangulation point (concrete pyramid) to a stile in the corner of the field. Cross a driveway to the road, turning left for 10m before taking the wide track off to the right. Walk parallel with the car park.

(8) Shortly past the end of the car park take the footpath sharp left, initially between wooden barriers. Descend the hill for 500m to a fork. Bear left towards the golf course clubhouse. Cross the course following the white post markers and a square white sign. Go through a gap in the hedge and follow the path directly ahead between hedgerow and field down to a gate and the B4009 Upper Icknield Way.

(9) Taking great care, cross the road to the pavement on the other side and walk uphill to the road to Wendover Woods. (An option in June is to visit the Aston Clinton Ragpits (D) to see the orchids.) Turn right through a kissing gate and follow the path as it winds downhill through woodland and Cobblers' Pits (E) to the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal (F).

(10) Go through a gate, turn left and follow the canal towpath for 1.6 km to Halton village (G). Cross the road and take the towpath on the opposite bank (H). Continue along the canal for 2.5km to the canal head.

(11) Take the slope up to the road (Wharf Road). Turn left to return to cars parked in Tring Road or, to return to the library, turn right and walk along the pavement to a T-junction at the Aylesbury Road. Turn left to the Clock Tower roundabout and turn right up the High Street to return to the car park. (D/A)

"We hope you have enjoyed your walk. Please remember to rate the walk and add comments. We are interested in how we could improve the instructions or the route and would like to hear about any issues with paths on the walk."