Ramblings

Some Striders

Since I joined Chorleywood u3a Striders in 2017 I have immensely enjoyed our excursions through the Chilterns and elsewhere – always accompanied by a pub lunch – and made many new friends. Striders Full walks are on the first Monday of the month, typically 10-12 miles, and Striders Lite walks are on the third Monday, 8-10 miles. Lunch is taken at a pub, typically about two thirds of the way round.

There are also u3a Strollers walks on the fourth Monday of the month except for December. These walks are about five miles long: we usually park at a pub (with their permission), complete our walk and finish with lunch there. Come wind, rain or shine, we always have fun.

Both groups need and encourage their members to take turns in devising and leading walks. But the thought of leading one’s first walk can be intimidating. I was in Striders for quite some time before I took the plunge. When I did, it was in response to the group leader’s appeal for a walk leader at short notice, after the scheduled leader became unavailable. That meant I had very little time to worry about it – I just had to get on and do it.

Leading a walk needs careful planning: besides planning a route, the leader must find a pub – usually in the countryside – which is open and serving food on a Monday (preferably one with lighter menu options, not too gastro and tolerant of muddy boots on the doorstep). He or she then provisionally books the pub without knowing the exact number of lunchers, establishes who is joining the walk, solicit lunch pre-orders (usually) and conveys them to the pub. They then direct the motor convoy to the start – unless we’re starting from Chorleywood or using the train – and navigate up to 30 people smoothly round the route. These are high-spirited folk, the alphas of retirement, who will not hesitate to point out any mistakes. The Striders walk leader also has to find a suitable parking spot for up to seven or eight cars, so that the pub is reached at an appropriate time. So I thought it would be helpful to provide a resource to make some of these tasks easier – including a list of possible pubs for lunch, and a list showing details of past Striders walks.

Striders walk leader’s checklist (from Andrew York)

• Plan the route: Striders 10-12 miles, Striders Lite 8-10 miles.
• Identify a pub, open on Monday and with a range of food at reasonable prices.
• Identify the parking area – ideally placing the pub 2/3 of the way round.
• Make a booking with an estimated number of walkers. Check whether they need pre-orders.
• do a recce of the route – there may be obstacles such as fallen trees, extremely muddy conditions, diversions for forestry work etc. This may also involve an onerous meal and drink at the pub.
• Send walk details to group leader (Andrew York or Rik Edwards) at least two weeks before walk, stating: meeting time in Chorleywood, parking location and meeting time for the walk start, details of the walk including mileage (before and after lunch), estimated time of arrival at the pub, elevation/steepness/muddiness/number of stiles etc, pub lunch menu or link to pub website menu, cutoff time for menu choices.
• As responses come in, keep a record of walk participants and their menu choices
• Send a list of menu choices with names attached. (Walkers frequently forget what they ordered!) – also print a list to take with you.
• Work out how many cars will be needed to get participants from Chorleywood to the start of the walk, and make sure you have enough.
• Lead the walk. After all the planning, enjoy it!

Ordnance Survey App

I am not a strong navigator, but I have found the Ordnance Survey App an invaluable help. For £34.99 a year (November 2024) you get access to all the Ordnance Survey maps of the UK. You can plot your walk on phone, tablet, laptop or PC and download the route onto your phone, so that you can still navigate when you have no phone signal. Best of all, the app uses GPS to show your position and orientation on the map, and will alert you when you stray off your planned route. Be aware, though, that GPS is quite heavy on battery use, so make sure you start with your phone fully charged. And it is always sensible to carry a paper map as backup: you can also print this off using the app.

You can find more details here.

Mentoring

First time walk leaders may find it helpful to “buddy up” with an experienced leader to provide some guidance before they feel confident to lead on their own. It is no hardship to spend a day with a friend walking the Chilterns and “testing” the food and drink at the pub.

Sources of walk routes

Here are some sites where you can find good local walks:

• Chiltern Society: https://chilternsociety.org.uk/free-walks-leaflets/
• National Trust: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/walking
• Ramblers: https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/routes
• Visit Chesham: https://visitchesham.org.uk/explore/walking/

List of Striders and Strollers pubs

So here is a list of pubs which Striders and Strollers have used in the past, believed at the time of writing (October 2024) to be open and serving lunch on Mondays. As you can see, there are plenty to choose from – 70-odd as I write. Click on the pub name to go to its website. Note that the estimated driving times are from Grove Way in Chorleywood to the pub. Note too that Striders walks will usually start from parking areas some way from our lunch destination.

This list makes no claim to be comprehensive, nor does it guarantee the availability or suitability of the pubs – I will update it periodically. If you know of, own or run a country pub not too far from Chorleywood which I have omitted and which serves lunch on Mondays, please let me know and I will add it in.

I hope that this list will provide ideas and serve as the starting point for planning walks. There is a good deal of satisfaction to be had in successfully leading this happy band to the pub and back.

Pub (click on name to go to pub website)	Location	Estimated driving time from Grove Way, Chorleywood
The Anchor	London Road Bourne End HP1 2RH	18 minutes
The Anglers Retreat	Startops End, Marsworth, HP23 4LJ	34 minutes
The Artichoke	The Green, Green Lane, Croxley Green, WD3 3HN	13 minutes
The Bedford Arms	Chenies, WD3 6EQ	5 minutes
The Bell	79 High Street, Bovingdon, HP3 0HP	17 minutes
The Black Cat (? reopening 2025/6)	1, Lycrome Road, Lye Green, Chesham HP5 3LF	19 minutes
The Black Horse	Dog Kennel Lane, Chorleywood, WD3 5EG	7 minutes
The Black Horse	Windmill Rd, Fulmer, SL3 6HD	19 minutes
The Blue Ball	Asheridge, Chesham, HP5 2UX	24 minutes
The Boot	The Green, Sarratt, WD3 6BL	10 minutes
The Bricklayers Arms	Hogpits Bottom Flaunden HP3 0PH	12 minutes
The Bridgewater Arms	Little Gaddesden, HP4 1PD	37 minutes
The Bull and Butcher	Turville, RG9 6QU	40 minutes
The Chequers Inn	St Albans Road, Redbourn, AL3 7AD	29 minutes
The Cherry Tree Inn	Stoke Row Rd, Stoke Row, RG9 5QA	55 minutes
The Coach & Horses	The Green Croxley Green WD3 3HX	15 minutes
The Coach & Horses	22 High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1ER	11 minutes
The Cock Inn	Church Lane Sarratt WD3 6HH	8 minutes
The Coy Carp	Coppermill Lane, Harefield, UB9 6HZ	13 minutes
The Cricketers	The Green, Sarratt, WD3 6AS	10 minutes
The Crooked Chimney	Cromer Hyde Lane, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 7XE	40 minutes
The Cross Keys	40 High Street, Great Missenden, HP16 0AU	22 minutes
The Crown	The Crown, Ley Hill, HP5 1UY	15 minutes
The Dumb Bell	Shire Lane, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 0QY	12 minutes
The Elephant and Castle	97 High Street, Amersham, HP7 0DT	14 minutes
The Elephant and Castle	Amwell Lane, Wheathampstead, AL4 8EA	39 minutes
The Firecrest	London Road, Nr Dunsmore, Wendover, HP22 6QG	24 minutes
The Fishery Inn	2 Fishery Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1NA	23 minutes
The Full Moon	Hare Lane Little Kingshill HP16 0EE	21 minutes
The Gate	Barnet Road Arkley EN5 3LA	39 minutes
The Gate	Bryants Bottom Road, Bryants Bottom, HP16 0JS	29 minutes
The Gate	Rickmansworth Road, Chorleywood, WD3 5SQ	6 minutes
The Golden Cross	Wycombe Road, Saunderton, HP14 4HU	37 minutes
The Greyhound Inn	Stocks Road, Aldbury, HP23 5RT	33 minutes
The Greyhound Inn	High St, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 9RA	10 minutes
The Greyhound Inn	Chesham Road, Wigginton, Tring, HP23 6EH	31 minutes
The Half Moon	Cuxham, Watlington, OX49 5NF	43 minutes
The Hampden Arms	Great Hampden, Great Missenden, HP16 9RQ	28 minutes
The Harte and Magpies	Magpie Lane, Coleshill, HP7 0LU	15 minutes
The Hit or Miss	Penn Street HP7 0FA	18 minutes
The Ivy House	London Road, Chalfont St Giles, HP8 4RS	9 minutes
The Jolly Cricketers	24 Chalfont Rd, Seer Green, HP9 2YG	13 minutes
The King William IV	Hailey, Ipsden, Oxfordshire, OX10 6AD	59 minutes
The Le De Spencers	Downley Common High Wycombe HP13 5YQ	31 minutes
The Lions of Bledlow	Church End, Bledlow, HP27 9PE	39 minutes
Merlin’s Cave	The Village Green, High Street, Chalfont St Giles, HP8 4QF	7 minutes
The Old Orchard	Park Lane, Harefield, UB9 6HJ,	15 minutes
The Paper Mill	Stationers Place, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9RH	18 minutes
The Plough	Leverstock Green Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8PR	24 minutes
The Plough Inn (required £10 deposit per person Jan 2025)	Longdown Hill, Cadsden, HP27 0NB	30 minutes
The Red Lion	Village Road, Chenies, WD3 6ED	5 minutes
The Red Lion	Little Missenden, HP7 0QZ	18 minutes
The Red Lion	12 Langley Park Road Shreding Green Iver SL0 0JZ	22 minutes
The Rose and Crown	Harefield Road, Rickmansworth, WD3 1PP	17 minutes
The Round Bush	Roundbush Lane, Radlett, WD25 8BG	25 minutes
The Royal Standard	Wooburn Common Rd, Wooburn Green, HP10 0LB	23 minutes
The Royal Standard of England	Forty Green Beaconsfield HP9 1XS	23 minutes
The Russell Arms	2 Chalkshire Rd, Butler’s Cross HP17 0TS	31 minutes
The Saracen’s Head	38 Whielden Street, Amersham, HP7 0HU	14 minutes
The Saracen’s Head	47 High St, Kings Langley, WD4 9HU	17 minutes
The Shepherd’s Hut	High Street, Ewelme, OX10 6HQ	48 minutes
The Shoulder of Mutton	20 Pound Street Wendover Bucks HP22 6EJ	26 minutes
The Six Bells	16-18 St Michaels Street, St Albans, AL3 4SH	28 minutes
The Speckled Hen	Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL4 0XG	32 minutes
The Squirrel	Penn Street HP7 0PX	18 minutes
The Stag	Long Ln, The Swillet Chorleywood WD3 5BT,	4 minutes
The Stag & Huntsman	Hambleden, Henley-on-Thames RG9 6RP	47 minutes
The Swan	56 High Street, Wheathampstead, AL4 8AR	41 minutes
The Swan Inn	122 High Street, Amersham, HP7 0ED	15 minutes
The Three Horseshoes	22 Orchard Road, Seer Green, Beaconsfield, HP9 2XX	15 minutes
The Three Horseshoes	Winkwell, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2RZ	20 minutes
The Two Brewers	The Common, Chipperfield, WD4 9BS	15 minutes
The Water’s Edge	Reservoir Road, Ruislip, HA4 7TY	22 minutes
The Western	205 High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1BB	11 minutes
The White Hart	Three Households, Chalfont St Giles, HP8 4LP	9 minutes
The White Horse	Village Lane, Hedgerley SL2 3UY	21 minutes
The White Lion	White Lion Road, Amersham, HP7 9LJ	8 minutes
The White Lion	Jenkins Lane St Leonards, Tring, HP23 6NW	27 minutes
The Windmill	The Common, Chipperfield, WD4 9BU	15 minutes
The Woodman	45 Wildhill Rd, Hatfield AL9 6EA	32 minutes

We encourage walk leaders to look for new routes, or to venture into different pubs. But for any who would like a helping hand I have also compiled a list of past Striders walks, starting from when I joined the group in 2017. Again, I have not checked whether these still work – many of the pubs have closed or no longer serve food on Mondays, and some of the parking places may no longer be available. Where the pub is still believed to be suitable, you can go to the pub website by clicking on the name.

List of past Striders walks

Date	Parking	Estimated driving time from Grove Way to parking (minutes)	Pub	Estimated miles before/after lunch	Ascent before/after lunch	Notes on route
4 Sep 2017	King Harry Lane, St Albans	22	The Chequers Inn, south of Redbourn	12 7.5/4.5	“Flat”	Chidwickbury, south of Harpenden, Redbourn.
18 Sep 2017	Rickmansworth Aquadrome car park	15	The Old Orchard, Harefield	10		Nature reserve, Grand Union Canal, River Colne.
2 Oct 2017	Green triangle at Ibstone House, 1/2 mile south of Ibstone	36	Prince Albert, Frieth (closed Mondays – Jan 2025)	10 6/4	“Quite hilly”	Turville Grange, Skirmett, Frieth and Fingest.
16 Oct 2017	On the green at Cookley Green	43	The Shepherd’s Hut, Ewelme	10		Ewelme, Swycombe.
6 Nov 2017	Car park by the Kings Hotel, Stokenchurch (Kings Hotel closed – Dec 2024)	34	Fox and Hounds, Christmas Common (closed Monday lunchtime – Jan 2025)	10.5	Two steep climbs, one gentle climb	Wormsley Valley.
20 Nov 2017	Green by the primary school, Chenies	15	The Crown at Ley Hill	9 6/3		Watercress farm, edge of Flaunden, Bovingdon Green, Latimer.
15 Jan 2018	Roadside next to Widmer Pond on B474, Tylers Green/Penn, just before Red Lion pub	21	The Harte and Magpies, Coleshill	8.5 4.5/4	“a few ups, quite short”	Penn House, Winchmore Hill, Coleshill, Penn Bottom.
5 Feb 2018	Russell Arms, Butlers Cross (now open Mondays so no longer available for parking – Dec 2024)	29	The Plough Inn, Cadsden	9 6/3	“some hills”
19 Feb 2018	Chorleywood House car park	7	White Bear, Rickmansworth (closed Monday lunchtime – Jan 2025)		“a bit of up and down”
5 Mar 2018	Chipperfield Common, opposite Two Brewers	15	Old Plough (not found – Jan 2025)	10		Scatterdells Wood, Apsley, Grand Union Canal.
19 March 2018	Car park by cricket ground in Cholesbury – through Chesham and on the right after Full Moon pub	26	The Blue Ball, Asheridge	8.5 5.5/3
9 Apr 2018	Near café at Shenley Park, WD7 9DW	25	The Round Bush, Radlett	12 7/5	“relatively flat”	“lovely scenery around the River Colne, sewage works, old industrial site”.
16 Apr 2018	St Mary’s Church, off Church Hill south of Harefield	16	The Water’s Edge, Ruislip Lido	8.75 6/2.75	“relatively flat, no steep hills”	Bayhurst Wood, north of Ickenham, Hillingdon Trail, Ruislip Woods.
21 May 2018	Car park at Whiteleaf Cross (east of Princes Risborough)	32	Pink and Lily, Lacey Green (closed Mondays – Jan 2025)	7 5/2	660 feet
4 Jun 2018	Car park opposite West Wycombe Park HP14 3AP	28	Black Lion, Bradenham (now a tea room – Jan 2025)	10.5	3 or 4 climbs, all before lunch. a few stiles.	Saunderton, Bradenham, and back along Naphill Common.
18 Jun 2018	Sarratt green, meet at bus shelter	10	The Two Brewers, Chipperfield	9	Generally flat except climb up to Sarratt	Sarratt Common, Flaunden, Hogpits Bottom, Chipperfield.
2 Jul 2018	Small car park on Studham Common	28	The Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden	10 7/3	“only two hills, each up from the Gade Valley”	Jockey End, Great Gaddesden, Golden Valley.
16 Jul 2018	Luxters Farm visitors’ car park, RG9 6JW (called Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery – Dec 2024)	41	The Bull and Butcher, Turville	9	Modest hill before lunch, steeper hill after. Some stiles	Hambleden Valley between Marlow and Henley.
6 Aug 2018	Car park next to Hughenden Church, HP14 4LA	23	The Gate at Bryants Bottom	10 5/5	“steady climb before lunch up from Hughenden Valley, some stiles”	Cryers Hill, Bryants Bottom, Speen, Walters Ash, Naphill Common.
20 Aug 2018	Grove Way or The Stag, Chorleywood	–	Merlin’s Cave, Chalfont St Giles	9 6.25/2.75	“modest gradients but a post-lunch climb out of Chalfont St Giles”	Chalfont St Peter, Misbourne Valley.
3 Sep 2018	Lay-by opposite The Harte and Magpies on the A355	15	The Hit or Miss, Penn Street	10 7.5/3	“no stiles or sharp inclines”	Penn House estate, Winchmore Hill, Penn Street, Coleshill.
17 Sep 2018	Car park behind Co-op, Chalfont St Giles	7	Red Lion, Coleshill (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays – Jan 2026)	9.25 5.5/3.75		Amersham, Coleshill.
1 Oct 2018	Four-sided bus shelter in the centre of Nettlebed	47	The Cherry Tree Inn, Stoke Row	11.25 7/4.25	“undulating rather than hilly, one stile”	Option to extend the walk by 1/2 mile to see the Maharajah’s Well.
15 Oct 2018	Car park, Great Missenden	20	The Firecrest, on the A413 near Dunsmore	8.8		Lee Common, along ridge towards Kings Ash, Firecrest, up to Dunsmore and along the Hampdenleaf Wood ridge.
5 Nov 2018	Amersham Old Town car park	13	Red Lion, Coleshill (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays – Jan 2025)	8.75 6/2.75	“Flat, apart from Little Missenden to Beamond End, one stile”	Little Missenden, Beamond End, Penn Wood, Penn Street, Winchmore Hill, Coleshill.
19 Nov 2019	National Trust car park, Cookham	31	The Jolly Farmer, Cookham – (closed Monday lunchtimes – Jan 2025)	8.6 5.8/2.8	613 feet Two climbs no stiles	First two miles along the Thames.
7 Jan 2019	Outside A&E News, Chorleywood	–	The Boot, Sarratt	10.5 7.25/3.25	860 feet
21 Jan 2019	Chorleywood House by tennis courts	–	The Boot, Sarratt	9 7/2
4 Feb 2019	Chorleywood House by tennis courts	5	The Oaks, West Hyde (closed – Jan 2025)	12 8/4	“Relatively flat, no stiles, minimum mud”	Chess valley to Rickmansworth, along canal to West Hyde.
18 Feb 2019	Burnham Beeches car park off Egypt Lane, Farnham Common	25	The White Horse, Hedgerley	9 5.75/3.25	670 feet “gently undulating”	Stoke Common, Fulmer, Hedgerley, Egypt Woods and Burnham Beeches.
4 Mar 2019	Parking area on the sharp left hand bend on the B4506 from Northchurch to Ringshall	34	The Greyhound Inn, Aldbury	11 7/4	One hill before lunch, one hill after.	Berkhamsted Common, Ashridge golf course, Bridgewater Monument, Aldbury, Northchurch Common.
18 Mar 2019	The pond in Coleshill	16	The Hit or Miss, Penn Street	8 5/3
1 Apr 2019	Pound Lane, Marlow, junction with the Henley Road, SL7 2AY	33	The Stag & Huntsman, Hambleden	11 7/4	Two hills and one stile after lunch.	Harleyford Lane, Temple Lock, Thames Path, Hambleden Lock, Hambleden, Shakespeare’s Way, Chiltern Way, Pullingshill Wood.
15 Apr 2019	National Trust car park, Watlington Hill	38	The Half Moon, Cuxham	9.5 5.25/4.25	“mostly flat but with a climb near the end”	Britwell Salome, Cuxham, Pyrton.
6 May 2019	Car park opposite the café in Wendover Woods (£8 per car!)	36	The Full Moon, Cholesbury (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays – Jan 2025)	11.25 7.5/3.75	1500 feet “some ups and downs”	Hastoe, St Lawrence’s Church.
20 May 2019	Car park, Great Missenden	20	The Hampden Arms, Great Hampden	9.5		Return via Prestwood.
3 Jun 2019	Winchmore Hill	15	The Ivy House, Chalfont St Giles	11.5 7/4.5	620 feet “gently undulating”, two stiles.	Return via Coleshill.
17 Jun 2019	St Lawrence’s Church car park, West Wycombe Hill, HP14 3AP	33	The Chequers Inn, Wheeler End (closed Monday lunchtimes – Jan 2025)	10 6/4	“some proper climbs, five stiles”	Toweridge Common, Booker Common, Lane End, Wheelers End, Jane’s Wood, Great Cockshoots Wood, Butlers Hanging.
1 Jul 2019	Aston Hill Bike Park, HP22 5NQ	29	The Full Moon, Cholesbury (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays – Jan 2025)	11.25 7.5/3.75	1220 feet “sharp hill in the morning, long steady climb in the afternoon”	Hastoe, St Lawrence’s Church.
15 Jul 2019	Small car parking area about 100m from Berkhamsted Golf Club, HP4 2QB	24	The Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden	8 5/3		Great Frithsden Copse, Nettleden Farm, Chiltern Way, St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Little Gaddesden, Berkhamsted Common,
5 Aug 2019	Car park in Hodgemoor Woods, on Bottrells Lane out of Chalfont St Giles	12	Red Lion, Coleshill (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays – Jan 2025)	11 7/4		Jordans, Seer Green, north to the Red Lion. Then north through Amersham and up the hill to the car park.
19 Aug 2019	Denham Country Park car park – try to park immediately on the grass verge for free, otherwise pay to use car park	16	The Old Orchard, Harefield	8.8 5.3/3.5	“some but not much ascent”	Above the River Colne and the Grand Union, back along the canal towpath and across the lakes to Old Denham, beside Denham Golf Course.
2 Sep 2019	Public car park, Old Amersham	11	The Firecrest, Dunsmore	11.5 8/3.5		Old Amersham, Great Missenden, The Firecrest, Wendover Station, back to Chorleywood by train.
16 Sep 2019	Penn Street, near The Squirrel pub, HP7 0PX	15	The Royal Standard of England, Forty Green.	9.5 5.5/4	“two slight hills, about four stiles”	Penn Wood, Common Wood, Penn, Royal Standard of England, Winchmore Hill.
7 Oct 2019	Gravelled parking area in Little Hampden at the end of the village. HP16 9PS (formerly Rising Sun pub)	25	The Hampden Arms, Great Hampden	10.5 6.5/4	Undulating
21 Oct 2019	Top of Barracks Hill, Coleshill, opposite Coleshill Village Hall, in the road next to the church	14	The Three Horseshoes, Seer Green	9 5.5/3.5		Winchmore Hill, south to Knotty Green, Three Horseshoes, Hodgemoor Wood, Ongar Hill.
4 Nov 2019	Wendover Station	26 or use train	The Plough Inn, Cadsden	10.7 6.2/4.5	Five hills	Follows parts of the Ridgeway and Icknield Way, back to Wendover.
18 Nov 2019	Burnham Beeches Nature Reserve car park	22	The Royal Standard, Wooburn Green	9		Burnham Beeches, NW through more open landscapes to Royal Standard.
20 Jan 2020	Cholesbury Village Hall, HP23 6ND – by the side of the road or near cricket club	22	The Blue Ball, Asheridge	8.25 5.75/2.5	“hills, not too steep, 14 stiles”
3 Feb 2020	Chorleywood House by tennis courts	–	The Coy Carp, Harefield	12 7.5/4.5	“few hills, no stiles”	Chess Valley, Rickmansworth, Grand Union Canal.
17 Feb 2020	Car park in West Wycombe near junction of Chorley Road and the A40, HP14 3AP	29	The Golden Cross, Saunderton	8 5/3	“two climbs before lunch, one after. Two quite steep descents”	Bradenham, Saunderton, St Laurence’s Church, Dashwood Mausoleum.
2 Mar 2020	Water Meadow car park, Chesham	13	The Black Cat, Lye Green	10 7/3	985 feet 875/110	Chiltern Link, Herbert’s Hole, Pednor Bottom, Chartridge, Asheridge, Chesham Vale, Lye Green, Botley. (cancelled due to conditions underfoot)
2 Mar 2020	Rickmansworth Aquadrome car park	15	The Coach & Horses, Rickmansworth	6.25	“no ups, no downs, no stiles	Bury Lake, Batchworth Lake, Grand Union Canal, Ebury Way, Croxley Moor Common, Grand Union Canal. (replacement walk)
16 Mar 2020	Chinnor Hill Nature Reserve car park	40	The Lions of Bledlow, Bledlow	8.5 7/1.5	“some big ascents”	Radnage, Bledlow Ridge, Bledlow.
6 Jul 2020	Car park opposite Chorleywood Memorial Hall	–	The Boot, Sarratt	8.5	650 feet of ascent	Back through Chenies.
20 Jul 2020	The Stag, Chorleywood	–	The Dumb Bell, Chalfont St Peter	9 6.3/2.7	535 feet 375/160	Old Shire Lane, Springwell Lake, Grand Union Canal, Pynesfield Lake, West Hyde, Franklin’s Wood, Beechen Wood, Horn Hill, Dumb Bell, Rowan Garden Centre, Newlands Park, Philipshill Wood.
3rd Aug 2020	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	The White Hart, Chalfont St Giles	10 6.75/3.25	835 feet 575/260	Carpenters Wood, Whitelands Wood, Old Hanging Wood, skirts Pollards Wood and Harewood Downs Golf Course down to A413, Misbourne Farm, Hill Farm, White Hart, Chiltern Way, Newlands Park, Philipshill Wood,
3rd Aug 2020	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	The White Hart, Chalfont St Giles	12.5	970 feet 640/330	as above with 1 mile extra loop down to the Chess Valley, 1.5 mile extra loop in the afternoon via No Dragon Wood.
17th Aug 2020	Chesham Station	–	The Boot, Sarratt	9.6 6.8/2.8	635 feet 416/219	Sarratt, Chorleywood.
7th Sep 2020	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	The Cock, Sarratt	11.5 9/2.5	900 feet 715/185	Barrel Arch, Chenies, Flaunden, Chipperfield, Commonwood, Sarratt, Sarratt Bottom.
21st Sep 2020	The Stag Pub, The Swillet, Chorleywood	–	The Coy Carp, Harefield	11.8 6/5.8	825 feet 310/515	Philipshill Wood, Newland Park, Horn Hill, Old Shire Lane, South Bucks Way, Coy Carp. over canal, Hillingdon Trail, Fieldways Farm, cross canal, Ladywalk Wood, The Swillet.
21st Sep 2020	The Stag Pub, The Swillet, Chorleywood	–	The Coy Carp, Harefield	9.75 5.5/4.25	715 feet 300/415	Old Shire Lane, Ladywalk Wood, cross canal by the lock at Stockers Lake, up past Stockers Farm through Cooks Wood, Hillingdon Trail, CoyCarp, Pynesfield Lake, West Hyde, Beechen Wood, Horn Hill, Old Shire Lane, the Swillet.
21st Sep 2020	Rickmansworth Aquadrome car park	15	The Coy Carp, Harefield	8 5.25/2.75	One climb after lunch	Round the lakes then canal towpath to the Coy Carp. Up the Hillingdon Trail to Hill End, back via Cooks Wood and Stockers Farm.
5th Oct 2020	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	The Boot, Sarratt	9.35 6.35/3	735 feet 535/200	Whitelands Wood, Carpenters Wood, Halseys Wood, Chenies, Baldwins Wood, Sharlowe’s Farm, Newhouse Farm, Bragman’s Farm, Rose Hall, The Boot, Sandfield Wood, Chess Valley, Chorleywood Common.
5th Oct 2020	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	The Boot, Sarratt	11.5 7/4.5	995 feet 682/313	Up Colleyland, Chorleywood Common, Chess Valley, Sarratt, Micklefield Green, Newall Farm, Little Westwood Farm, Jeffrey’s Farm, Bucks Hill Farm, Commonwood Common, The Boot, Sarratt Green, Sandfield Wood, Sarratt Bottom, Chess Valley, Mount Wood, Mountwood Farm, Chenies, Manor House, Halsey’s Wood, Whitelands Wood, Carpenters Wood.
19th Oct 2020	Great Missenden station by train	n/a	The Squirrel, Penn Street	10 5.2/4.8	932 feet 495/437	Footpath through town to Sedges Farm, Little Kingshill, Holmer Green, Penn Wood, The Squirrel, Winchmore Hill, Coleshill, Amersham station.
19th Oct 2020	Roadside parking near entrance to Shardeloes and Amersham Cricket Club’s ground	18	The Squirrel, Penn Street	7.5 5/2.5	500 feet	Little Missenden, Beamond End, Penn Wood, The Squirrel, back via Mop End.
2nd Nov 2020	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	The Dumb Bell, Chalfont St Peter	11 8.15/2.85	700 feet 535/165	“Through a variety of woods”, Little Chalfont, Harewood Downs Golf Course, Chiltern Way, across fields to The Dumb Bell, past Rowan Garden Centre, Newlands Park, The Stag,
2nd Nov 2020	Rickmansworth station by train	n/a	The Dumb Bell Chalfont St Peter	9.2	450 feet 255/195	Along the canal to The Coy Carp, up to the Dumb Bell, “circuitous route” to The Stag/Bullsland Lane.
7th Dec 2020	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	The Boot, Sarratt	8 5/3	700 feet 500/200	Carpenters Wood, Whitelands Wood, Halseys Wood, Chenies, Red Lion, Mountwood Farm, River Chess, footbridge by Cress Farm, Rose Hall Farm, The Boot, Chorleywood House, Chorleywood Common.
29th Mar 2021	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	Morning walk, no lunch	9.25	775 feet	Whitelands Avenue, Whitelands Wood, Barrel Arch, Chenies, Latimer, Hanging Croft near Flaunden, Martin Top Farm, Mill Farm, Chess Valley, Chorleywood House Community Orchard, Chorleywood.
29th Mar 2021	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	Morning walk, no lunch	7.75	500 feet	Whitelands Avenue, Whitelands Wood, Barrel Arch, Chenies, Latimer, Chess Valley, Chorleywood House Community Orchard, Chorleywood.
19th Apr 2021	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	The Boot, Sarratt	10.75	925 feet	Carpenters Wood, Whitelands Wood, Chenies Manor, Chenies Bottom, Mill Farm, Martin Top Farm, Flaunden, Lower Plantation, Woodman’s Wood, Belsize, Commonwood, The Boot, Sarratt Green, Church End, Chess Valley, Community Orchard, Chorleywood Common.
19th Apr 2021	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	The Boot, Sarratt	8.75	725 feet	Carpenters Wood, Whitelands Wood, Chenies Manor, Mountwood Farm, ford by the former watercress farm. Valley Farm, alongside Hanginglane Wood, Rose Hall Farm, Dawes Common, The Boot, Sarratt Green, Village Post Office, path alongside Sandfield Wood, Chess Valley, Chorleywood House, Chorleywood Common.
17 May 2021	The Stag, The Swillet, Chorleywood	–	The Dumb Bell Chalfont St Peter	8.45 6.15/2.3	530 feet 360/170	Back of Heronsgate, No Dragon Wood, path following Chalfont Road, Rowan Garden Centre, Chiltern Way, Chalfont St Giles, follow River Misbourne, Chalfont Centre, Dumb Bell, Old Shire Lane, Shire Lane or Bullsland Lane.
17 May 2021	The Stag, The Swillet, Chorleywood	–	The Dumb Bell Chalfont St Peter	10.75 7/3.75	550 feet 350/200	Back of Heronsgate, M25 bridge, Ladywalk Wood, Long Lane, Grand Union Canal, The Coy Carp, footpath to the Old Uxbridge Road, The Oaks, Beechen Wood, cross M25, Dumb Bell, Chiltern Way, Newlands Park, Philipshill Woods, The Stag.
7 Jun 2021	Chesham Station by train	n/a	The Cock, Sarratt	9.25 6.5/2.75	625 feet 430/195	Along the backs or through the town to Chess Valley Walk. Latimer, Frogmore Meadow, Sarratt Bottom, Church End, The Cock. Choose route back to Chorleywood.
7 Jun 2021	Amersham Station by train	n/a	The Cock, Sarratt	8 5.8/2.2	560 feet 395/165	Footpaths of Amersham, joining Chess Valley Walk at Blackwell Farm, Latimer, Frogmore Meadow, Sarratt Bottom, Church End, The Cock, Goldingtons, Chess Valley Walk, Chorleywood House, Chorleywood Common.
7 Jun 2021	Great Missenden Station by train	n/a	The Hit or Miss, Penn Street	11.65 6.25/5.4	1010 feet 535/475	Through town, cross A413, Great Missenden Church, Chapel Farm, Hyde Farm, Hedgemoor, Mantle’s Wood, Mantle’s Farm, cross A413, Little Missenden, South Bucks Way, Mop End Lane, Beamond End, Penn Wood, Hit or Miss at Penn Street, Winchmore Hill, Coleshill, Amersham Old Town, Parsonage Wood, Amersham Station.
7 Jun 2021	Roadside parking near entrance to Shardeloes and Amersham Cricket Club’s ground	18	The Hit or Miss, Penn Street	8	“a couple of hills of no great elevation”	Little Missenden, Beamond End, Penn Wood, Hit or Miss, back via Mop End.
5 Jul 2021	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	The Cock, Sarratt	12.5 8.9/3.6	1025 feet 735/290	Carpenters Wood, Whitelands Wood, Chenies Manor, Mill Farm, Martin Top Farm, Flaunden, Lower Plantation, Belsize, Chipperfield Common, Commonwood, Hillview Nursery, Micklefield Green, The Cock, the former cress farm, Mountwood Farm, back through back “along familiar paths”.
5 Jul 2021	Village Hall, Sarratt	10	The Cock, Sarratt	8.5 4.75/3.75		Dawes Lane, Sarratt Bottom, New Road, Solesbridge Lane, The Cock, Rosehall Farm, Belsize, The Old Forge, Sarratt Village Hall.
19 Jul 2021	Penn Street, near The Squirrel pub, HP7 0PX	15	The Royal Standard of England, Forty Green.	9.5 5.5/4	“two slight hills, about four stiles”	Penn Wood, Common Wood, Penn, Royal Standard of England, Winchmore Hill.
2 Aug 2021	Four-sided bus shelter in the centre of Nettlebed	47	The King William IV Hailey, near Ipsden	11.25 6.5/4.75	1100 feet 550/550 six stiles	Nettlebed, Nuffield, Chiltern Way, Ridgeway, William IV pub.
16 Aug 2021	Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden	37	The Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden	8 7/1
6 Sep 2021	Burnham Beeches car park off Egypt Lane, Farnham Common	25	The White Horse, Hedgerley	10 6.5/3.5	675 feet	Stoke Common, Hedgerley, Egypt Woods.
20 Sep 2021	War Memorial car park, Berkhamsted, HP4 2QF	24	The Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden	8.63 4.94/3.69	“reasonably flat”	Berkhamsted golf course, Little Gaddesden, Bridgewater Arms, War Memorial car park.
4 Oct 2021	Gravelled parking area in Little Hampden at the end of the village. HP16 9PS (formerly Rising Sun pub)	25	The Hampden Arms, Great Hampden	10.5 6.5/4	930 feet short steep climb up Whiteleaf Hill five stiles	Cadsden, Whiteleaf Hill, Grimms Dyke, Hampden Arms, Hampden House, Hotley Bottom, Little Hampden. (or 2 mile option back to Little Hampden).
18 Oct 2021	The Cock, Sarratt	10	The Cock, Sarratt	7 (all before lunch)	“undulating, a few short climbs, the odd stile”	North east from Sarratt, Bucks Hill, eventually joining the Hertfordshire Way near the A41. Chipperfield Common, Chiltern Way, Sarratt bluebell wood, The Cock.
1 Nov 2021	Car park in Hodgemoor Woods, on Bottrells Lane out of Chalfont St Giles	12	Red Lion, Coleshill (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays – Jan 2026)	11 7/4		Hodgemoor Wood, Jordans, Seer Green, The Red Lion, Amersham, Hodgemoor Woods.
15 Nov 2021	Near Chivery Hall Farm, (HP23 6LD) at exit from Wendover Woods. (not main car park)	30	The Greyhound Inn Wigginton, Tring	9.5 5.1/4.4	“pretty flat”	To the south end of Wendover Woods, east to cross Grim’s Ditch, St Leonard’s Common, Buckland Common, The Greyhound at Wigginton, Tring Woods, Icknield Way, Ridgeway back to Wendover Woods.
6 Dec 2021	A&E News, Chorleywood	–	The Black Horse Chorleywood	5		Chess Valley.
17 Jan 2022	Near Chivery Hall Farm, (HP23 6LD) at exit from Wendover Woods. (not main car park)	30	The White Lion St Leonards	10 5.5/4.5	Mostly downhill before lunch, uphill after	To the south end of Wendover Woods, east to cross Grim’s Ditch,south-west along the Ridgeway for 1.7 miles, Swan Bottom, Erriwig Farm, White Lion, Cholesbury Fort, north to Ridgeway for last mile to car park.
7 Feb 2022	Pound Lane (residential street) near junction with Henley Road, Marlow SL7 2AY	35	The Flower Pot Aston, Henley (Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays – January 2026)	10.5 5.25/5.25	“mostly flat, one ten minute incline”	The track to Temple Lock, cross the Thames, to Aston, Flower Pot. Inland path then back on the Thames beneath Danesfield House Hotel. Medmenham Abbey, Culham Court.
21 Feb 2022	Chipperfield Common, opposite Two Brewers	15	The Saracen’s Head Kings Langley	8.5		North to Apsley, cross the canal, follow canal to Kings Langley, Saracens Head, through fields and woods back to Chipperfield.
7 Mar 2022	Near café at Shenley Park, WD7 9DW	25	The Round Bush Radlett	11.5 7/4.5	622 feet “hardly a stile in sight”	Circumnavigating Radlett via Aldenham, Round Bush pub, crossing Watling Street twice, passing the site of a Roman villa. 13th C. Aldenham church.
21 Mar 2022	Water Meadow car park, Chesham	13	The Blue Ball, Asheridge	9 5.25/3.75	1000 feet several stiles	Country lanes and footpaths, Hundridge Manor, South Heath, Pednor House, past The Bell at Chartridge, Asheridge, Lowndes Park, Chesham.
25 Apr 2022	Chorleywood House car park	–	The Boot, Sarratt	9 6/3		Chorleywood House grounds, River Chess, Micklefield Green, Sarratt, Chenies, Barrel Arch, Chorleywood – or back to Chorleywood House if car is there!
16 May 2022	Coombe Hill car park	30	The Plough Inn Cadsden (may require deposit)	8.8 5.7/3.1	1000 feet one lowish stile	Clockwise circuit: Coombe Hill monument, Dunsmore, Little Hampden, Whiteleaf Hill, The Plough, Ridgeway past Chequers.
6 Jun 2022	Playing fields car park near Three Blackbirds pub, Flamstead, AL3 8BS	25	Red Lion Studham Common (closed Mondays, Jan 2026)	10.5 7/3.5		Great Gaddesden, Jockey End, Red Lion.
20 Jun 2022	The Red Lion Shreding Green SL0 0JZ	22	The Red Lion Shreding Green	7.5 all before lunch	“relatively flat”	A figure of eight through Black Park and Langley Park.
4 Jul 2022	Car park behind Co-op, Chalfont St Giles	7	The Jolly Cricketers Seer Green	10.5		Seer Green, Chalfont St Giles, Coleshill.
18 Jul 2022	Gravelled parking area in Little Hampden at the end of the village. HP16 9PS (formerly Rising Sun pub)	25	The Russell Arms Butler’s Cross	9 6/3
1 Aug 2022	Small area of common land next to Bryfield Cottages, Flaunden Lane, HP3 0PD	13	The Boot, Sarratt	10.5 7/3.5		River Chess, Sarratt Bottom, The Boot, Commonwood, Woodman’s Wood, back to car parking.
15 Aug 2022	Burnham Beeches car park off Egypt Lane, Farnham Common	25	The White Horse Hedgerley	9 6/3	“initial slope and the last up otherwise more or less flat”	Burnham Beeches, Farnham Common, Stoke Common, Fulmer, The White Horse, Egypt Woods, Burnham Beeches.
5 Sep 2022	Cassiobury car park, Gade Avenue, Watford	18	The Coach & Horses Rickmansworth	10.5 6/4.5		Croxley Green, River Chess, the Ebury Way, Croxley Common Moor, Grand Union Canal.
3 Oct 2022	A&E News, Chorleywood	–	The Boot, Sarratt	11.5 7.5/4		Chorleywood Common, Chorleywood House, River Chess, Croxley Green, Newhall Farm, The Boot, back by “many options”.
17 Oct 2022	Chesham station	n/a	The Red Lion Chenies	8 6/2
7 Nov 2022	St Lawrence’s Church car park, West Wycombe Hill, HP14 3AP	33	The Le De Spencers Downley Common, High Wycombe	10 6/4	1300 feet	Great Cockshots Wood, Bradenham, Naphill, The Le De Spencers Arms, Hughenden estate, back to car park.
21 Nov 2022	Gravelled parking area in Little Hampden at the end of the village. HP16 9PS (formerly Rising Sun pub)	25	The Russell Arms Butler’s Cross	9 6/3	1133 feet 718/415	South-west to Hampden House, north to Pulpit Hill, Ellesborough, The Russell Arms. Straight back to the cars.
5 Dec 2022	The Stag, The Swillet, Chorleywood	–	The Stag, The Swillet, Chorleywood	5.5 all before lunch	500 feet no stiles	Bullsland Lane, Old Shire Lane, Woodoaks Farm, track between Long Lane and Shepherds Lane.
16 Jan 2023	A&E News, Chorleywood	–	The Red Lion Chenies	9 6.75/2.25	900 feet 715/185	Chorleywood Common, Chorleywood House, River Chess, up to Goldingtons, Sandfield Wood, Rosehall Wood, Baldwins Wood, Red Lion in Chenies, back via Barrel Arch.
6 Feb 2023	Chorleywood House car park	15	The Windmill Chipperfield	10.5 6/4.5	872 feet	Loudwater, Micklefield, Bucks Hill, Windmill in Chipperfield, Commonwood, Sarratt.
20 Feb 2023	The Green, Chenies. Park at the Green or between the Red Lion and the Bedford Arms.	15	The Crown Ley Hill	8.8 5.2/3.6	944 feet	Westwood, cross the Chess at the weir below Latimer Lake, along Chess Valley to Milk Hall, Crown at Ley Hill, Flaunden bottom, up to Long Wood, Martin Top Farm, Mill Farm, Chenies.
6 Mar 2023	Heartwood Forest car park, Sandridge, AL4 9DQ. Next turning after Tara’s Retreat care home.	41	The Swan Wheathampstead	10.5 6/4.5	Mostly flat, slight incline after lunch	Symondshyde Great Wood, Brockett Hall Estate, Lea Valley path, The Swan at Wheathampstead, Nomansland Common, Langley Wood, Heartwood Forest.
20 Mar 2023	Northwood Hills Station	n/a	The Coach & Horses Rickmansworth	9.5 5.75/3.75		Cross country to Rickmansworth, Chess Valley to Chorleywood.
3 Apr 2023	The Stag, The Swillet, Chorleywood	–	The Ivy House, Chalfont St Giles	12 7.5/4.5	865 feet	Philipshill Wood, past Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles, sharp turn before reaching Amersham Old Town, The Ivy House, Chalfont St Giles, Rowan Garden Centre, Chorleywood.
17 Apr 2023	Willows Activity Farm London Colney AL4 0PF M25 J22, take Coursers Road. Parking “free to those using the Farm”	22	The Speckled Hen St Albans	8.5 5.5/3		Garden Wood, Roestock, cross North Orbital, Alban Way, Speckled Hen, Bowman Lakes, Willows Farm.
15 May 2023	Grove Way Chorleywood	–	Merlin’s Cave, Chalfont St Giles	10 6/4		Carpenters Wood, Harewood Downs, Merlin’s Cave at Chalfont St Giles, back through Philipshill Wood.
5 Jun 2023	Lay-by opposite The Harte and Magpies on the A355	15	The Hit or Miss Penn Street	10.5 7/3.5		Starvacre Wood, Owlsears Wood, Browns Wood, Netherlands Wood, Sandels Wood, round Winchmore Hill, Penn Street, straight back to Harte and Magpies.
19 Jun 2023	Roadside next to Widmer Pond on B474, Tylers Green/Penn, just before Red Lion pub	21	The Harte and Magpies Coleshill	9.5 5.5/4	“a couple of inclines and stiles”	Knotty Green, Coleshill, Winchmore Hill, Chiltern Way, Penn Bottom.
3 Jul 2023	Spriggs Alley, Chinnor. Parking not disclosed.	42	The Lions of Bledlow Bledlow	10		Chinnor, Radnage, Bledlow Ridge, Lodge Hill, Lions of Bledlow, Bledlow Cross, Great Wood.
17 Jul 2023	Outside A&E News, Chorleywood	–	The Red Lion Chenies	morning only		(with car/walk option back to Chorleywood)
7 Aug 2023	Burtonhole Lane, Mill Hill, NW7 1AS	35	The Gate Arkley	8.5		“Barnet/Mill Hill green belt taking in fields, woodland and historic buildings”.
21 Aug 2023	Gravelled parking area in Little Hampden at the end of the village. HP16 9PS (formerly Rising Sun pub)	25	The Hampden Arms Great Missenden	9 6/3
4 Sep 2023	Gravelled parking area in Little Hampden at the end of the village. HP16 9PS (formerly Rising Sun pub)	25	The Russell Arms Butler’s Cross	9.75 6.5/3.25	1133 feet 718/415	South-west to Hampden House, north to Pulpit Hill, Ellesborough, The Russell Arms. Straight back to the cars.
18 Sep 2023	Chesham Station	n/a	The Red Lion Chenies	9.75 7.75/2	834 feet three stiles	Botley, Ley Hill, Flaunden, Chenies, Carpenters Wood.
2 Oct 2023	Amersham Old Town car park	13	The Full Moon Little Kingshill	10 6/4		Mop End, Holmer Green, Little Kingshill, South Bucks Way, Little Missenden, Shardeloes.
16 Oct 2023	Top of Barracks Hill, Coleshill, opposite Coleshill Village Hall, HP9 0LN	14	The Hit or Miss Penn Street	11 7/4	500 feet no stiles	Coleshill Common, Turners Wood, Commonwood, Penn Woods, Penn Street, Horse Moor, Luckings.
6 Nov 2023	Sherwood Avenue Ruislip, HA4 7XL	21	The Rose and Crown Harefield Road, Rickmansworth	12 7.5/4.5	330 feet	Hillingdon Trail, London Loop at Bishop’s Wood, Ruislip Woods, Copse Wood.
20 Nov 2023	Small car park on Studham Common via Hemel Hempstead	28	The Bridgewater Arms Little Gaddesden	8 5/3	“a couple of climbs which are not too big”	via Studham and Dagnall.
4 Dec 2023	The Stag Chorleywood	–	The Stag Chorleywood	5.75 morning only		Mulled wine and mince pies at Woodoaks Farm.
15 Jan 2024	Amersham Old Town car park	13	The Hit or Miss Penn Street	8.5 5/3.5	“steady incline out of Old Amersham” no stiles	Coleshill, Winchmore Hill, Penn Street, Penn Woods, Shardeloes Estate.
5 Feb 2024	Outside A&E News, Chorleywood	–	The Red Lion Chenies	8 5.5/2.5	600 500/100	Colley Land, Chorleywood Common, Chess Valley, Goldingtons, Sarratt Parish Church, Rose Hall Farm, Chess Valley, Red Lion.
5 Feb 2024	Outside A&E News, Chorleywood	–	The Red Lion Chenies	10 7.5/2.5	750 feet 650/100	Colley Land, Chorleywood Common, Chess Valley, Goldingtons, Sarratt Parish Church, Commonwood, Penmans Green, Rose Hall Farm.
19 Feb 2024	Chinnor Hill Nature Reserve car park	40	The Lions of Bledlow, Bledlow	8.5 7/1.5	“some steep ascents”	Radnage, Bledlow Ridge, Bledlow.
4 Mar 2024	Car park, Stony Lane, Little Chalfont	6	The Crown Ley Hill	8.8 4.9/3.9	“three hills before lunch, three after”	Latimer Road weir, Chess Valley Walk, Latimer House, Ley Hill, Chenies Bottom, Stony Lane.
18 Mar 2024	Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre HP4 1LT	32	The Bridgewater Arms Little Gaddesden	8 6/2	“some hills but no steep gradients and no stiles”	Aldbury, the Ridgeway, Paul’s Knob, turn eastwards without climbing Ivanhoe Beacon.
15 Apr 2024	On the road near the Chilterns Fox, Ibstone, HP14 3XT	33	The Bull and Butcher, Turville	8 4/4	900 feet several hills, two stiles	Turville, back via Fingest.
20 May 2024	The Red Lion Shreding Green	22	The Red Lion Shreding Green	7.5 all before lunch		Temple Gardens, north into Black Park, coffee break at lakeside cafe after 4 miles, Langley Country Park.
3 Jun 2024	Hughenden Parish Council Office Car Park, The Common, Great Kingshill, HP15 6EN	25	The Cross Keys Great Missenden	10.5 6.25/4.25	“A couple of short, steep inclines, 500m road walking with no pavement”	Prestwood Nature Reserve loop. From Great Kingshill, through Nanfan Wood, Great Missenden, back through little Missenden.
17 Jun 2024	Chinnor Hill Nature Reserve Car Park at the far end of Hill Top Lane, Chinnor	44	The Lions of Bledlow, Bledlow	9 7.5/1.5	Some climbs	Walk south to join the Bledlow Circular Ride, Town End, Radnage, up to Bledlow Ridge, Princes Risborough Golf Course, Lions of Bledlow.
1 Jul 2024	Fingest	39	The Stag & Huntsman, Hambleden	10.3 6.8/3.5		Frieth, Moor Common, Moor Wood, Rotten Row, Hambleden.
15 Jul 2024	Top of Toms Lane, Bedmond	20	The Saracen’s Head Kings Langley	10.5 5.5/5	Mostly flat	Anticlockwise: north, Grand Union Canal, Saracen’s Head, Grand Union Canal.
5 Aug 2024	Batchwood Hall, AL3 5XA – first car park on the right-hand side	28	The Elephant and Castle Wheathampstead,	10 5.75/4.25	Generally flat, ascent of just over 500 feet	South towards St Albans, north-east past Childwickbury and Childwick Green, to south end of Harpenden Common, Elephant and Castle, back via Nomansland Common and Heartwood Forest.
19 Aug 2024	Langley Grove, Sandridge, AL4 9DU	33	The Crooked Chimney Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City,	8 5/3	Largely flat. One short, sharp climb. 1 stile
2 Sep 2024	National Trust Ashridge Estate near cafe	32	The Greyhound Inn, Aldbury	10.25	“more hills than usual”	Around Ashridge estate: Ivinghoe Beacon, the Ridgeway, Greyhound Inn.
16 Sep 2024	Flaunden Lane, Bovingdon, adjacent to Bryfield Cottages, HP3 0PD	14	The Boot, Sarratt	9 6/3	Hill to Goldingtons in Sarratt. No stiles	Down to River Chess via Flaunden and mini-observatory. Follow Chess to Sarratt Bottom, passing old cress farm, up to Goldingtons, The Boot, back via Belsize.
7 Oct 2024	Mayne Avenue behind Waitrose (AL3 4JZ) off King Harry Lane	21	The Six Bells St Albans	9 6/3	“mild gradients and no stiles”	“much of the walking is on gravelled paths, so more weather proof than some routes”
21 Oct 2024	Gravelled parking area in Little Hampden at the end of the village. HP16 9PS (formerly Rising Sun pub)	25	The Hampden Arms Great Missenden	8.5 6.5/2	“undulating, 900 feet ascent, nothing particularly steep” two stiles	To Speen across low ridges, taking in a historic house and 12th century church.
4 Nov 2024	Outside A&E News, Chorleywood	–	The Bricklayers Arms Flaunden	12.5	“usual Chess valley climbs”	Chenies, Flaunden.
18 Nov 2024	By the verge on School Lane near Holy Trinity Church, Seer Green	13	The White Hart, Chalfont St Giles	8.5 6/2.5	“just under 400 feet of ascent” no stiles	Outskirts of Beaconsfield, Three Households, White Hart, outskirts of Jordans.
2 Dec 2024	The Stag, Chorleywood	–	The Stag Chorleywood	Long 7: 3.75/3.25 Short 4.6: 2.8/1.8	Long 600 feet Short 400 feet	Long: back of Heronsgate, No Dragon Wood, Old Shire Lane, left to Maple Cross and Woodoaks. Back via M25 bridge, No Dragon Wood, Old Shire Lane. Short: Bullsland Farm, Old Shire Lane, Nathan’s Farm, No Dragon Wood, M25 bridge, Woodoaks Farm. Mulled wine and mince pies at Woodoaks Farm.
20 Jan 2025	Roadside next to Widmer Pond on B474, Tylers Green/Penn, just before Red Lion pub	21	The Harte and Magpies, Coleshill	8.5 4.5/4	700 feet 213 metres	Penn House, Winchmore Hill, Coleshill, Harte and Magpies, Penn Bottom. Not too muddy in January.
3 Feb 2025	Prestwood Reserve car park and picnic site HP16 0JA	28	The Plough Inn Cadsden (may require deposit)	11 6/5	“steep climbs, plenty of hills”	Speen, north through woods to the Plough, uphill, through woods to Hampden House, descent across open fields to Hampden Common.
17 Feb 2025	Bullsland Hall, Chorleywood	–	The White Hart, Chalfont St Giles	9.3 6/3.3		Bullsland Lane, Old Shire Lane, Horn Hill, Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Newlands Park.
3 Mar 2025	Car park opposite Hill Farm Cafe, Northchurch off B4506, HP4 1LS	34	The Greyhound Inn, Aldbury	10.5 7/3.5	“required good levels of fitness and agility. Some hills.”	Aldbury Nowers nature reserve, Pitstone Hill, Stocks Road, Bridgewater Monument, Aldbury, Thunderdell Wood, Berkhamsted Common
17 Mar 2025	Car park in Hodgemoor Woods, on Bottrells Lane out of Chalfont St Giles	12	The Ivy House, Chalfont St Giles	9 6.5/2.5	some hills	Amersham Old Town, Little Chalfont, Ivy House.
7 Apr 2025	Car park on Byslips Road, Studham Common.	28	The Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden	11 7.5/3.5	“mainly flat, a couple of medium hills, one steeper hill after lunch. 1 stile.”	Great Bradwins Wood, skirting Jockey End, the edge of Great Gaddesden, crossing the Gade, Amaravati Monastery, Nettleden, Little Gaddesden, Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden Church, Gade Valley, Studham School.
5 May 2025	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	–	The White Hart, Chalfont St Giles	10 6.75/3.25	835 feet 575/260	Carpenters Wood, Whitelands Wood, left following railway after Barrel Arch, Long Walk, Burtons Lane, Harewood Downs Golf Course down to A413, Misbourne Farm, Hill Farm, White Hart, Chiltern Way, Newlands Park, Philipshill Wood, Chorleywood.
19 May 2025	Grovewood Close	–	The Crown at Ley Hill	8.5	250 metres	Chorleywood to Chesham via Flaunden and Ley Hill. Train back from Chesham.
2 Jun 2025	Austins Mead, Bovingdon, HP3 0JX	18	The Anchor Bourne End	9 6.5/2.5	Mostly flat	Bovingdon Green, Whelpley Hill, cross A41, Grand Union Canal, Bourne End, cross A41, Little Hay golf course.
16 Jun 2025	Golden Cross pub (permission needed) Wycombe Road, Saunderton, HP14 4HU	37	The Lions of Bledlow, Bledlow	9.9 5.5/4.4	Short hill at the start, then mostly flat	Loosley Green, Horsenden Manor, Bledlow, return via the valley.
7 Jul 2025	Flaunden Lane, Bovingdon, adjacent to Bryfield Cottages, HP3 0PD	14	The Boot, Sarratt	9 6/3	Some hills	Flaunden, down to the Chess, the old cress farm, Sarratt Bottom, up to Sarratt, Chipperfield Common, Belsize, Woodman’s Wood.
21 Jul 2025	Chesham Station	n/a	The Bedford Arms Chenies	9	400 feet	Old Chesham, Chesham Moor, Latimer, Sarratt Bottom, Chenies, back through Carpenters Wood.
4 Aug 2025	Chipperfield Common, opposite Two Brewers	15	The Paper Mill Apsley	12 7.5/4.5		Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead, Grand Union Canal, Apsley, back through paths and fields.
18 Aug 2025	Tring Park car park, Hastoe Lane, Tring near HP23 6AP	33	The White Lion St Leonards	9.5 6.5/3		Climbs to a viewpoint, Wigginton, loop round Cholesbury Fort, St Leonards, easy 3 miles back to Tring Park.
1 Sep 2025	Gravelled parking area in Little Hampden at the end of the village. HP16 9PS (formerly Rising Sun pub)	25	The Hampden Arms Great Missenden	8.5 6.5/2	“undulating, 900 feet ascent, nothing particularly steep” two stiles	To Speen across low ridges, taking in a historic house and 12th century church.
15 Sep 2025	Rickmansworth Aquadrome car park	15	The Artichoke Croxley Green	8.5 5.5/3	“largely flat”	Grand Union Canal, West Herts golf course, Croxley Green, River Chess, Scotsbridge playing fields, Rickmansworth.
6 Oct 2025	Water Meadow car park, Chesham	13	The Blue Ball, Asheridge	10 6/4	1,047 feet 319 metres “energetic”	Medieval settlement, Herbert’s Hole, Pednor House, Chartridge, Asheridge, Lowndes Park, Chesham.
20 Oct 2025	Outside A&E News, Chorleywood	–	The Bricklayers Arms Flaunden	10 5/5	Some hills	Whitelands Avenue, Carpenters Wood, Barrel Arch, Chenies Manor, Flaunden, Chiltern Way, Sarratt, across New Road, cross the Chess, up to Chorleywood House.
3 Nov 2025	Village Hall car park, Naphill. HP14 4SX	26	The Le De Spencers Downley Common, High Wycombe	10 7/3	971 feet “a couple of steepish short climbs”, five stiles	Around the Hughenden Valley, through North Dean, Speen, the pastures of the Horses Trust, Park Woods, Downley Common, up through the woods of Hughenden Manor.
17 Nov 2025	Chipperfield Common, opposite Two Brewers WD4 9BU	15	The Cock, Sarratt	8 6/2.5	500 feet One hill before lunch, one after. three stiles	Towards Bovingdon, south towards Flaunden, Flaunden Church, down to the Chess and up to The Cock Inn, Chiltern Way around Sarratt, Chipperfield Common.
1 Dec 2025	The Stag, Chorleywood	–	The Stag Chorleywood	6.75 4.25/2.5	583 feet	Philipshill Wood, alongside Chiltern Open Air Museum, through Horn Hill to Maple Cross, Woodoaks Farm, M25 footbridge, No Dragon Wood, Old Shire Lane, Bullsland Lane, The Stag.
1 Dec 2025	The Stag, Chorleywood	–	The Stag Chorleywood	4.6 2.8/1.8	“a little over 400 feet”	Bullsland Farm, Nathan’s Farm, No Dragon Wood, M25 footbridge, Woodoaks Farm, path behind Heronsgate, The Stag.
5 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026
2 Feb 2026
16 Feb 2026
2 Mar 2026
16 Mar 2026
20 Apr 2026
4 May 2026
	to be continued…

If you live in the UK and are no longer working full time, I enthusiastically recommend joining the u3a. Your local group is very likely to have at least one walking group, and many other activities. If you live in or near Chorleywood, you can join here.

Happy Striding and Strolling!

Addendum: Chorleywood u3a: walk leader role description and checklist

(courtesy of Alun Price-Davies, Spring 2021)

Suggested safety information for those joining a u3a walk

“Individuals are responsible for their own safety on a walk. The leader of the U3A walk will lead the walk and may carry a basic first aid kit but may not have specific medical training or a first aid qualification. The walk leader will show the group the way on the walk but the individual should be careful in following the leader and should know their own capabilities and limitations.

Walks organised by U3A groups automatically have public liability insurance cover, provided the walkers are U3A members. However, this is not a personal accident insurance and all members walk at their own risk.

Members are requested to walk behind the leader, to stay with the group at all times, and to notify the leader if they leave the walk.

Should any member have any underlying health problems they should ensure that they bring any medication they might need, and that either the walk leader or a trusted companion knows what to do in the event of any problem.

Members should carry with them an emergency contact name and telephone number giving details of any medication or long standing conditions such as diabetes or asthma. Contact details may be stored on a card or mobile phone under “ICE” (In Case of Emergency).

Bring adequate drinks, especially in the warmer weather, as it is easy to become dehydrated without realising it. It is also a good idea to bring a banana, an apple or a snack.

Enjoy the walk!”

Planning

When selecting a route think carefully about the following:-

• the availability of paths or open country as road traffic can pose a hazard.
• are the start and finish points safe places for a group to congregate?
• is the pub open on the day of the walk?
• has lunch been booked at the pub, with advance orders if required?
• has the leader got the phone number of the pub in case of emergency?
• is the length of the walk suitable for the capability and experience of the group.
• plan for alternative and escape routes should the weather conditions deteriorate or there is an incident requiring a change of plan.
• recce the whole route

When walking in remote areas – even in the Chiltern Hills – it is advisable that at least one person in the group has some basic competence in First Aid. The application of those skills in remote areas and in wet, cold or windy weather, can be a challenge when dealing with emergencies and any illness or injury is potentially more dangerous and difficult to deal with.

Check your mobile phone is fully charged on the day of the walk, and encourage the walkers to carry their mobile phones in case they become separated from the group. The leader should have a record of their mobile phone numbers in their phone’s contacts.

Carry mobile phone to record and report any unexpected hazard or obstacle along a footpath.

Preparation

The u3a have issued a Walk Leader Risk Assessment checklist which you can download here (login required). Walk leaders should carry a map, compass, whistle, mobile phone, portable phone charger and a basic first aid kit.

Ready-made first aid kits for walkers are available from outdoor shops; you can buy a St John Ambulance First Aid kit suitable for walkers and walk leaders here.

u3a walking groups are not required to have people trained in first aid, and the insurance advice is to contact the emergency services immediately on 999 or 112 in the event of a serious incident, even if there happens to be a member present who has attended a first aid course.

It is recommended that you attend a practical training course such as those offered by the Red Cross, St John’s Ambulance Brigade and specialist training companies.

It is important to ensure that everyone understands what will be encountered during the walk and is confident that this is within his their abilities. Warn walkers about possible hazards on the walk such as stiles, and if walking by water, they should be made aware of narrow or uneven footpaths, towpath mooring posts etc.

Incident Management

Even a relatively small incident can be exacerbated by other factors or trigger other events. Walk leaders will need to make decisions about the most appropriate course of action. You will need to balance the range of risks for all concerned – sometimes a daunting task.

The first priority is to move everyone away from immediate danger. Next, assess the state of the injured person and apply standard first aid practice.

Clearing a blocked airway is probably the most important life-saving action a first-aider can take. Most blocked airways can be cleared by following simple, basic manoeuvres. The three common techniques – tipping the head back, chin lift and jaw thrust – are best learned on a practical first aid training course.

u3a have issued an advice sheet covering first aid which you can find here.

In the event of an accident or a U3A member being taken seriously ill, contact the emergency services immediately on 999 or 112. State your location giving at least one of these:

• address and postcode – if relevant
• map reference (if you are confident that you can give an accurate number)
• as precise a description as you can
• What3words location

and then

• give your phone number or the phone number you are calling from
• as clearly and concisely as you can, state what has happened.

First aid treatment should only be administered under direction from the emergency services, unless you are facing an emergency i.e. the casualty is struggling to breathe normally or is unconscious or has severe bleeding. If a trained first aider is present then that person should be the one to make the emergency call and follow any instructions. In the event of a fall, keep the person warm and dry and do not attempt to move the person unless they are in immediate danger.

Treating Injuries: First Aid advice provided by the British Red Cross

Heart attack

• Call 999 or 112.
• Sit them down leaning against a tree or the legs or back of another walker.
• Offer them an aspirin (300mg) to chew slowly.
• Give constant reassurance and prepare to resuscitate if necessary.

Fractures

• Immobilise the injured part.
• Try to support the injury with items of clothing to prevent unnecessary movement.
• As soon as possible call 999 or 112.
• For upper arm injuries encourage them to support the limb with their hand.

Bleeding

• Put pressure on the wound with whatever is available to stop or slow down the flow of blood.
• As soon as possible call 999 or 112.
• Keep pressure on the wound until help arrives.

Shock

• Treat the cause.
• Help them to lie down. Raise and support the legs.
• Reassure them. Do not give them anything to eat or drink.
• Call 999 or 112 and prepare to resuscitate if necessary.

Sprains and strains

• Rest the injured part.
• Ice – the best thing is ice but failing that use a cold wet cloth.
• Comfortably support.
• Elevate injured part.

Hypothermia

• Call 999 or 112.
• Try to warm them up gradually.
• Take them to a sheltered place, remove and replace any wet clothing.
• Wrap them in an emergency blanket or use any other insulating material; dry leaves, heather, remember to cover their head and to put insulating items underneath them.
• Give warm drinks and high energy foods.

Heat exhaustion

• Call 999 or 112.
• Help them to a cool place in the shade, get them to lie down and raise their legs.
• Give water in small amounts frequently until they recover.

Administering first aid does not invalidate U3A insurance. It is better to do something than nothing.

Conclusion

Walking with the U3A is the most popular, enjoyable and safest form of physical exercise. However, in view of the age group of U3A walkers, the walk leaders should be aware of possible health and safety issues and how to deal with accidents and incidents.