Henley-on-Thames to Watlington, along the

Oxfordshire Way (10.5 miles). There is a railway station in

Henley with regular trains from London Paddington (via

Twyford). There is car parking at the railway station.

From Henley the route climbs up into the Chiltern Hills,

passing through beech woodlands, with some spectacular

views. From Christmas Common you will drop back down, to

the historic market town of Watlington.

Where to Stay: The Fox & Hounds Hotel in Watlington is

popular with walkers and does evening meals

www.thefatfoxinn.co.uk

an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.chilternsaonb.org

From Watlington to Wallingford along The Ridgeway

National Trail (11 miles).

From Watlington, the first 3 miles of The Ridgeway is level

and straight with hedgerows each side and occasional views

of the wooded hills. From North Farm (just beyond Britwell

Hill Road) the path narrows and starts to climb up into the

beech woodlands, offering wonderful views. The path climbs

through Ewelme Park and up to Nuffield, a high point of the

Chilterns. From there, follow Grims Ditch 4 miles down to

Mongewell, and then follow the River Thames to Wallingford.

Where to Stay: The George Hotel is a traditional hotel right

in the centre of Wallingford.

A two-day 21 mile walking break in the Oxfordshire

Chilterns, taking in some outstanding scenery, superb

country pubs and two historic market towns, famous for

their Midsomer Murders connections. The route follows

two popular Trails, The Ridgeway National Trail and the

Oxfordshire Way, allowing you to explore the best of the

Chilterns landscape, yet with the comfort of knowing you

are following high quality waymarked routes.

Return Transport: from Wallingford to Henley-on Thames. There is an hourly bus service from Wallingford (every 2 hours on

Sundays), from outside the Corn Exchange Theatre. Journey time 40 minutes. route 139. Or there are

several taxi firms in Wallingford, cost around £25, journey time 20 minutes.

www.thames-travel.co.uk

About The Ridgeway National Trail

The Ridgeway National Trail is described as Britain's

oldest road, following a route used for at

least 5,000 years by

travellers, herdsmen and

soldiers. It starts in the

World Heritage Site of

Avebury and crosses the chalk ridges of

the North Wessex Downs and Chilterns

AONBs, a total of 87 miles. The Chilterns

section travels through woodlands, nature

reserves and quiet valleys and also passes several

magnificent viewpoints along the Chilterns ridge. For further

information see www.nationaltrail.co.uk

Day 1 Day 2

About the Oxfordshire Way

A 65 mile long waymarked route from Bourton-on-the-Water

to Henley-on-Thames. The route passes through the most

rural and scenic landscapes of Oxfordshire including two

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswolds and the

Chilterns.

www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/oxfordshire-way

Poppies by The Ridgeway near Watlington

Chilterns 2-day walking breaksFrom Henley-on-Thames to Wallingford (overnight in Watlington).

Return from Wallingford to Henley by bus.

The Fox and Hounds at Christmas Common

Country pubs along the way

The Rainbow Inn, Middle Assendon, Tel 01491 574879

The Five Horseshoes, Maidensgrove, Tel 01491 641282

(½ mile off the route, worth the diversion!).

The Crown Inn, Pishill, Tel 01491 638364

The Fox and Hounds, Christmas Common, Tel 01491 612599

Route information:

Famed for its Royal Regatta in July, the picturesque town of

Henley has a charming centre with shops, galleries,

restaurants and cafes. You can stroll along the banks of the

Thames and admire the many pleasure craft or relax with a

picnic in Mill Meadows. Henley has a variety of festivals,

attractions and accommodation. Visit the Tourist Information

Centre in the Town Hall, Tel 01491 578034.

There are numerous B&Bs and hotels in Henley. Visit

(500m off the route)

The small market town

of Watlington sits at the

foot of the Chiltern

Hills and dates back to

the 8th Century. The

town is full of historical

buildings and a wide

selection of interesting

and diverse shops –

download the 2 mile

which picks out the highlights.

(1.5km off the route, there are paths both side

of the River Thames)

Familiar to millions as the original Causton of Midsomer

Murders, Wallingford grew up in the 9th century on a wide

stretch of the Thames. Its layout has changed little since

then and the town still boasts extensive Saxon earthworks

and remains of the 11th century castle in meadows beside

the River Thames. The old Corn Exchange in the Market

Square, antique shops, the museum and heritage trains on

the Bunk Line railway to Cholsey give a still-unhurried air. For

more information on Wallingford see

or visit the Tourist

Information Centre, Tel 01491 826972.

Things to see along the way

A magnificent place for its wild, remote tranquillity, owned

by the Bucks, Berks and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. The

flowerrich grasslands in the valley bottom give way to grand

woodlands rising up the valley sides. There is a small visitor

centre (no café) with information about the reserve

This is a large, grassy open common high in the Chilterns.

Most of Maidensgrove common was ploughed during the

Second World War so crops could be grown as part of the war

effort. These days the common is cut for hay each summer.

Henley-on-Thames

Watlington

Wallingford

Warburg Nature Reserve

Maidensgrove Common

www.henleyaccommodation.co.uk

Watlington Town Trail

www.southernoxfordshire.com

www.bbowt.org.uk

(top of Watlington Hill is about 500m

from The Ridgeway – a very steep climb)

Where The Ridgeway crosses Watlington Hill Road (as you

face uphill), there is a footpath diagonally to the right at the

end of the pavement, which leads up to Watlington Hill

nature reserve. Within a few minutes you will get big open

views- worth the detour even if you don't go to the very top

of the hill. It is a National Trust chalk grassland site

providing panoramic views over the Oxfordshire Vale. Great

place to see Red Kites

Tucked away in unspoilt countryside on the edge of wooded

hills, the ancient church of St Botolph in the parish of

Swyncombe is a real gem, in part Saxon it dates back

to the 11th century. The Ridgeway passes through

Ewelme Park thought to have been established in the

14th century and once serving as a Royal Deer Park.

Ewelme Park House is a 20th century Arts and Crafts

house built on the site of the original Park Lodge.

(500m from The Ridgeway)

When you reach the main Nuffield-Wallingford road

turn left for 300m then left again (you will see brown

signs for Nuffield Place). Nuffield Place was once home to

William Morris, an industrialist who founded Morris Motors

and brought mass-produced motor manufacturing to Britain.

It is a rare example of a complete, furnished upper-middle

class 1930s home. Now owned by the National Trust, there is

lots to see both in the house and gardens. There is a tearoom

and shop.

This raised bank is an ancient earthwork, dating from before

the Saxon period.

Discover a lovely stretch of the River Thames. The Thames

Path National Trail is on the other side of the River, it is 184

miles long, from the source of The Thames in the Cotswold

hills to the sea. For more about visiting the Thames see

Further information

The Ordnance Survey Chilterns Walkers Map 1:25 000 scale

covers the full route in detail. For information and

downloadable maps for the Oxfordshire Way see

There is a wide selection of maps and guide books for The

Ridgeway National Trail, including digital maps for iphones.

See

For visitor information about the Chilterns see

Watlington Hill

Swyncombe Church and Ewelme Park

Nuffield Place

Grims Ditch

The River Thames

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

www.visitthames.co.uk

www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/oxfordshire-way

www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway/guide-books

www.visitchilterns.co.uk

an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.chilternsaonb.org

Swyncombe Church

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Wallingford

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HENLEYON-THAMES

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From Watlington to Wallingford along

The Ridgeway National Trail (11 miles).

Day 2

© Crown copyright.

Chilterns Conservation Board

Licence no. 100044050 (2015)

Watlington

Henley-on-Thames to Watlington,

along the Oxfordshire Way (10.5 miles).

Day 1

Watlington