Cheddington to Leighton Buzzard Walk

24.8 km (15.4 mi), with 240/247m ascent/descent. For a shorter walk see below Walk Options.

4 out of 10, with 5 hours 30 minutes walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 7 hours and 45 minutes.

A splendid walk through East Buckinghamshire’s rolling landscape of fields and wooded areas on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, linking up a handful of delightful hill top villages to provide panoramic views across pleasant countryside. Broadly following the Thames/Great Ouse watershed in the morning, it initially heads west, mostly with grand views of the Chilterns (when not walking in wooded areas), to then turn north with far views into Aylesbury Vale to the west, on to lunch pubs at either Aston Abbotts or Cublington.
The afternoon route is more level, but still features the hilltop village of Wing and ends with a fairly tranquil descent into Linslade (for Leighton Buzzard station).

Disclaimers: There are several arable field crossings to contend with, generally along well-cleared paths, but this walk is nevertheless more challenging in high summer. There is also a level crossing of the dual carriageway Leighton Buzzard-bypass road near the end of the walk.

Bus services linking Aylesbury with Leighton Buzzard run through the walk area, but the walk can sensibly only be shortened by taking a bus to Leighton Buzzard, as Aylesbury is being served by a different train company, necessitating the extra cost of two single tickets:

• The 165 bus (Aylesbury-Leighton Buzzard) travels through Wingrave, Rowsham, Aston Abbotts (the early lunch stop), Cublington (the lunch stop) and Wing (5 km from the end of the walk). It runs two afternoon services Mondays to Saturdays;

• Lines 100, 101 and 150 (Aylesbury-Leighton Buzzard-Milton Keynes) take a more direct route, along the A418, with opportunities to catch it at Wingrave Cross Roads (ca. 1 km off the walk route from Aston Abbotts [the early lunch stop]) and then again in Wing (5 km from the end of the walk). Between them, they provide a frequent service Mondays to Saturdays, and a two-hourly one on Sundays/Bank Holidays.

OS Explorer: 181 (Chiltern Hills North) and 192 (Buckingham & Milton Keynes)
OS Landranger: 165 (Aylesbury & Leighton Buzzard

Cheddington station, map reference SP 922 185, is 11 km north east of Aylesbury, 6 km south of Leighton Buzzard, 99m above sea level and in Buckinghamshire. Leighton Buzzard Station, map reference SP 910 249, is in Linslade, which lies west of the River Ouzel, while Leighton Buzzard itself lies east of it. It is 15 km north east of Aylesbury, 15 km south east of Milton Keynes, 92m above sea level and in Bedfordshire. Cheddington and Leighton Buzzard stations are on the London Euston to Milton Keynes (West Coast) Main Line. Journey times are from 36 minutes to Cheddington (hourly service) and between 31 and 60 minutes from Leighton Buzzard (up to 3 trains per hour). Buy a day return to Leighton Buzzard.

Saturday Walkers’ Club: Take the train closest to 9.30 hours.

The Rose & Crown The Green, Dark Lane, Wingrave, Buckinghamshire, HP22 4PD (01296 708 414). The Rose & Crown is located 7.0 km (4.4 mi) into the walk.
Royal Oak Inn Wingrave Road, Aston Abbotts, Buckinghamshire, HP22 4LT (01296 681 262). The Royal Oak Inn is located 250m off route 11.5 km (7.1 mi) into the walk and is a Grade II listed C16-C17 timber framed building.
The Unicorn High Street, Cublington, Buckinghamshire, LU7 0LQ (01296 681 261). The Unicorn is located 13.9 km (8.7 mi) into the walk. It is a 17th Century building with log fires and a large garden at the back (including a Pétanque court!).

Various options in Wing (5 km from the end of the walk), in Linslade (near Leighton Buzzard station) and in the centre of Leighton Buzzard. For details see page 2 of the Walk Directions pdf.

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Jul-21 Thomas G