Looking forward to it.

The late start today was of course not out of choice, but because there were no earlier trains today (planned engineering works, I guess). As a consequence, the train was pretty busy. 4 walkers alighted for a walk in mostly sunny then overcast weather.

All stayed together to Waddesden, where 1 turned left towards the Manor House, trying to charm her way into the house by way of an Art Fund promo free ticket. We hope she succeeded.

Us 3 others waltzed on to The Long Dog, which - for the first time in my many visits - was fully booked and weren't having us. On to The Lion, who don't usually serve food after 14.00, but one large group with a reservation was running late, so they took us in anyway, while warning us that we were behind the group of 10 now with our orders and it would take a while. Just an excuse for a second drink, really...

On to Aylesbury, where we decided to take the next train and go for a drink in Marylebone Station. And so we did: the pub was closing, but the Sports Bar & Grill was still very much open, showing NFL games on all screens. We found a quiet(-ish) corner and had a meal.

As for the walk: the views were splendid, the blackberries are coming into their own (about time too), cows and sheep were docile, we saw a couple of birds of prey (not red kites) sitting in a field just off path, as well as a large balloon travelling over us and a hang glider some distance away. And then we crossed the prospective route of HS2, just before the fringes of Aylesbury, where the golf course used to be. This is not much of an event really: the footpath is slightly diverted from the old route, all the way between fences, one can't go wrong, and after 2 minutes one is through the site.

Splendid day.

Looks like 10.00 departure arriving 10:44?

So it is. Sorry for not spotting that late change myself. Post amended.

10 off the train, 1 other off an earlier local train caught sometime later (a first-timer), ie 11 in warm and sunny weather.

A very fine day for a mildly undulating walk with plenty of fine views. All walked the main walk version, all but one had either food or drink at The Long Dog, all but 1 (a different one) had post-walk drinks at The King's Head in the extra-charming courtyard of this very historic inn. Some stayed for 2 hours+!

Heavy overnight and morning rain in London did not bode well, but even at Marylebone station the rain had already stopped and in Haddenham the 4 who alighted were greeted by blue skies. Later it became overcast and at times even gloomily dark, but it never rained and some sun was also seen p.m., i.e. overcast with sunny periods .

The ground was unmuddy and the few arable fields in the morning were harvested but not yet ploughed, so the going was good. Excessive delays were caused all day though by an abundance of ready-to-eat blackberries in formerly unseen numbers, the wet spring and hot summer with recent rainfall may have been perfect for berries?

At Waddesdon the majority vote was to go straight to the ever reliable The Long Dog along the shortcut, cutting out a wee bit of the route, and the lunch didn't disappoint. We arrived in A'bury just after 4.30, I think, and all walked on past the station into the town centre for either shopping, exploring or a drink at the 15th century King's Head (an NT-owned former Inn), which is now run by Chiltern Brewery as their taproom, AND now does food.

3 emerged from the 10:06 from Marylebone, the 09:43 more leisurely train having been cancelled. Morning ,_bright,_afternoon,_steady_rain_from_3pm. We took the morning shortcut to compensate for an earlier navigational error so had only distant views of the impressive Waddesdon Manor. Lunch in the Long Dog was good but maybe a little pricy. After lunch we took the main route option to Aylesbury and encountered several navigational problems, we suspect largely due to changes on the ground since the last review of the walk directions. In one place the supposed gate had been replaced by fence, a problem we overcame with a bit of climbing. Arriving in Aylesbury soon after 5pm, we went straight for the train. Overall, morning very good, afternoon, less so.

is anyone doing any of the shortcuts please? 14m bit too much for canine.

11 emerged from a rather crowded train at Haddenham in muted sunshine which quickly brighten to full sunshine for a delightful stroll through pleasantly rolling countryside with some dramatic views of the chilterns. Spring was definitely springing -- in particular, we were treated to a carpet of dandelions on the approach to Waddesdon Manor which painted almost an entire small field yellow. Also, while the daffodils of "daffodil valley" had passed their prime -- we were surprised to find a good number of snakehead frittilleries and the tulips on the grounds of the manor were stunning. Waddesdon Manor itself impressively lived up to its billing -- very much a French chateaux. We lost 2 of our group to visit the house with the remaining 9 heading to the pub (4 stopping in the churchyard for sandwiches) for a late lunch/drink. The Long Dog served interesting and tasty food very efficiently. The route after lunch passed by several more modest dwellings and descended through a gentle valley with open views treating the group to 50 shades of green on display in the trees bursting with spring enthusiasm. Upon arrival in Stone, 7 had a quick drink at the pub before making a dash for the bus with 3 topping the day off with a final drink at the station pub back in London.

I'm bringing Mum!

I'm planning to catch the 0905hr train. Anyone else doing the same?

8 walkers off the early train. Rolling wheat fields and fine vistas to lunch, the weather being windy but dry with sunny breaks (with the wind from the back), 1 dropped off, the other 7 had a long look at Waddesdon Manor's Grounds, Aviary and House, before decamping to The Long Dog for a lovely lunch, where they were belatedly joined by the 8th walker and 5 others, off the later train. Most of the 13 walkers then waited for the one serious shower of the day to pass before setting off again, and had only a couple of short showers to contend with in the p.m.

A couple of convivial drinks in the medieval courtyard of the King's Head rounded off a fine day out. 18.18 train for 10 of us.

Art Fund Member can get into Waddesdon Manor for free.

download a 2 for 1 voucher for Waddesdon Manor. http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/waddesdon-manor

Saturday 30 May: 12 on this walk, mainly sunny with just a bit of cloud to add interest. For the first few miles the route was across flat fields which I imagine would be muddy in winter, but which at this time of year are awash with buttercups and cow parsley. Then just when one though the route was developing a positive aversion to hills, it turned north for a beautiful ascent up to Upper Winchenden - the top of this climb in lush green grass dotted with flowers, with a fine view back to the Chilterns.

There is then a fine approach across a valley and up a formal avenue to Waddesdon Manor. Here two opted for the full morning route and said the Rothschild Foundation Library building was worth seeing. The rest of us took the short cut. observing as we walked that it would be easy to veer off the path and up across the grounds to the manor house without paying the entry fee (something we did not do, of course, because we are all law-abiding).

We lunched in The Lion (the recommended pub, the Long Dog, only being recommended in the walk directions, not in the list of pubs, so we did not notice it) . The Lion was smart, friendly, but had a rather unimaginative menu. What they did do, they did well, however, and portions were good. Their patio could do with some pot plants or other greenery, but it was nice sitting in the sun.

After lunch four went to visit Waddesdon Manor but could not gain access to the house, and so after exploring the grounds got a bus to Aylesbury and the 16.35 home.

The rest of us carried on with the walk route. One fast walker soon moved ahead of us and may well have walked all the way to Aylesbury. Two peeled off to get the 16.30 train from Aylesbury Vale Parkway. The five of us who were left had a very nice snooze in the corner of a field while a chaffinch chortled away nearby, and then walked south through Eythrope Park, a pleasant estate.

Just beyond it, as one crosses the bridge over the river, we left the route and carried on down a tarmac drive which becomes a lane and leads in two miles to the village of Stone. Here there are three buses an hour on the Oxford to Aylesbury bus route. Our search for tea options was a bit less satisfactory, however. 500 metres along the road the Rose and Crown was friendly and did mugs of tea, but was clearly a "locals" kind of pub. The Bugle Horn, with its lovely garden, would alas have been another 500 metres along the road.

We got the bus to Aylesbury, the 18.35 train and arrived at Marylebone in time to see surprisingly cheerful Aston Villa fans streaming off the trains from the Cup Final at Wembley. Then three of us had a nice Turkish meal, but that is another story...

Enjoyed Walker's very fair description of the walk. I’d like to add: ‘Near the start, passed several pretty thatched houses’.

I managed to get into Waddesdon Manor on the last timed entry at 2.30pm (note, you have to go to car park to get ticket). I suggest foregoing the pub lunch, have a picnic in the grounds or NT café then at 2pm watch the film on the Rothschilds in the ‘power house’ before visiting the manor, which is stuffed with riches, ie Gainsboroughs, Joshua Reynolds, Sevres porcelain, etc. Then explore the fabulous grounds and aviary at your leisure.

NB: the 5.31pm bus to Aylesbury arrived five minutes early! Comfortably caught the 6.05 train.

Sally