Hambleden and Medmenham circular walk in the Chilterns

This 6 mile circular walk in the Chilterns takes you through the two lovely villages of Hambleden and Medmenham, some woodland, and along the River Thames.

This was also to be my first walk in 5 months (if you don’t count walking around the streets and parks of London).

My first time out of London in 5 months.

Yes. This was my first post lockdown 2.0 walk.

When it came to deciding where to go or what route to take, I felt a little overwhelmed. I usually like to study a map and work it all out, but this time I needed some help. I was lacking creativity and my planning skills were a bit rusty, so I headed over to the Chilterns website to see what they suggest. That my friends, is how I settled on the Hambleden and Medmenham circular walk.

What was the Hambleden and Medmenham circular walk like?

Let’s get something out of the way first. This being my first time in the British countryside in 5 months meant that I would probably like anything. Anything that wasn’t all pavements, cars, noise and crowded parks. So my opinion of the Hambleden and Medmenham circular walk is probably influenced by this.

That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this walk. Green grassy fields of sheep and lambs (it was lambing season), cherry blossom blooms, quiet pretty villages with brick and flint houses. The River Thames (which looks nothing like the London bit), with swimmers, kayakers and a few barge boats moored up.

A green field with sheep grazing and a black barn house with a red roof on the Hambleden Medmenham circular walk. There is dense woodland in the distance.

A green grassy field with sheep and ducks on the Hambleden Medmenham walk in the Chilterns. — .

My happy place

Once we arrived in the Chilterns, I had a strange feeling when I took those first few steps out of the car. Not a bad feeling. It was sort of unfamiliar, but also familiar at the same time. I can’t really describe it. The first time in a long time stepping on ground that doesn’t belong to the city. Feeling and breathing air that didn’t smell of fumes or carry the sound of cars and other people.

I felt happy. Happy that I was here. Happy at the thought of the day ahead of me.

All the green

One thing I noticed was how green the grass was. Luminous green. Not like any green you see in the city parks. That’s when it hit me, I have experienced this before. My very first walk after the first lockdown was the Ashridge Drovers walk in the Chilterns. There, I was also struck by the luminousness of the green.

Looking through the branches onto a green field with sheep grazing on the Hambleden Medmenham walk. There is woodland behind the house.

I wonder, is the reason I notice this type of green because I had been stuck in a concrete jungle for so long. Or, is luminous green a Chilterns Hills thing?

Ok, I have rambled enough. You probably want all the details now. So here we go.

Logistics for the Hambleden and Medmenham circular walk

Start: Mill End car park (Chilterns, Buckinghamshire)
Finish: Mill End car park (Chilterns, Buckinghamshire)
- I started this walk just south of Hambleden, however, seeing as it’s a circular walk, you could start anywhere really. I noticed a car park in Hambleden if you want to start there.

How to get there: Ok, this one doesn’t have train access. Sorry. However, the nearby village of Henley on Thames does. You could make this a longer walk by starting from there, and walking north along the River Thames and crossing at Hambleden Lock. You can see that route on my Henley to Hambleden walk guide.
- Anyway, If you are coming by car, Mill end car park is located on Skirmett road, directly south from Hambleden. The drive from central London takes roughly 1h20min (this can vary greatly depending on London traffic).
Distance: Just under 6 miles (9.5km)

Time: We walked it in 2h50min. However, it can be walked quicker. We went slower than my normal pace, took lots of pictures, sat down and admired the views.
Terrain: Grass, dirt trails, some tarmac road.
Elevation: Mostly flat, with a few little hilly bits.

Difficulty: Easy
Amenities: Mill End car park has a toilet. Hambleden has a post office with a cafe.
Tips: It wasn’t muddy when we walked it in April. However, it looked like some bits could be during rainy periods. Take change for the car park (can also pay by card). At the time of writing, it cost £3 for 4 hours.

Map for the Hambleden and Medmenham circular walk

Part 1:

Part 2:

Now, I made a mistake when out on this walk. Once we hit the River Thames, we stopped for a snack break. I paused my tracker. I then forgot to start it again when we continued on. Once I realised, I panicked and accidentally ended the whole trail. As such I have two maps for you. Part one and part two. Stick them together and you have the whole route for the Hambleden and Medmenham circular walk.

nb. I only put google maps for part 2 as its very simple to follow without a trail app.

More walking ideas for the Chilterns will be at the End

A guide to the Hambleden and Medmenham circular walk in the Chilterns

The trail starts in the field directly opposite the car park. To get to it, you take a right out of the car park and then the field entrance is on the first corner on the left.

A house behind hedges and a white signpost at the start of the Hambleden Medmenham walk. — Turn here where it says Rotten Row

A wooden gate in front of the green field of Hambleden Estate behind it.

When researching this walk, it did concern me slightly that this bit of the walk into Hambleden was alongside the main road. However, it ended up not being an issue at all. Not many cars drove along it, so you could barely tell it was there.

The walk into Hambleden

Once in the field, you head north towards Hambleden. You can roughly see a grassy trail, or just look ahead to the rooftops. There was a sort of stream running through the filed. It was odd. The kind of stream that I wondered if during the height of the summer it wouldn’t be there.

A steam running through a green field in Hambleden.

On the other side, the sheep were roaming. Ah, the sheep. I missed the sheep. Lambing season was right about now. I wondered were they were.

Sheep grazing in a green field on the Hambleden Medmenham walk There are trees on the hill in the background.

Note: Lambs did make an appearance later.

At the end of the field you exit and enter into another field (from my memory, there might have actually been a couple of times you do this). At the very end, you cross over the bridge to enter the lovely village of Hambleden

Hambleden

Hambleden is cute little village, even said to be one of the most attractive in the Chiltern Hills. Buildings made of brick and flint, a 14th century church and a post office which also serves as the local shop and cafe.

A pink cherry blossom tree in front of a brick and flint house on the walk through Hambleden.

Fun fact: Hambleden has been used as a film location quite a few times. Including 101 Dalmatians, Chitty Chitty bang bang, the Avengers, Sleepy Hollow and Band of Brothers. I guess it’s quite famous then.

What struck me was how immaculate the whole place was. Everything was very….neat.

Anyway, following the main road through the village as it curves right. You walk past a few houses, then at the car park, continue straight up the hill where it says private. It’s ok, you are allowed to walk here.

A residential road with brick and flint houses and cars park on the walk through Hambleden. There are green trees on the other end of the road.

A road leading uphill with a leaf covered wall on the left and trees on the right. — .

Leaving Hambleden to walk towards Medmenham

At the end of the road you will hit a junction with a signpost. Here, take a left and continue under the trees before things open up again. The trail here does become a bit muddy further on.

The trail on the walk out of Hambleden, with a brick wall on the left and hedge on the right.

At the next junction take a left to walk along the trail uphill. Make sure to take a look back for a gorgeous view of the trail with houses and fields in the distance.

A winding track going downhill with green fields in the distance and a few houses and rooftops visible past the bushes. there are trees on the hill behind the houses.

At the top of this hill, walk through the gate on the right, to continue along a narrow trail heading towards the woods.

North Cot Wood (The first woods)

As you enter the woods you take a left up what looks like some sorts of stick steps and continue along this trail. You will pass a gate on the right. Don’t take it. Continue straight through the woodland.

A dirt trail leading uphill through the woodland on the walk towards Medmenham.

Tall thin leafless trees when walking in the Chiltern Hills.

A bit further along you will go uphill slightly and should see this tree with a white arrow. Follow it.

A large tree with a white arrow painted on it in the woodland.

Now things get interesting. There will be a small hole through the bushes and trees. You will probably need to duck down to get through it.

Oliver walking on a dirt path through a small opening in the green leaves and bushes.

That was the interesting bit. Bare with me, I haven’t had this much excitement in a long time.

Hambleden Estate

A bit further along, you will exit through a gate onto the road. Pick up the trail again directly opposite. You will make a sort of V.

A man walking across the road from one dirt trail onto another. — Follow the green arrow of the signpost.

Walk past the sign that says Hambleden Estate.

Through here, you should see on the right a sign saying ‘short cut’. Don’t take it. It will lead you the correct way, but then you would miss out a good bit. Instead, if you follow the trail straight and up, it will lead you to the right where you will then walk with a field of sheep on your left AND at the right time of year (March/April) you might get to see the cherry blossoms.

A man walking on fallen leaves through woodland in the Chilterns

A narrow dirt trail under a white cherry blossom tree, with green grass on both sides of the trail and a fence on the left.

The lambs

Continuing along the trail, it will soon curve to the left (there are no other trails yet. So it’s easy to follow) As it curves, you will see a gate up ahead.

Walk through the gate to the field of lambs…..

A green grassy field filled with sheep and lambs on the Hambleden Medmenham circular walk.

A green grassy field with a sheep and her lamb running across it in the Chiltern Hills.

Now I do realise that you may not get to see lambs if it’s not the right time of year, but if you come and do the Hambleden and Medmenham circular walk around spring time, you stand a good chance.

The trail continues straight so that you are on the edge of the field. However, we walked slightly off trail as to avoid the lambs hanging out on it.

I used zoom to take pictures so I’m not as close as I look.

Leaving the lamb field to the next woods

At the end of this field (on the left) you will see a V stile. Go through the V and head to the next lot of woods ahead of you.

Oliver climbing over a v stile into a green grassy field in the Chiltern Hills.

Follow the narrow trail as it snakes though the woods, then at this junction (below) go right and it will lead you through more woods.

Continue following the trail as it turns left and takes you downhill (quite steeply I might add), and down to the road.

Walk into Medmenham

At the road, take a left and walk past the sign for Medmenham. The map I looked up online seems to direct you straight along this road into the village. However, if I can avoid main roads, I do.

And I did.

Slightly further along, past the Medmenham sign you will see a small trail leading though an opening to the right. Take it.

Oliver standing on the dirt trail through and opening in the trees.

Welcome to the chocolate field

Ok, ok. This isn’t real chocolate. But it did remind me of the sweet brown good stuff. I might have lucked out with the timing as it probably doesn’t always look like this, depending on when things are growing there.

A brown soil stray field with trees framing it.

Keeping to the left, follow the trail along the edge of the chocolate field, and when you see the trail split, go left to leave the chocolatyness.

A stripy brown soil field, with a big green hedge on the left and a tree on the Hambleden Medmenham walk — Follow that trail on the left. The trail split comes later around the corner.

Continue along the dirt trail (I think during winter/rainy periods this will be quite muddy. Just a hunch). And at the next signpost go left through the gate.

Go through the gate in the left picture, then through the opening across the road in the right picture.

Walk over the road, and pick up the trail again on the others side.

Slightly along this narrow trail you will go through a gate into another field. Continue straight (look out for the house on the hill to the left) and then through a gate at the end.

Welcome to Medmenham

You will see some of the homes and the top of the church. Follow the trail as it leads you to the main road.

A small green grasss field with a river and trees on the walk into Medmenham. There is a red brick house and part of a church visible through the trees.

Now, we didn’t actually have a look around the village. So maybe you want to do that on your own. I think you will go left at the road to have a look.

We instead went right and followed the road past the houses. Now, I mentioned earlier how immaculate Hambleden looked. Well, this was the same x4. And probably quite wealthy. The father along we went, the larger the houses seemed to get, with big driveways and sports cars, semi hidden behind gates and big hedges.

A residential street with neat houses and immaculate hedges in front.

A white house with a green hedge in front and a few trees including a pink cherry blossom tree in Medmenham.

A large orange brick house with white window panes through an opening in large well trimmed hedges.

Walk from Medmenham to the River Thames

Walking along this road, it will take you straight to the River Thames. Now, I actually live next to the river in London. I see it all the time. But this was different. It looked fresh. It even looked inviting to swim in.

The river Thames surrounded by some trees and a duck swimming on the Hambleden Medmenham walk.

We actually did then see a couple of ladies swimming in it. When I saw that I changed my mind. I did not want to swim in there. It looked very very cold. I felt cold just looking at them. I would like to get into open water swimming, but now is not the right time of year to start. Baby steps.

A kayaker along the river Thames with leafless trees on the other side. — This is the kayaker, not the swimmers.

There are a few benches along here which makes a lovely place to stop for snacks.

We did stop for snacks.

I mentioned at the beginning that this is where I messed up with my tracker. So this is where (if you are following the map I made) you switch to part 2. Although to be honest, you don’t really need it for the rest of the walk back into Hambleden. It’s all pretty uncomplicated.

Walk along the River Thames back into Hambleden

For the next chunk of the walk you walk along the river (river to your left). Passing by barges and lots of sheep in the big open field. Possible even some ducks……And a mini beach.

A bright green grass field with a few sheep grazing and the river thames behind.

Oliver standing on the green grass next to a small sand bank of the river thames.

A line of ducks walking across a green field in the chilterns.

At the very end through a gate (from memory I think you will have a couple of gate crossing), continue on the trail on the left of the field and it will curve you around to the right and past a few houses.

Go through the first gate past the houses, onto to road.

The dirt trail running along the left of a green grassy field with a few houses visible on the other side. — Walk along here.

Oliver standing on the dirt track looking at a gate in the hedge on the left. — Then go through this gate.

A road running straight with green grass on either side and a hedge on the right. There are houses on the other end and woodland on a hill in the distance. — And walk along this road.

From here continue straight along this road where you will get a lovely view of the Chiltern Hills to your right and brick houses up ahead.

Red brick houses on the other side of a green grassy field on the walk back into Hambleden. There is a hedge in the front bottom of the frame.

You will see, when the road curves to the right, there will be a little trail going straight. Take this trail and follow it along to reach the main road.

Oliver walking off the main road onto a small trail leading through the bushes. — Go through this opening on the left.

The end of the Hambleden and Medmenham circular walk

At the main road go left to walk past the farm house B&B. Then take the first road on the right (with the car park sign).

A duck standing in the middle of a main road in Hambleden.

Oliver walking along the pavement with a wooden fence on the left and a body of water on the other side of the fence.

From here you just follow this road until you reach the car park where you started.

Other walks in the Chiltern Hills

I mentioned earlier the Ashridge Drovers walk. This was another first post lockdown walk. Not too challenging or long.

Just down the road (or river) you have the Henley to Marlow river walk. This 9 mile walk is very simple, clean and posh, as you walk along an immaculate trail from one pretty town to another.

Another one from Henley is the circular walk to Greys Court. It has a few hills, but not too much, and you can throw in a visit the grand Greys Court. If that’s not your thing, then you can just walk on by and admire from the outside.

Also just along the River, you could try the Little Marlow Circular walk. This one is 6 miles, very easy and dog friendly, takes you past some pubs and around a pretty lake.

One that I highly recommend, is the Ivinghoe Beacon walk. A bit longer and more challenging, but offers absolutely stunning views. Particularly along the ridge.

For even more of a challenge and even better views, then I recommend the Wendover circular walk. I think this might have the best views I have seen on a walk in the Chilterns.

Or if you head up to the North Chiltern Hills, you could try out the Three Springs walk. Very short, but there are some country pubs around so it would actually make a lovely post Sunday lunch walk (or pre, to work up an appetite).