Pictures of The Chiltern Hills

a Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the county of Buckinghamshire

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About The Chiltern Hills

The Chilterns are mostly gentle beechwood hills which begin in the vales of Oxford and Aylesbury stretching forth in a north-easterly direction through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire to Hertfordshire. They are part of a great chalk belt, with the highest point being Wendover Woods situated on the northern escarpment of the Chilterns, these lie at a height of 876 feet with spectacular views overlooking flat Buckinghamshire countryside which is dotted with farms. The landscape is further marked by the shimmering waters of the Tring Reservoirs. At this high point there are delightful forest walks through typical Chiltern hanging beechwoods where only sunlight ripples through dense leafy glades.

Coombe Hill at 852 feet is the second highest point of the Chiltern landscape, this has a tall monument built into the hillside, it commemorates the men of Buckinghamshire who gave their lives in the Boer War. Standing beside the monument it is possible to gaze across the tops of tall trees, when on a clear day you can catch a glimpse of Ellesborough church tower in the south-west, and beyond you may see Chequers, the country home of Britain's prime ministers. Over 100 acres of Coombe Hill are owned by the National Trust, heather and gorse scatter its summit and its slopes are thick with an abundance of old trees. Scrub too, is a feature of the area, often sheep are flooded here to help keep the scrub down.

The strong march of the Chilterns continues, enlightened here and there with gorgeous open farmland bordered by hedgerows where delicate wild flowers thrive on the chalky landscape, only here can the dainty white candytuft be found, elsewhere this fragrant flower is rare and almost extinct. The Chilterns show an abundance of wilderness, chalk loving plants, Musk thistle, with its beautiful purple flowers, clumps of rock-roses, tansies with sweet yellow flowers and old man's beard, all add to the enchantment of the ground cover. And although in winter there are many trees bereft of leaves, in springtime branches become bright with what seems a trillion shades of green, beneath these roll a seemingly endless mass of wild daffodils, which later give way to a carpet ablaze with bluebells. The cover of the trees make these lovely silent places to wander, enjoying a peaceful solitude and serenity, far from today's madding crowd.

The Chilterns encompass Dunstable Downs, this is dominated by the centuries old Icknield Way which starts its course along the Chiltern Hills, and later passes ancient barrows where Stone-Age relics have been found. At Goring Gap there is the pleasure of seeing the River Thames breaking through the hills to separate the Berkshire Downs from the Chilterns. Goring is an arresting Georgian town, but it is at Goring Heath, a spacious, easy to wander area, where the woods of the Chiltern begin.

For the traveller exploring the Chilterns on foot, nothing quite prepares you for what is the loveliest of all the Chiltern scenery, Cliveden Reach where the waters of the Thames flows between great masses of beeches whose reflections can be seen mirrored in the water, before they steadily climb upwards to almost shroud the magnificent Renaissance-style house, known as Cliveden, built in the 1850's for the Duke of Sunderland.

To walk the Chilterns is to walk through much of England's history for amongst its woods and enchanting forest walks is a continuous contrast; places noted for Christianity, pathways trod by medieval monks, Cromwellian troops and canals built at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. At Tring is a flight of six canal locks, one bearing the date 1865.

Other fascinating aspects of the Chilterns is its vast variety of wildlife; woods hide shy deer, squirrel's, rabbit and a multitude of other creatures of the wild. Its bird-life is prolific, there are places to see birds of every variety especially those gathering at Marsworth Reservoir, home of tufted ducks, mallards, pochards, shovelers and coots. Often you can see a kingfisher, and in winter there is a myriad of teal, widgeon, goldeneye and goosander.

Interesting places to visit along the Chilterns are; Ashbridge and Ivinghoe, Burnham Beeches, Aston Rowant Nature Reserve, the reaches of Marlow and Cliveden, Maidenhead, Wendover Woods, Whiteleaf Hill and the Tring Reservoirs.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near The Chiltern Hills.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near The Chiltern Hills

Hughenden Manor	Pictures
Fawley Court	Pictures
Coombe Hill	Pictures
The Chantry House	Pictures
Greys Court	Pictures
Nuffield Place	Pictures
Bekonscot Model Village	Pictures
Cliveden	Pictures
Long Crendon Courthouse	Pictures
The Mayflower Barn	Pictures

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Recommended towns near The Chiltern Hills

High Wycombe, a Historic Market Town in the county of Buckinghamshire (4.4 miles, 7.1 km, direction E)
The largest town in Buckinghamshire county, and once famous for its thriving chair making industry, High Wycombe is the only town...
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Bledlow, a Picturesque Village in the county of Buckinghamshire (4.6 miles, 7.4 km, direction N)
This is one of Buckinghamshire most attractive villages. Anyone visiting the area could be forgiven for thinking they had seen it somewhere before because the village has been the setting for scenes in the T.V. drama Midsommer Murders. Take a close look at the Church of The Holy Trinity - in one episode this became St.Michael's church.
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Horsenden, in the county of Buckinghamshire (5.0 miles, 8.0 km, direction N)
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Princes Risborough, a Historic Market Town in the county of Buckinghamshire (5.3 miles, 8.4 km, direction N)
An exquisite feature of the town is the Norman Church of St.Mary, the church shows restoration work from the 13th and 14th centuries and a modern spire built during the early part of the 20th century.
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Hambleden, a Picturesque Village in the county of Buckinghamshire (5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction S)
Hambleden is an attractive village set in the valley of the Chilterns, close to the River Thames. It has a "Picture-Postcard" image with pretty flint and stone cottages spread out around the church.
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Marlow, a Historic Market Town in the county of Buckinghamshire (6.0 miles, 9.7 km, direction SE)
Marlow developed into a thriving town from a small community situated at the side of the River Thames.
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Great Missenden, a Picturesque Village in the county of Buckinghamshire (7.2 miles, 11.5 km, direction NE)
Lying in a favoured position within the sweep of the glorious Chilterns, Great Missenden is an attractive village of charm and character, and was the home to Roald Dahl who wrote many of his best loved stories there.
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Nettlebed, a Picturesque Village in the county of Oxfordshire (8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction SW)
Nettlebed is a lovely English village in the heart of rural Oxfordshire.
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Henley on Thames, a Historic Market Town in the county of Oxfordshire (8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction S)
Henley held the very first regatta in 1839 and in the year 1851 Prince Albert became Patron of the Regatta, thus giving the event the pretigious title of Royal Henley Regatta.
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Thame, in the county of Oxfordshire (8.7 miles, 14.1 km, direction NW)
Thame is an ancient market town whose charter was granted by Wulfhere, King of Mercia. It was later mentioned in the Doomsday...
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Nearby travel help

Saunderton Station

M40 Junction 5

M40 Junction 4

High Wycombe Station

London Heathrow Airport

London Luton Airport

Accommodation & Hotels near The Chiltern Hills

Hotel Name

Best Western Kings Hotel

Clifton Lodge Hotel

Rose & Crown, Country Pub & Eating House With Rooms

Buckingham Hotel

Ambassador Court Hotel

Holiday Inn High Wycombe

Best Western Alexandra Hotel

Abbey Lodge Hotel

De Vere Venues Uplands

Peacock Hotel

All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts