A seven-mile circular walk along the Ridgeway and the Chiltern Way takes you through the Chilterns countryside, nature reserves and historic sites. Other attractions include a preserved heritage railway, a traffic-free cycle route and further historic places. When planning a stay in Princes Risborough, it is worth organising excursions by type of route and transport: walking, cycling, train journeys and event visits each offer a different focus.
On foot: the Ridgeway circular walk and Whiteleaf Hill
The Princes Risborough Circular Ridgeway Walk is seven miles long and follows a circular route. It takes you along the Ridgeway and the Chiltern Way through the Chilterns countryside, nature reserves and historic sites. The route brings together landscape and history in one walk. Trail conditions can vary, so take this into account when planning your walk.
Around Princes Risborough, Whiteleaf Hill has firm, level paths from the car park to the hilltop. They are suitable for most pushchairs, all-terrain buggies and wheelchairs. Cross Dyke on Whiteleaf Hill, which is open to the public, is also nearby. This gives you a choice of different route types: a seven-mile circular walk or level paths leading to a hilltop. Which option is right for you depends on whether you prefer a longer circuit or a path with the described features.
Rail connections and the Kop Hill Climb
The Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway is a preserved standard-gauge heritage railway running between Chinnor and Risborough. It offers train rides with steam and diesel locomotives throughout the year. Check operating days and booking options before your journey. For regional connections, Chiltern Railways operates services from London Marylebone to Aylesbury or Banbury via Princes Risborough. These are separate from the heritage railway services; it is also advisable to check the timetable when travelling with Chiltern Railways.
The Kop Hill Climb venue is a 15-minute walk from Princes Risborough station: the route goes through the town and uphill to the festival site. Event access arrangements may change, so check the current arrangements before your visit. More than 400 historic vehicles drive up the hill at the Kop Hill Climb, while a further 200 vehicles are on display. As programme details can change, it is worth checking the programme before travelling.
By bike and to historic places
The Phoenix Trail offers another way to experience the countryside: this traffic-free cycle route runs between Princes Risborough and Thame and features artworks and views of the Chiltern Hills. It is clearly different from the Ridgeway circular route, which is described as a walk. If you want to organise your stay around activities, you have two different options here: a circular walk through countryside and nature reserves, and a cycle route with artworks and hill views.
The area's history can also be traced through different points of interest. St Mary's Church in Princes Risborough is a medieval and post-medieval parish church. The Mount is thought to be the likely site of the Black Prince's palace in Princes Risborough. At the church, the focus is on its historical period; at The Mount, it is on an explicitly probable site location. Together, a historic church building and a site associated with a possible palace location offer complementary perspectives, but they are not the same kind of claim.
A March 2025 Town Council report mentions a local Country Market group and a fruit and vegetable vendor in the space beneath the Market House on Thursdays and Saturdays. Market arrangements can change. This market information adds a specific local everyday-life option to the walking, cycling and rail choices; before visiting, check whether the market days listed still apply to your plans.
Discover more destinations: Ivinghoe, Easington, Winslow, Long Crendon, Gerrards Cross, Waddesdon, Taplow, Stoke Poges.
For the wider travel overview: Buckinghamshire.
