Wendover offers several ways to plan a stay that combines outdoor activity and visits to local sights: the Ridgeway National Trail passes through the town, alongside circular walks of varying lengths and a dedicated cycling route. The Wendover Arm Canal, the Clock Tower and the local market also offer concrete points of reference for planning your trip. Which of these you focus on depends on whether you mainly want to hike, cycle or get to know life in Wendover.
Walking trails of varying lengths
The Coombe Hill Walk is a 3.5-mile circular route. A monument at the summit commemorates the men from Buckinghamshire who fell in the Boer War. The route’s length and the memorial give this walk two clearly defined focal points: the walking route and the monument. If you are considering a longer walk, you can compare it with the 7-mile circular route to Wendover Woods. Part of this route follows the Ridgeway National Trail. The Ridgeway is therefore both a long-distance trail that passes through Wendover and part of this longer circular route; however, the two descriptions refer to different routes.
The Chilterns Country Views of the Vale Walks start in the centre of Wendover and pass through ancient beech woods, bluebells and wildflowers. These landscape details set them apart from the two circular walks, for which the distance and destination are specified. So distance is not the only factor to consider when choosing a walk: the landscapes described and each route’s destination also provide different points of reference. The Ridgeway, the Coombe Hill Walk, the Wendover Woods circular route and the walks through the beech woods should be considered separate options, not as one single circular route.
Canal, nature and townscape
The Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal runs through Wendover. Its towpath provides a habitat for native and migratory birds, aquatic wildlife and wildflowers. Nature along the canal is therefore one of the town’s distinctive features, alongside its designated walking and cycling routes. Extensive work has been carried out on the Wendover Arm to make it accessible to everyone. The Clock Tower offers a different perspective on Wendover’s character: it stands against the backdrop of the Chiltern Hills and began life as a small market hall in 1842.
Market, church and local amenities
The Wendover Local Produce Market takes place on the third Saturday of every month from 10 am to 2 pm at Manor Waste. It offers handmade crafts as well as freshly prepared food and drinks. If you want to plan your visit around the market, check the date before travelling, as market times may change. The market combines local produce with crafts, making it a specific addition to a stay that would otherwise focus on the trails or the landscape.
St Mary's Church is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. Check the opening hours again before travelling. If you would also like to include a playground or fitness trail in your visits around town, you can find both at Hampden Meadow Playpark and Fitness Trail: it has a securely fenced playground with equipment for children up to 12 years old, as well as a fitness trail. These details apply to this specific location and do not indicate that all walks are suitable for every age group.
For choosing a route, distance, whether it is a circular route and its destination are the most useful distinctions: 3.5 miles at Coombe Hill, 7 miles to Wendover Woods and 14 miles for the Wendover Cycle Loop. The cycling route starts and ends in Wendover. If you would rather choose a landscape than a distance as your starting point, you can focus on the beech woods and wildflowers of the Chilterns Country Views of the Vale Walks or the habitat along the canal. The market and church also have set times that you can take into account when planning a visit to the town.
Discover more destinations: Flackwell Heath, Worminghall, Denham, Drayton Parslow, Farnham Royal, Stoke Poges, Ivinghoe, Wing.
For the wider travel overview: Buckinghamshire.
