Chilterns heritage routes — road and off-road rides in the Chiltern Hills
Chilterns heritage routes — road and off-road rides in the Chiltern Hills
Cycling Collection by foxy44
7 routes
13:00 h
200 km
1,880 m
Having cycled the Chiltern Cycleway and many of the roads in this area, I was researching other cycle friendly routes and came across the Chiltern Heritage Cycling Trails, created by the now-defunct Chiltern District Council.
It’s hard to come by route descriptions and GPX files that follow the Open Cycle Map and the prompted route, so I created some komoot friendly circular routes so that you can easily select you starting point on plan your ride to one of these routes.
The area is rich in other cycling routes, so I have included parts of the Chiltern Cycleway and Icknield Way Trail (off-road) where they cross the area. National Cycle Network routes 30 and 37 also cross the area and they have been highlighted in places to give a better picture of ways that can be combined to form your own scenic Tour.
The Chiltern Heritage Cycle Trail consists of three separate routes of around 25 miles (40 km) each that link the historic towns and parishes of the Central Chilterns. The area is within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and these scenic cycle routes pass close to many of the tourist attractions and places of historic interest.
These Tours can be started at any point, and they meet in Amersham New Town which has good parking options, as well as a direct rail and Underground connection to London. Many of the surrounding towns also have good transport and cycling links such as Wendover, Tring, Berkhamsted, Chesham and Chorleywood.
For more on the Chiltern Cycleway, visit: komoot.com/collection/894374/beautiful-hills-far-and-wide-ride-the-chilterns-cycleway, and the Icknield Way Trail, visit: komoot.com/collection/959316/ancient-bridleways-of-central-england-icknield-way-trail.
02:42
41.9km
15.5km/h
370m
370m
The Milton route is so named because many of the area’s connections to the famous author and parliamentarian John Milton. Based in Chalfont St Giles during the Great Plague, this is where Milton wrote his epic poem ‘Paradise Lost’ and the sequel ‘Paradise Regained’.
Old Shire Lane is an off road section…
by foxy44
02:29
40.3km
16.2km/h
350m
350m
The Hampden route is named in tribute to John Hampden, who was an early parliamentarian and takes in some of the area’s most scenic spots including the Great and Little Missenden villages and The Lee, home to the Liberty family.
This Tour is mainly on road and hilly with light traffic. Although parts…
by foxy44
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
02:37
40.0km
15.3km/h
350m
350m
The Harding route so named called because of the area’s connection with the martyr Thomas Harding who was burnt at the stake in 1532 for possessing a Bible when this was still forbidden. Several years later Henry VIII or ordered Bibles in English to be placed in all churches. He is remembered today by…
by foxy44
00:51
13.4km
15.8km/h
150m
170m
This Tour leaves from the busy, small market town of Wendover, through wooded rolling countryside to the outskirts of Tring, situated in a gap passing through the Chiltern Hills.
by foxy44
02:29
36.7km
14.8km/h
320m
250m
Starting from Berkhamsted Train Station, this route takes in the beautiful Chess Valley.
From the River Chess, the route follows some lovely unsurfaced woodland tracks to Amersham.
Then you take in the attractive village of Little Missenden and the River Misbourne before climbing out of the valley to…
by foxy44
00:37
10.2km
16.6km/h
100m
180m
This Tour takes in part of National Cycle Network Route 57, which in its full length runs from Farmington in Gloucestershire to Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. Here though, you ride a section from Great Missenden to Chesham.
by foxy44
01:16
17.8km
14.1km/h
220m
240m
From Wendover Hale Lane this Tour leads you to a steep climb through Wendover Woods. The route then takes you along the tops through some lovely woodland bridleways, culminating in Tring Woods.
Tring Woods has some wonderful views over the Vale. Wigginton Village Shop is worth a stop for a coffee or provisions…
by foxy44
Cycling Collection by Ben Wormald
Cycling Collection by British Cycling
Road Cycling Collection by Ana- Remoteana
Hiking Collection by Paul_C
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