A Buckingham (and Stowe) Bimble
11 people attending
9 places left
Join OutdoorLads for a pleasant Saturday stroll around Buckingham and Stowe Park!
We start in Buckingham, the ceremonial County Town of Buckinghamshire. Heading out of town we initially follow the river and then join the former railway line, before heading across farmland to the pleasant little village of Radclive.
We then cross farmland to reach Stowe Avenue, the grand approach to Stowe country house with its impressive Corinthian Arch which frames a great view onto Stowe house and estate – definitely worth a photograph or two!
After stopping off for tea and cake at the National Trust café or by the arch (as you prefer) we circle Stowe Park and Stowe School (looking out for Wolfe’s Obelisk on the left) then head through Akeley Wood towards the village of Akeley.
We then return across farmland (hopefully we’ll see the alpacas on this stretch!), passing (well-hidden) Foxcote Reservoir, and through Maids Moreton back into Buckingham, then along the river back into town.
Optionally, those who wish can go for a drink in a local pub at the end of the walk.
NOTE: We are considering options to shorten this walk slightly (to about 9.5 miles) in light of the forecast hot weather (but without taking out the interesting bits, though we may have to foresake the alpacas!). If you were put off by the hot forecast for Saturday and the length, don't worry and still sign up! :)
Stowe, one of the highlights of the walk, was formerly a country house but is now a public school, with gardens managed by the National Trust which are open to visitors. We will skirt around these along the way but won’t have time to explore, however if you are staying in the local area they are well worth a visit. More information here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stowe_House (about the house)
https://www.stowe.co.uk/school (about the school)
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/stowe (about the National Trust gardens you can visit)
https://www.stowe.co.uk/house (about visiting Stowe House, part of the school)
The spectacular Corinthian Arch was a gatehouse for the estate, more information is available here: https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/education/educational-images/the-corinthian-arch-stowe-5759
More information about the town of Buckingham can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckingham
A curious sight on the way round is Wolfe’s Obelisk, set in the middle of a field! You can find out more about this here: https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=869579&resourceID=19191
We pass Foxcote Reservoir along the way, but it’s well hidden! More about it here: https://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/foxcote-reservoir-0
Don't waste that space!
Spring and Summer walks mean lots of new and existing members excited to be getting out more. Please only book if you know you can make it. If your plans change please free up the space for someone else.
Is it dog friendly?
Dogs are welcome but please note and abide by the Countryside Code (https://tinyurl.com/rlqvp3h) and be prepared for a couple of stiles / hills on the walk and fields with sheep & lambs. Please also remember not everyone loves dogs as much as you do so please be mindful of other members.
New Members
Please feel free to join this as your first OutdoorLads event. If you have any questions then feel free to message me, or go to the "My First Event" section under "About Us".
Image / photo credits: All leader's own images - with permission for OutdoorLads to use and reuse
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IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking/walking. Note that this route could well be quite muddy and wet in places depending on the weather, so trainers are not advised.
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Hat or cap: stay shaded on sunny days
Sunglasses: for any sunny day
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch
Food & drink
Bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink, especially if it's going to be a warmer day. If you need to buy lunch, Waitrose is right by the start. We aim to pop into the National Trust Stowe Cafe about a third of the way round for tea and cake, but we don't pass other shops.