Beautiful weekend walks near Aylesbury, UK

Walking in the countryside is one of my top ways to look after my mental health. The countryside around Aylesbury has so many beautiful areas. Here my top 12 walks near Aylesbury.

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1. Coombe Hill

This is definitely one of my favourite walks near Aylesbury. The view from Coombe Hill is just stunning, and you can just sit and stare for miles into the distance.

There’s a reasonably big free car park at the top of Coombe Hill, and it’s only a short walk from the car park to get to the Boer War memorial and start enjoying the views. After admiring the views, and maybe stopping for a picnic in the summer, there are plenty of walking trails in the area as well through woodland and open countryside.

Coombe Hill is also an amazing place to watch the sunset. For me, there’s nothing better than settling down on a picnic rug and watching the stunning colour changes over the beautiful English countryside. Not being able to travel due to the Covid-19 lockdowns has really helped me appreciate the scenery closer to home, and it doesn’t get better than this.

2. Wendover Woods

Another of my favourite walks near Aylesbury is Wendover Woods. This vaste woodland has a range of different walking trails of different lengths depending on what you feel like that day.

The car park at Wendover Woods has recently been renovated and there’s now plenty of space. I love visiting Wendover Woods at different times throughout the year to admire how the trees change through the seasons, from vibrant greens in the summer with bluebells, to the oranges and reds of autumn.

Wendover Woods also has a Go Ape, a high ropes course through the tree tops. When it’s open after lockdown, it is a great outdoor activity. It’s huge amounts of fun, but be aware it is a bit challenging and requires reasonable fitness as well as being ok with heights as you swing through the treetops!

3. Waddesdon Manor gardens

Waddesdon Manor is a stunning country manor house near Aylesbury. The house is lovely and the gardens are stunning as well, especially in spring and summer when they’re full of vibrant colourful flowers.

The formal gardens at Waddesdon Manor are lovely, but the grounds are much more extensive than this. You can walk around to an Aviary to see birds and walk through lovely parkland and see scultped trees and bushes. Visit the Waddesdon Manor website for information about opening times and ticket prices.

4. Ivinghoe Beacon

Ivinghoe Beacon marks one end of the famous historical Ridgeway trail. The Ridgeway is Britain’s oldest road, where people have walked or ridden for over 5000 years.

There are great views across the Chilterns from Ivinghoe Beacon as well, and the white lion on the adjacent hillside is great for photos.

5. Aylesbury Canal

For a more local walk within Aylesbury, a walk along the canal is perfect for an afternoon stroll. You can walk as far as you feel like walking, and it doesn’t take long to leave the town behind and get into more open scenery. The canal is also a great place to watch for wildlife, and you might be lucky enough to see a heron along with the ducks, geese and swans on the water.

6. Pitstone windmill

Not far from Ivinghoe Beacon is Pitstone Windmill, which dates back to the 17th century as a working mill. The windmill itself is fascinating, but it’s also right in the middle of stunning Chilterns countryside with plenty of walking trails all around.