Uncrowded rolling English countryside’ is what is often used to describe the picturesque Chiltern Hills. This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offers fantastic walking and along with our perfectly located hotel where we can head out directly to our walks, makes this an ideal Solos walking break.
Easy to Medium
Early Booking Offer – First 5 bookings for each date receive complimentary upgrade to larger Executive Floor rooms
Extras
Check-in to our hotel, followed by meeting our tour leader and fellow Solos guests for the welcome drink and our first evening meal.
After breakfast we start today’s walk from our hotel and soon join part of the Icknield Way, probably one of the oldest tracks in Britain. We begin our main ascent of the day, up through the beautiful Aston Rowant nature reserve known for its flower-rich chalk grassland. Our route takes us through beech woodland, so typical of the Chiltern Hills, and hear stories of how the woodland has been used in the past. Much of our route is in the Wormsley Estate, acquired by American Anglophile Sir Paul Getty in 1985 and still in the family ownership today. Wormsley Estate is home to Garsington open-air opera of which we can just see the opera pavilion from our walk. We then head uphill and stop for our packed lunch (at own cost) near the interesting named village of Christmas Common. Here and throughout our walk we will almost certainly see those magnificent birds of prey, Red Kites, wheeling overhead. This is the area where they were successfully reintroduced in the 1990s.
This morning’s walk after we check out of our rooms includes the parishes of the “Chiltern Scarp” a name for the steep face of the Chilterns Hills . Each parish is called a “strip” parish, long and thin, taking in Chiltern uplands, the scarp and some of the plain and are also known as the “spring line” parishes. The villages came about at the base of the scarp where springs appear, to provide a water supply. Our walk will visit three ; Aston Rowant, Kingston Blount and Crowell, each with a variety of lovely flint and thatched cottages. From our hotel we walk to Aston Rowant, continue through the village, passing the medieval church following “the London Waye” the original medieval road to Oxford along which Queen Elizabeth I is believed to have travelled on a journey from London to Woodstock. Our route follows a wide farmland track along the Lower Icknield Way offering great views of the Chilterns, passing Kingston Blount, then visiting Crowell, the smallest of the parishes, 3 miles long but only half a mile wide.
Based at the foot of the Chiltern Hills just 15 minutes from Oxford and 4 miles to Watlington, this original coaching inn is cosy with comfortable sofas, good food and real ales; perfect for relaxing after a days’ walk.
Facilities include reception, the Kite Restaurant & Lounge bar, air-conditioning and complimentary parking
Our comfortable and stylish rooms include ensuite bathroom, flat screen TV, toiletries, tea/coffee-making facilities, hairdryer and free Wi=Fi.
Early Booking Offer – First 5 bookings for each date receive complimentary upgrade to larger Executive Floor rooms
Upgrade to a Deluxe Room (on request, subject to availability) includes king size bed, luxury bathroom with corner bath & walk in shower, bathrobe & slippers – £106 per stay
Frequently Asked Questions
The hotel is located just off Junction 6 of the M40. Princes Risborough is the nearest station just over 7 miles away. Complimentary car parking is available.
Address: London Road, Aston Rowant, Watlington OX49 5SQ
Two guided walks are included in the programme. The walking programme is graded easy to medium and you can expect to walk up to 10.8 miles on the first walk and approx 6 miles on the second walk.
Walking notes
WORMSLEY ESTATE AND THE ICKNIELD WAY
Walking Distance 10.8 miles
Walking Time – 5.45 hours approx
Ascent – 375m
Grade – Easy to Medium
Please note : The route does not include a suitable cafe stop.It is recommended to bring your own lunch or order a packed lunch (at own cost) from the hotel for the first days walk Current price is £6.20 ( includes sandwiches, crisps, fruit, chocolate bar and a soft drink)
THE PARISHES OF THE CHILTERN SCARP
Walking Distance 6 miles
Walking Time – 3 hours approx
Ascent – 70m
Grade – Easy to Medium
Walking boots: Essential
It is recommended to purchase a snack and drink to take with you before each walk.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit and well enough to take part in your chosen activity holiday. If you are unsure as to whether the walks are within your capabilities, please contact the office to discuss this matter, thus making sure you appreciate the terrain that you will be walking.
You could be walking across uneven ground in some areas and extreme care must be taken, especially if wet. If used to using a pole/stick, it is advisable to bring it. Please appreciate the route and content of the holiday may change at the time and at the discretion of the guide/organiser, should conditions require. Solo’s Holidays Ltd cannot be held responsible for personal injury, accident or damage to property whilst on these walks other than incidents arising out of the company’s negligence. The guide has the right to refuse to guide a walk with anyone not properly attired.
It is of paramount importance that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. However, if you are bringing new footwear, do make sure they are well broken in before you arrive. Experience has shown that wearing 2 pairs of woollen socks adds to comfort.
Whilst we would hope for good weather during your holiday, it is of course impossible to guarantee this. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:
Walking boots with good ankle support
Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
Walking socks – several pairs
Lightweight fleece or jumper
Hat & gloves
Daysack/rucksack for walking
Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellant, etc
Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. In order to give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below. The Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday to cover drivers, guides, porters and hotel staff (including restaurant, kitchen and reception staff) of approximately £10. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of bar staff and housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (the rounding up of the drinks bill and a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, restaurants expect a 10% gratuity (do check that service has not already been added to your bill). For taxis 10% of the metered fare.
Average Temperatures
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January - February | 6 °C | 1 °C |
| March | 9 °C | 2 °C |
| April | 11 °C | 3 °C |
| May | 15 °C | 6 °C |
| June | 18 °C | 9 °C |
| July - August | 20 °C | 11 °C |
| September | 17 °C | 9 °C |
| October | 14 °C | 7 °C |
| November | 9 °C | 3 °C |
| December | 7 °C | 2 °C |
“I’m sure you will enjoy it, I have been on three solos holidays to date and the people I’ve met have been great.”
“I’ve been travelling with Solos for nearly 20 years, on and off. The reason is for exactly what you want – you meet like minded people… and have loads of fun!”
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“The feeling you have once you go away on your own is worth all the nerves before! I was so very anxious the first time but now having done it 4 times, I love it!”
