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Denham Circular

Buckinghamshire Walk

County/Area - Buckinghamshire - South Buckinghamshire

Author - Peter Smyly

Length - 10.0 miles / 16.3 km    Ascent - 250 feet / 76 metres

Time - 5 hours 20 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Ordnance Survey Explorer 172Sheet Map1:25kBUY
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Ordnance Survey Landranger 176Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 176Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Denham Circular
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The leafy Buckinghamshire village of Denham features in both the early and latter stages of this circular ten mile walk. The walk route is mostly on the level and offers easy terrain and gradients. One downside to the walk is that it passes near to, and involves crossing, some busy main roads. However, there are plus factors in other respects. The main scenic features come after the half way point in the form of the River Colne, the Grand Union Canal and Denham Country Park, part of the Colne Valley Trail which runs between Rickmansworth and Colnbrook.

The start and finish point is Denham railway station. An underpass leads to the other side of the railway line and a public footpath, part of the South Bucks Way, leads slightly south-west of south between trees and other vegetation to emerge, after about five hundred metres, at the leafy village of Denham with its village green directly ahead. Turn right along Village Road which leads to a T junction at Denham Avenue. Cross this busy road and a footpath continues on the other side alongside a field with horses in the next field to the right.

Cross the A413 to Blacksmith's Lane and follow the path ahead, leading to a road with a turn off to the left more or less due south. .Another road crossing involves going to the other side of the busy motorway over a bridge and take the next road turning on the right past Rush Green Farm. Over a wooden stile, the route passes Gossams Wood on the right then goes gently downhill as it skirts the edge of a field with woodland on the right. At the bottom of the slope it continues to run parallel with a busy motorway on the right, though largely obscured from it by trees. Cross a bridge over the motorway and the path continues along the other side of the motorway before veering right through woodland to the village of Iver Heath. Cross Denham Road and walk down Bangor Road North ahead. Look out for a footpath turning left off this road, opposite Anslow Gardens, initially enclosed by a fence on the right and trees on the left, before emerging to cross an open field before a wooden stile crossing leads to Slough Road which you cross and continue the route on the other side of the road. Go downhill at this point through trees. The path then runs more or less due south in parallel to the M25 before emerging from woodland. Another bridge over the motorway leads to the east bringing you to a country road with horses in a field to the right next to Palmers Moor Farm. At the T junction ahead, cross over Iver Road which leads to a path across a field and woodland with a stream running through it. The path ahead brings you to the pretty River Colne. Follow the route ahead to the left as the footpath makes its way through trees with glimpses of the river on the right. The path ahead leads to a flight of steps and a main road at Cowley. Turn right here after crossing the road with care and follow the road ahead towards Cowley Bridge. Just before the bridge, there is a pleasant view to the left overlooking the Grand Union Canal with its colourful barges and trees reflected in the water and this is the way to go next along the tow path due north.

The tow path leads to Uxbridge, and this point offers one option to shorten the walk by using Uxbridge railway station. Otherwise, keep following the path ahead, crossing a bridge at Uxbridge Lock and then the tow path to the right of the canal, passing under the busy A40 Western Avenue. On approaching Denham Lock, turn to the left to follow a track to Denham Country Park. The Visitors Centre has a cafe and public conveniences. The return to Denham railway station is made by walking past Buckinghamshire Golf Course on the right. A wooden gate is signposted on the left just past a couple of ponds, indicating the way back to the station, part of the South Bucks Way. Turn right at the road ahead, Village Road, which leads you back into Denham village and, passing St Mary's Church on the right, the road ahead leads you back to the village green. From here you need to reverse the outgoing stretch of the walk back to the station along the road called The Pyghtle.

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