Hi all, a friend and I are planning on going away on a trip soon to the Chilterns for a few nights. Does anyone have any route advice, especially looking for bridleway/off-road. Many thanks in advance, Rob.

Quite a big area (more like narrowish strip), can you be more specific?

There are a few members who are local that can help

Check out the ridgeway as well

Hi, I’ve never been before, so have no idea, but it’s pretty equidistant from us around the hills, just looking for anywhere people would recommend, may well be our last trip this year due to work and parent commitments.

Wendover to Princes Risborough and back or vicey versey- zillions of bridleway options all along that edge and lots of woodland. Apparently there's a lot of pubs with beer there too. But don't get food at Butler's Cross unless you take a folding microscope in your seatpack.

Cheers.

Where do you want to start from and how far do you want to go? I live in Berkhamsted and have dozens of routes in the area. Just one thing to note, the rural chilters isn't actually that rural, there's houses and farms every where, are you camping or descrete bivi, it makes a difference on where you plan your 'evening residence'

Hi, nice part of the world is Berko, I used to visit there a lot. Will definitely be looking at wild camping, hadn’t thought about starting from there, I’ll have a chat with my mate and get back to you, cheers.

Berko - canal to Cow Roast - track up to Wiggington - track to Hastoe and Cholesbury - bways to Wendover Woods - lane to Wendover - bways to Dunsmore and Chequers - bways to Risborough. Loads of different parallel bways back the other way. Just get that OS map out and they'll be obvious. Kip in any of the copious woods anywhere. Rich'll have stacks of other stuff too!

Depending on which part of the Chilterns you're heading out from.. I ride a lot around the Southern end which you can patchwork so nice chalk/bridleway/mud loops.
I have a farm just outside Henley if you're looking for super easy wild camping

I live and ride around the Chilterns, based in Henley. There are plenty of trails, but you kind of need to know them to link them together in a sensible way. I've got a bunch of routes gathered over the years I can email if you are interested.

The others have mentioned Berkhamstead. I agree this a good base, nice pubs, food, etc. I stopped there at the Mad Squirrel last Friday before an after work bivy. You can then go into the Ashridge Estate near Ivinghoe beacon for a stealth bivy and then have breaky at the lovely Brownlow Cafe
https://www.strava.com/activities/2646923565

Mark Goldie's Ridgeway route is a nice long mix of gravel, trail and minor roads:
http://ridgewaydouble.net/

The Bucks off road sportive route from a few years ago:
https://www.strava.com/activities/577046003

larsmars wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2019 10:07 am I live and ride around the Chilterns, based in Henley. There are plenty of trails, but you kind of need to know them to link them together in a sensible way. I've got a bunch of routes gathered over the years I can email if you are interested.

Being cheeky but I'd be fair chuffed to see some more local routes (hopefully new to me) if it is not too much bother.

If on a drop bar type bike the more recent cxsportive events in the area do a fair job of linking some interesting bits together.
https://www.cxsportive.com/events/badlands-cx/ + https://www.cxsportive.com/events/woodcote-wildwood-cx/

Some kind of route that went Berko looping round to somewhere around Streatly then you could Ridgeway it back

larsmars wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2019 10:07 am
The others have mentioned Berkhamstead. I agree this a good base, nice pubs, food, etc. I stopped there at the Mad Squirrel last Friday before an after work bivy. You can then go into the Ashridge Estate near Ivinghoe beacon for a stealth bivy and then have breaky at the lovely Brownlow Cafe

larsmars, ah, it was you I was chatting with outside Bownlows, good effort there.

robsmuddygloves
Here's a few recent rides, in no particular order, that could be adapted to bikepacking rides, 1st one was lastnight!
https://www.strava.com/activities/2667088333
https://www.strava.com/activities/1886991478
https://www.strava.com/activities/2652769956
https://www.strava.com/activities/2586396931
https://www.strava.com/activities/2476312756
https://www.strava.com/activities/2470817846
https://www.strava.com/activities/2413714697
https://www.strava.com/activities/2395716911
https://www.strava.com/activities/1980750052
https://www.strava.com/activities/1969274990
https://www.strava.com/activities/1846121147

Give me a shout if you want any of these as .gpx

Jamesh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2019 7:57 pm Being cheeky but I'd be fair chuffed to see some more local routes (hopefully new to me) if it is not too much bother.

Sure, happy to help. Easiest is for me to share some recent Strava tracks for you to have a look at. Recently we've been riding from Henley out the Ridgeway to the West Berkshire Brewery, great pizza and beer (link). Also, you should pop down to Lovibonds Henley on Sundays at 0830 for the locals day ride. Casual trail ride open to all, normally with beers at Lovibonds at around 1230.

Jamesh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2019 7:57 pm If on a drop bar type bike the more recent cxsportive events in the area do a fair job of linking some interesting bits together.
https://www.cxsportive.com/events/badlands-cx/ + https://www.cxsportive.com/events/woodcote-wildwood-cx/

I rode the Woodcote CX in Feb. Nice route.

Jamesh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2019 7:57 pm Some kind of route that went Berko looping round to somewhere around Streatly then you could Ridgeway it back

That's pretty much the one I posted, but you would want to skip out High Wycombe. I only pass through there because it's part of my commute.

Rich3rd wrote: ↑Sat Aug 31, 2019 8:47 pm larsmars, ah, it was you I was chatting with outside Bownlows, good effort there.

Ah, funny coincidence. Fancy meeting you here! I just found you on Strava Flyby

larsmars wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2019 10:04 pm

Jamesh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2019 7:57 pm Being cheeky but I'd be fair chuffed to see some more local routes (hopefully new to me) if it is not too much bother.

Sure, happy to help. Easiest is for me to share some recent Strava tracks for you to have a look at. Recently we've been riding from Henley out the Ridgeway to the West Berkshire Brewery, great pizza and beer (link). Also, you should pop down to Lovibonds Henley on Sundays at 0830 for the locals day ride. Casual trail ride open to all, normally with beers at Lovibonds at around 1230.

Jamesh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2019 7:57 pm If on a drop bar type bike the more recent cxsportive events in the area do a fair job of linking some interesting bits together.
https://www.cxsportive.com/events/badlands-cx/ + https://www.cxsportive.com/events/woodcote-wildwood-cx/

I rode the Woodcote CX in Feb. Nice route.

Jamesh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2019 7:57 pm Some kind of route that went Berko looping round to somewhere around Streatly then you could Ridgeway it back

That's pretty much the one I posted, but you would want to skip out High Wycombe. I only pass through there because it's part of my commute.

Thanks of the info, will take a gander
I will endeavour to make one of those Sunday rides, sounds just the type of riding I'd enjoy. Are these listed up somewhere online (anyway to jock my memory)
I'm slowly regaining some strength in my wrist after a series of injuries so more drop bar riding right now, I'm playing around with bars/stems on my trail bike so hopefully will find a positive outcome soon! I'm based close to Velolife if you happen to know that haunt

Thanks for all the route advice, I’ll check them all out tomorrow

Jamesh wrote: ↑ Thanks of the info, will take a gander
I will endeavour to make one of those Sunday rides, sounds just the type of riding I'd enjoy. Are these listed up somewhere online (anyway to jock my memory)
I'm slowly regaining some strength in my wrist after a series of injuries so more drop bar riding right now, I'm playing around with bars/stems on my trail bike so hopefully will find a positive outcome soon! I'm based close to Velolife if you happen to know that haunt

The Lovibonds rides are just a big WhatsApp group. I can ask Jeff to add you if you like, just PM me your mobile. Yes, I know Velolife. My missus Jenny cycles past on her commute. Sad news about the previous owner trying to get them shutdown, but great to hear it’s now got the attention of Chris Boardman and others.