FREE* HISTORICAL WALKS
AROUND WYCOMBE

WALKS SCHEDULE 2024

Saturday 25 May  WEIGHING THE MAYOR    Unique to High Wycombe 

09.40-10.00  Charter Trustees leave in procession from the Council Offices in Queen Victoria Road to the Guildhall led by the town crier, beadle and mace bearer followed by the outgoing mayor and the Charter Trustees. 

11.40-12.00 led by the new mayor the same procession winds its way from the Guildhall to Frogmoor for the traditional weighing of the mayor and the Charter Trustees.

Saturday 22 June at 2.00pm

'The High Street  in 45 minutes'

This circular walk starts at The Guildhall and heads off down Paul's Row before finishing along the High Street. Discover the only pub in Wycombe to serve beer to Black Americans stationed at Wycombe Abbey during World War 2, learn about why Wycombe was considered a Rotten Borough through the centuries and hear about Weighing the Mayor, an annual event now uniquely carried out in Wycombe.

Sunday 21 July at 2.00pm

'High Wycombe unmasked!’ 

Flat walk round the centre of town starting at the red letter box at the railway station.  Distance 1 mile in 2 hours. See images of the original railway station and trains, learn how a US airbase in the town proved pivotal in winning the Second World War, view the oldest standing structure in Wycombe/hear about the mediaeval welfare state and discover the world renowned institution that started life here in 1799. 

Sunday 25 August at 2.00pm

'Wycombe in 60 minutes'

This shorter, completely flat 1/2 mile walk starts at Pann Mill (HP11 1BJ) and is suitable for buggies/wheelchairs/dogs. Hear about the prestigious school for girls which was evacuated to make way for US Bomber Command during World War 2, walk along what was considered the longest, broadest, grandest street in Bucks 250 years ago and see the house where Oliver Cromwell came to secret meetings during the Civil War.

Sunday 8 September 10.00am - 4pm FESTIVAL OF WYCOMBE celebrating culture, food, heritage and art in the town centre. Short historical walks around the town.

OTHER WALKS

'Romans, Rivers, Riots and Rebels' 

A two waterways circular walk from Wycombe Lido car park, Bassetsbury Lane, High Wycombe HP11 1QX downstream to Kingsmead and back. Distance 2.25 miles in 2 hours. Find out who was the first English king to 'tweet', view the best preserved mill wheel on the Wye, walk part of the Brunel engineered railway line from Wycombe to Maidenhead and hear the story of the 1830 machine breakers riots.

'Suffragists, Bodgers, Mosquitoes and Goals '

Starts outside Wycombe Museum in Priory Avenue  HP13 6PX for a walk up to Godstowe, the cemetery and west central Wycombe. Includes two short steep climbs and descents with a distance of 1.5 miles in 2 hours. Come and hear about local women's struggle for equal rights, discover the industry that made Wycombe famous throughout the world, learn about the town's serial criminal and why Wycombe Wanderers score in the Guinness Book Records.

'Walk the summer River Wye' 

Meet at Andrews Reach in Bourne End to walk the entire length of the 'summer' River Wye from Bourne End to West Wycombe Park. Distance 12 miles in 6.25 hours. Bring your own coffee and lunch. See where the Wye enters the Thames and walk up this urban but fascinating river past sites of historical interest. Chance to see egrets, wagtails, kingfishers and even a pterodactyl!  Beautiful finale setting by the lake at West Wycombe Park which American diplomat Benjamin Franklin described as paradise.

CAR ASSISTED WALK

'18th century west of Wycombe' 

Park at The Dashwood Roadhouse on the Old Oxford Road at Piddington.  Walk one mile of the old mediaeval way/turnpike road to Oxford from Piddington to Studley Green returning down Old Dashwood Hill  where the remains of a 13th century settlement can be viewed. Then drive to the Dashwood Mausoleum/St Lawrence's Church on West Wycombe Hill to hear the story of the life of Sir Francis Dashwood (and the Hell-Fire Club) before walking through historic West Wycombe.

FREE PRIVATE TOURS

These can be arranged on any walk subject for any length at any time for groups of 7 or more. Get in touch!

FREE SCHOOL WALKS

This walk, suitable for Year 6 and above, will tell the story of famous and not so famous people who have made their mark, the industries that helped forge the town as well as highlighting some imposing buildings and institutions.

Each walk will take 1 hour and, with teachers and supervisory support from each school, it will be possible to take up to 30 pupils on any one tour. Each school will also have to be responsible for pupils getting from and to school. All walks start from Pann Mill HP11 1BJ (opposite Trinity United Reformed Church) on The Rye and end in Frogmoor. We are never indoors. Kids will love it!