Walkwise Walking Weekend Vicar of Dibley Country & the West Chiltern Hills

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Friday 14 June 16:00 - Sunday 16 June

(2 nights)

From £259.00

Listed by Spice National

Overview

The Chilterns are a lovely range of rolling hills, characterised by high chalk ridges rising steeply from dry river valleys. Many people will be familiar with the area from the TV series, the vicar of Dibley which is set in this stunning landscape. In fact we will visit St Barnabus and the beautiful village of Turville where the program was set. We will also visit the Chittychitty bang bangs windmill as well as many other beautiful villages, nature reserves, watch the Red Kites over head and enjoy the dramatic viewpoints from the ridgeway too.  

Chilterns walking

Includes

  • 2 Nights Accommodation in twin/double share rooms
  • 2 Breakfasts
  • 2 Picnic lunches
  • 2 Evening meals
  • 2 days of guided walks with a choice of walks each day

Extras

  • Single or Sole Occupancy Supplement
  • Transport to walks. Local transport to walks if used or alternatively you can use your own cars may be used to get to the start of the walk.
  • Guests who are new to Spice are welcome to book at a £36 supplement though they may prefer to join to obtain the member rate and any deals that may be available at the time of booking/joining. Please call your local office/group to enquire about booking as a guest.
Chilterns walking
Walking Weekend Chilterns West from Gideon

Location & Itinerary

The area really is perfect for all levels and ability of walkers, with pleasant gentle strolls, and also some more challenging routes. These chalk downlands provide great habitats and we shall be exploring the best of what is on offer against the picturesque villages and grassland meadows. Visiting in June is also the perfect time to enjoy all the chalk flora and the many nature reserves should be at their blooming best.

There is some lovely walking around the Christmas Common which overlooks the Stokenchurch Gap which is the opening scenes in the Vicar of Dibley. From here there are fine views over the surrounding countryside. During our walk we will visit an enchanting village pond at Russell’s water and pause on the green by the church near ‘Peas-grow-hill’ spelt Pishill. This fine quiet walk has some good climbs during the day and makes for a perfect introduction to the area and finishes in the Fox and Hounds a small cosy old-style pub.  There are so many other good walks here we may do something else but the decision will be made closer to the time. There are also some routes directly from the centre itself and it is possible to wander out towards Beacon and Ashton Hill to gain a birds eye view back down to the house and surrounding countryside.   

On the Sunday we will decamp to do the main Vicar of Dibley walk. We will check out of the hotel and head over to Cadmore End. From here our beaufiful walks will encompass the villages of Cadmore End, Turville, Fingest and Skirmett and the Church of St Marys, all of which were heavily used locations in the series. So whether you simply wish to catch up with your friends and have a relaxing weekend away or if you like getting out in the fresh air and having some excellent walks and exercise then this is an ideal weekend for you. 

To allow you to choose a walk that suits you best, WalkWise UK will provide a minimum of two walks on each day, led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. On each day there will be a harder walk of 10-13 miles with 1000+ft of ascent and a gentler walk of 7-9 miles with less ascent. All walks are weather dependent and own transport may be taken to the walk starts.

Is this for me?

To allow you to choose a walk that suits you best, WalkWise UK will provide a minimum of two walks on each day, led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. On each day there will be a harder walk of 10-13 miles with 1000+ft of ascent and a gentler walk of 7-9 miles with less ascent. All walks are weather dependent and own transport may be taken to the walk starts.

Chilterns walking
Chilterns walking
Chilterns walking
walk chilternhills

Travel & Stay

Walkwise Chilterns

Mercure Thame Lambert Hotel blends a classic architecture with all necessary comforts. Its friendly services and a comfortable atmosphere make guests feel at home. This beautifully renovated inn has comfy, modern rooms with air conditioning. The Mercure Thame Lambert Hotel is near the border of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The Kite restaurant offers freshly prepared and carefully sourced produce, served in relaxed surroundings while the hotel bar tries to convey a traditional pub feel. All rooms have plasma TV screens and internet access. On-site parking is available. All in all, this makes an ideal base for our weekend away!

Availability & Pricing

TypePrice
Member Double Share Space - Must be 2£259.00Sold Out
Member Female Twin Share Space£259.00Sold Out
Member Male Twin Share Space£259.00Sold Out
Member Sole Occupancy Room Space£299.00Sold Out

Not enough spaces left for you? Join the waitlist

Mercure Thame Lambert, London Road, Ashton Rowant, OX49 5SQ
Walkwise Chilterns
Walkwise Chilterns

Host & Everything Else

You MUST have:

  • Walking boots
  • A Water bottle (minimum 1 litre)
  • A Rucksack with a plastic liner
  • Waterproofs: jacket and trousers
  • A Warm hat
  • Warm gloves (not leather)
  • Thick walking socks
  • Base layer: (thin thermal or warm T-shirt. Best not to be cotton as it gets cold when wet)
  • Over layer: (warm sweater or fleece)
  • Extra layer: warm top for when cold (eg. when stopped for lunch)
  • Comfortable walking trousers (not jeans as they are too cold & heavy when wet)
  • Personal Medication
  • A face covering and hand sanitiser
  • Smart casual clothes for the evening.

You may wish to bring:

  • Trekking Poles
  • Vacuum flask (if you like hot drinks on the hill)
  • Medium size Tupperware container or plastic bag, to put picnic lunch in.
  • Sit mat 
  • Sun glasses
  • Lip salve
  • Camera
  • Personal first aid kit

In good weather and/or summer, you may also wish to bring

  • Short trousers
  • T - Shirts
  • Sun hat
  • Sun tan lotion

In poor weather and/or winter, you may also wish to bring:

  • Gaiters
  • Balaclava
  • Extra warm clothing

Travel Insurance: It is also recommended that when travelling on holiday or attending Spice weekends away in the UK or overseas that you have adequate travel insurance in case of emergency, cancellation, etc. Travel insurance is an important aspect to booking a weekend or holiday, giving you protection against unforeseen circumstances. While we cannot recommend specific insurance policies as everyone’s requirements are personal to them, Spice have linked up with market leader Staysure Travel Insurance which you may like to take a look at.

Maps: The map(s) for this event are:

1:25 000 OS Explorer Map 171 Chiltern Hills West 

This event is organised and supplied by WalkWise UK Ltd, whose terms and conditions apply and for whom your local SPICE group acts as an agent. Those booking enter into a contract directly with WalkWise UK Ltd. For availability and bookings contact Spice Social directly.

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