Waddesdon Manor Walks

Explore the beautiful grounds surrounding this exquisite French Renaissance-style chateau near Aylesbury. Walking trails take you through woodland, Victorian style gardens, a parterre with ornate fountains and a working aviary with adjacent rose garden.... There are also splendid views of the surrounding Oxfordshire countryside, the Chilterns Hills and the Vale of Aylesbury.
Built in the style of a French chateau between 1874 and 1889 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild the house is also well worth a visit. In the tour you will see grand rooms and over 15,000 works of art, including 18th-century portraits by British artists Reynolds, Gainsborough and Romney.
A number of walking trails run past the house including the Bernwood Jubilee Way, Aylesbury Ring, Midshires Way, and the Tramway Trail. These all offer great opportunities for exploring the Buckinghamshire countryside surrounding the park.
In September 2018 a new shared cycling and walking trail opened which links Aylesbury Vale Parkway Station to the site. The Waddesdon Greenway runs for about 4km on a nice surfaced path and is a great way to visit the manor if you're coming by public transport.
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A few miles west of the manor you can visit an interesting local historical site on the Brill Windmill Walk. The 17th century mill is one of the earliest and best preserved examples of a post mill in the whole of the UK.
Another nice idea is to follow the Bernwood Jubilee Way south to link up with the Thame Valley Walk at Eythrope Park. There's lovely trails to be found here along the scenic River Thame. In this area you can also pick up the circular Haddenham Walk which uses part of the Aylesbury Ring and the Thame Valley Walk to visit Dinton, Nether Winchendon and Cuddington. The route starts from Haddenham where there's a pretty duck pond, a fine old church and quaint thatched cottages to see.
Head north from the manor and you will soon come to the pretty village of Quainton. The settlement is well worth a visit with an old windmill, a picturesque village green, a 14th century church, a row of 17th century almshouses and a rather fine 1700s pub to visit. To the north of the village there's also an excellent viewpoint at Quainton Hill.
To the south is the nearby village of Long Crendon. Here you'll find a number of medieval timber framed properties including Long Crendon Courthouse which dates to the 15th century and is run by the National Trust. From the village there is also a pleasant footpath to the remains of Notley Abbey, an Augustinian abbey founded in the 12th century and located in a scenic spot by the River Thame.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Buckinghamshire Walks page.

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Nearby Routes

Bernwood Jubilee Way Aylesbury Ring Midshires Way Tramway Trail Waddesdon Greenway Brill Piddington Thame Valley Walk Long Crendon Eythrope Park Aylesbury to Waddesdon Walk

Photos

Waddesdon Manor was designed by the French architect Gabriel Hippolyte Destailleur in 1874 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild as a Renaissance-style chateau, based on those in the Loire Valley. Building work took place between 1874 and 1889. On the left is the main entrance to the manor with the front façade of the south-west wing on the right. It was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1957 on the death of James de Rothschild.

The Stables.
Photograph was taken in April 2013.
Now converted to a restaurant these are the former stables of Waddesdon Manor.
The old 1885 edition of Ordnance Survey mapping does not show them but the 1900 edition does, which suggests they were built as the main manor house was nearing completion around 1889.

The Aviary is contemporary with the manor house, certainly being in place by 1889. Possibly inspired by an aviary at his childhood home, Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild envisaged the Waddesdon Manor aviary as a focal point in the gardens. During house parties hosted by the Baron the collection of exotic birds was brought out and the Baron and his guests fed them by hand. Nowadays the aviary serves a scientific purpose in breeding some endangered species. The statue in the formal garden is of Apollo and a goat.

Waddesdon: The Goodwin Almshouses. The text on the tablet above the entrance reads: These Almshouses originally built in 1642 by Arthur Goodwin, Esq. of Winchendon were rebuilt in 1893 by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild M.P. and modernised in 1972 with the help of Mrs. James A. de Rothschild

Waddesdon Hill Strict and Particular Baptist Chapel. Part of the notice board outside this isolated but well cared-for Grade II listed chapel reads that it was "Built in 1792 at the expense of Francis Cox for the use of Particular Baptists. Being no longer needed for its original purpose the chapel was acquired through the generosity of the descendants of the original donor and the Buckingham Historic Buildings Trust Ltd and presented in 1986 to the Friends of Friendless Churches". 

Fountains before the front drive of Waddesdon Manor. The overflowing parked cars confirm that this is a popular place to come.

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