West Wycombe Hill and the Dashwood Mausoleum
Buckinghamshire
West Wycombe Hill rises straight from the timber-framed village below, an Iron Age hillfort now topped by St Lawrence's Church, rebuilt in Georgian style with a distinctive golden ball on its tower, and the Dashwood Mausoleum, a roofless hexagonal structure of flint built in 1763 with sweeping views over High Wycombe. This 5.5km circular walk climbs from the village through beechwood ridges, with 195 metres of ascent, before descending through valleys past old farmhouses, where dogs go on a lead near the grazing sheep and cattle, and back up through Great Cockshoots Wood to return. The chalk paths on the hillside can be very slippery in wet weather, and the route passes close to, but does not require entering, the famous Hellfire Caves.
This is a dog friendly walk, with moderate off-lead potential on the wider woodland and ridge sections away from the village and the church grounds. Sheep and cattle are still grazed on parts of the hill to keep the chalk grassland in good condition, so dogs need to go back on the lead near any flock, and the National Trust asks for dogs to be under control around the church and mausoleum where visitors gather. The beechwoods give reliable shade, though there is little natural water on the route itself. Parking is at the West Wycombe car park in the village, with cafes and a dog-friendly pub in West Wycombe itself for afterwards.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 5.5 km (3.4 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 2 hr
- Walk Type
- Historic, Woodland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Cafes and a dog-friendly pub in West Wycombe village.
- Parking
- West Wycombe car park, Chorley Road, West Wycombe.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to West Wycombe Hill and the Dashwood Mausoleum, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in BuckinghamshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is West Wycombe Hill and the Dashwood Mausoleum dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome on the hill and surrounding paths, and it scores 7 out of 10 for dog friendliness. The climb to the church, mausoleum and hillfort gives genuine history and wide views for a moderate effort. The score is held back because sheep and cattle graze parts of the hill, so leads are needed near livestock, and the chalk paths get slippery in wet weather.
Can dogs be off lead at West Wycombe Hill and the Dashwood Mausoleum?
Moderate off-lead potential on the beechwood ridges and valley paths away from the village and the church grounds, where sheep and cattle are not usually present. Livestock does graze parts of the hill at times to manage the chalk grassland, so dogs should go on the lead near any flock, and it is worth keeping dogs close around the church and mausoleum.
What should I know before visiting West Wycombe Hill and the Dashwood Mausoleum with my dog?
The chalk hillside paths can be very slippery in wet weather, so take care on the steeper sections, and there is little natural water on the route. The walk passes close to the Hellfire Caves, which are a separate paid attraction and not part of this route. Parking is at the West Wycombe car park in the village, which has cafes and a pub nearby.
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