Buckinghamshire holds many marvels and wonders to enchant and delight, including the Ford End Farm Watermill, Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Haddenham, which treats over 10,000 rescued animals a year, and the Stanley Spencer Gallery.
There are also a host of natural attractions in Buckinghamshire to enjoy, from rowing on the River Thames and horse riding in the Chiltern Hills to cycling down leafy lanes and mountain biking along invigorating trails.
Day 1
Morning: Take a trip to the magical Bekonscot Model Village and Railway, which depicts rural England in the 1930s. Delighting visitors of all ages, this miniature wonderland is the world’s oldest model village and offers so much to explore. Enid Blyton took her inspiration for Noddy’s Toy Town from Bekonscot and recently it was the location for a storyline in Midsomer Murders. Allow 2 ½ hours. Free coach parking. Group rates available. Tel: 01494 672919
Lunch: Visit one of West Wycombe Village’s little pubs. Ask High Wycombe Tourist Information Centre for their recommendations. Tel: 01494 421892
Afternoon: Explore the Hell-Fire Caves, the underground caves excavated by Sir Francis Dashwood and reputed to have hosted the Hell Fire Club in the 18th Century. Allow 2 hours. Group prices available. Tel: 01494 533739. If there is still time, there are plenty of shopping opportunities available and places to eat in High Wycombe Town Centre.
Evening: Take in a show at Wycombe Swan theatre in High Wycombe. Tel: 01494 512000
Bekonscot Model Village and Railway to West Wycombe: 9 miles / 25 mins
West Wycombe to Hell-Fire Caves: 1 min
Day 2
Morning: Book your group in for a visit to the Longridge Activity Centre by the River Thames in Marlow. Recently voted as one of the best sports tourism facilities in the country, Longridge is an outdoor adventure centre for all ages offering water and land based activities including rowing, canoeing, dragon boating, water orbing and high ropes. Allow 2 – 3 hours. Tel: 01628 483252
Lunch: If booked in advance, catering can be provided by Longridge Activity Centre.
Afternoon: Spend a few hours at Black Park Country Park or Wendover Woods, both popular locations in the Chilterns. Black Park Country Park offers a wide variety of activities from fishing to orienteering and at Wendover Woods there are plenty of walking and cycling trails, a woodland café with homemade cakes and pre-bookable barbecue sites. If your group still has the energy head into the tree tops at Go Ape! for some fantastic fun. Allow 2 – 3 hours. Coach parking available. Tel: 0845 094 9746
Evening: Enjoy dinner at The Old Swan in Cheddington, a chocolate box country inn serving contemporary dishes, or one of the many fine restaurants in Wendover or Beaconsfield. The Old Swan Tel: 01296 668226
Don’t forget you can visit the international Silverstone circuit, Tel: 0844 3728 200, or take a trip back in time on the enchanting Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway with a cream tea in hand. Allow 1 hour. Tel: 07979 055366 for group bookings.
Longridge Activity Centre to Black Park Country Park: 17 miles / 30 mins
Longridge Activity Centre to Wendover Woods: 23 miles / 45 mins