A freewheeler’s information to the Chilterns

When my spouse and I bought engaged we determined that we had been going to attempt to develop greens and have chickens. By pure luck we ended up in Buckinghamshire, in Medmenham – a spot whose title we couldn’t even pronounce – and we’ve been right here for 18 years. We rented a cottage up within the woods earlier than we purchased our dwelling on the river; we went from residing like Badger in The Wind within the Willows to being like Ratty. There’s a pretty seaside with light sand into the river, and my three daughters discovered to swim within the Thames. On the high of the hill in Medmenham there’s an previous Seventeenth-century searching lodge – in these days it was a half-day’s journey from London and it was on the path to Bristol and Oxford.

The Chilterns are an amazing space for biking. With my daughters I’ll trip away from the river alongside the highest of the hills to Hambleden. Folks wish to pedal as quick as they will up and down the principle roads however you actually need to get off these and into the Chilterns, the place it’s single-track roads and there’s a lot wildlife. It’s superb how well-preserved the countryside is.

From Medmenham we have now Henley on one aspect and Marlow on the opposite – Henley tends to be extra old-school and Marlow extra stylish. On the former, you positively need to hire a ship from Hobbs of Henley and go chugging down the Thames. To do one thing actually wild, go to Wargrave, choose up a canoe or a paddle board and paddle all the way down to Henley. Have lunch there at The Angel on the Bridge pub, proper on the river, after which carry on going all the way in which all the way down to Marlow. Should you’re actually intelligent you’ll discover a secret backwater path to return you to Wargrave – I gained’t reveal the place it’s since you’ve bought to find it for your self. 

It’s 45 minutes from London by rail, but when it’s worthwhile to keep in Henley, keep on the Resort du Vin, which is stable as a rock. In Marlow, it sounds actually naff however it is best to keep on the Premier Inn; it’s a beautiful previous inn that was a correct pub. Then you possibly can spoil your self with dinner on the Compleat Angler for high-quality eating on the river, or at Malik’s for a Heston Blumenthal-approved curry. There’s loads of pleasure about Tom Kerridge in Marlow, the place he has his Hand & Flowers gastropub, however I’d go to his different outfit, The Coach, which is bloody good, for small plates from head chef Sarah Hayward. If I’m in bother with Mrs B-A, it’s a bottle of wine and The Coach. You possibly can’t e book so on a Tuesday night time you simply flip up, you may wait 10 minutes and then you definitely get a desk. Or there’s our native, The Canine & Badger in Medmenham, which is greater than 600 years previous and does meals and rooms. For one thing a bit quirky, you can go up behind Henley to the Nettlebed Creamery. The Cheese Shed there’s a huge barn the place you sit on bales of hay. The ice cream is off the charts and the truffles are superb.

This summer season we had all of the festivals and regattas once more. For me, Henley Pageant is the very best: this 12 months we had Craig David one night time and Tom Jones the following. I don’t assume I’m the one individual to go to the Regatta who isn’t that keen on rowing – the afterparty appears to be larger than the regatta itself. It’s like Venice with crusing boats, rowing boats, twinkling lights, everybody with bottles of wine – and sometimes an unlimited motorised rubber duck. When autumn units in, Kenton Theatre in Henley is an impartial gem. It’s one of many oldest working theatres within the nation, with solely about 250 seats, and it does incredible tiny performances. For one thing actually particular, my good friend Mark flies the Virgin hot-air balloons out of Henley. He’s a sensational pilot however the enjoyable is that you just don’t actually know the place you’re going to finish up. Mark is a good entertainer who is aware of each single area. 

Folks usually assume they should go miles away to have an incredible expertise. However right here you possibly can stick two Bromptons on a prepare or behind the automotive and make a weekend of it. You’ll come again feeling such as you’ve been away for every week. 

The Brompton: Engineering For Change by Will Butler-Adams and Dan Davies is revealed by Profile Books at £22