where
are the chilterns?
The Chiltern Hills are a beautiful, unspoilt corner of England.
They lie only a few miles to the north-west of London and yet
have a very rural character.
The Chilterns begin in Oxfordshire in the Thames Valley and
stretch north-east through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire
to Hitchin in Hertfordshire. For more information view our area maps.
woodland, wildlife and villages
The gently rolling hills are swathed in beech woodland and chalk
downland, providing a haven for wildlife. Wildflowers found
on the downland in summer include abundant orchids and the rare
Chilterns gentian. In the southern Chilterns the spectacular
red kite, a reintroduced bird of prey, is very visible for most
of the year.
woodland web
The Chilterns is famous for its woodlands and you can now experience one online. Visit our innovative woodland web section where you can see and hear woodland wildlife throughout the seasons and journey back in time to meet the characters that lived and worked in the woods of old. From bluebells to bodgers – immerse yourself in a Chilterns wood!
local history
Prehistoric trackways such as the Ridgeway and the Iron Age
hill forts scattered along the Hills give a sense of the ancient
history of the Chilterns. Today, the area continues to provide
a living for farmers and foresters and is home to 100,000 people.
an area of outstanding natural beauty
In 1965, 833 square kilometres of the Chilterns were designated
by the government as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
This recognises that the Chilterns countryside is amongst the
finest in the country, on a par with National Parks. The main
aim of the AONB is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty
of the area, which means that the Chilterns is protected for
future generations to enjoy. There are 40 other AONBs across
England and Wales.
diamonds in the landscape
In 2009 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks
are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the original Act of Parliament
which established these two designations as the means by which the UK's
finest countryside would be protected. The 1949 National Parks and
Access to the Countryside Act paved the way for the creation of the
14 National Parks, 49 AONBs, 294 National Nature Reserves and 19 National
Trails that we enjoy today. As part of the celebrations a wide range of
fantastic promoted walking routes have been put together, with at least
one in most of the country's AONBs and National Parks.
Visit www.diamondsinthelandscape.org.uk
to find out more about the walks and all the other celebrations going on.
chilterns
images
To view a selection of images from around the Chilterns, try
clicking the in-page links throughout this page.
activities
Millions of visitors every year enjoy walking, cycling and riding in the Chilterns using the dense network of lanes, footpaths
and bridleways.
In 2009 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks
are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the original Act of Parliament
which established these two designations as the means by which the UK's
finest countryside would be protected. The 1949 National Parks and
Access to the Countryside Act paved the way for the creation of the
14 National Parks, 49 AONBs, 294 National Nature Reserves and 19 National
Trails that we enjoy today. As part of the celebrations a wide range of
fantastic promoted walking routes have been put together, with at least
one in most of the country's AONBs and National Parks.
Visit 
