We’ve built The Wild Root to have everything you need, so once you arrive you don’t have to think about a thing. Slow mornings, the outdoor bath, a sauna and spa you can walk to in your robe, books and games inside, breakfast and dinner packages so you have the option to not even have to think about what you’re going to eat.
However, The Wild Root is set in The Chilterns countryside, close to some lovely local towns, independent businesses, and beautiful country walks. So in case you do want to leave your cabin (we understand if you don’t), we’ve gone a step further and created your itinerary with this list of our favourite things to do nearby. They’re all within twenty minutes of your cabin, and we think you’ll love them as much as we do.
1. Peterley Manor Farm
Just a 20 minute walk through alpaca fields, or a 5 minute drive away, Peterley Manor Farm is the sort of place you go for a quick look around and end up leaving 3 hours later, post- a delicious lunch, having booked an impromptu fitness class for tomorrow morning, and holding a bag of goodies you didn’t know you needed until you stepped into the farm shop.
The farm shop is stocked with local and seasonal produce, the Barn Kitchen café has great coffee alongside a seasonal menu, and depending on the time of year you can pick your own fruit and veg straight from the field. There’s an on-site wellness spa, Slohaus Wild Spa, a yurt for yoga and pilates classes (Wellness in the Yurt), and RØAM training has recently opened a brand new gym in one of the barns.
They also hold regular events including supper clubs, talks and creative workshops which could be worth planning your stay around.
2. Oxmoor Farm
Another few minutes drive down the lanes and you’re at Oxmoor Farm, a Chiltern Hills farm that’s turned into one of the area’s best food stops. The Barn Restaurant does proper Neapolitan pizza, small plates and natural wine in a converted barn set amongst ancient woodland. If your dates line up, look out for Wild Feasts, their monthly supper club with a different guest chef each time, built around whatever the farm and its neighbouring small producers have in season. They also have events like Introduction to Sourdough, Wildflower Bouquet Making, and their “Digging Deeper” talks series where experts come in to speak about subjects like fermentation and growing organic food.
These are really special events and some guests purposely match their dates so they can attend.
3. Great Missenden’s High Street
Just a few minutes drive, or about a 45 minute walk from the cabins. When you get there, start at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre. He lived here for over 35 years, and the museum runs a free self-guided village trail past Danny’s petrol pumps, the house that inspired Sophie’s orphanage in The BFG, and Dahl’s own grave (pick up the leaflet on the High Street, or download it before you go).
Then, meander in and out of the independents, including Grover for gifts and homeware, St Andrew’s Bookshop if you want something for the outdoor bath, and Fan Fan Pizza is our favourite spot for lunch, with dough proved for 24 hours, hand-stretched and fired in an open kitchen.
If you’re with us on the first Sunday of the month, there’s an artisan market held on the high street where you’ll find butchers, cheesemongers, bakers and craft stalls.
4. Our favourite local pubs
We couldn’t pick one, so here’s three. Take your pick or take yourself on a pub crawl while you’re with us.
The Full Moon, Little Kingshill – a proper village local just a few minutes walk from the cabins. Cask ales, a big garden, and classic pub food.
The Nags Head, Great Missenden – old beams, open fires throughout, and a kitchen doing seasonal, locally-sourced food with a proper wine list. There’s a garden with its own gazebo for milder afternoons, and it’s worth booking if you fancy a quality sit down dinner in a countryside pub environment.
The Red Lion, Little Missenden – a quaint, old-fashioned village pub with a real fire, a garden, and a good pint of real ale. It’s the perfect pit stop if you’re walking the South Bucks Way, so pop in for a drink and then carry on along the trail.
5. The Little Kingshill Circular
Straight from the village, just a couple of minutes from the cabins, this circular walk loops out through the fields around Little Kingshill, taking in Mantle’s Wood and farmland before heading back via Little Missenden and towards Great Missenden. It’s a proper walk at 9.8km and 2–3 hours, but you could easily cut the loop short if you’re more interested in a pint at the Full Moon (which it passes near the end) or getting back to the outdoor bath at the cabin.
Paths can get muddy after rain, so bring some stomping boots. Mapped on AllTrails if you want to follow it on your phone.
6. Coombe Hill
For the best view in the Chilterns, it’s worth the 17 minute drive out towards Wendover. Coombe Hill is the highest point in the range, and a short, well-marked climb from the car park to the monument gets you a wide sweep over the Vale of Aylesbury. Great for an early morning start or a golden hour photo, before heading back to the sauna at the cabins.
We’d love to know where you end up and what you enjoy the most, but it’s also more than ok if your favourite thing about staying with us is not doing anything at all.
