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Beating the Bounds 25-mile walk

10 May @ 7:30 am - 5:30 pm

- Free
People walking up a gentle slope, border collie in the foreground

Part of the Chilterns Walking Festival 10 May to 1 June 2025, organised by Chilterns National Landscape. 

From the organisers Chiltern National Landscape (formerly Chilterns AONB).

“Please come and join us on this challenging walk around the ancient parish of Chesham which celebrates the old custom of Beating the Bounds”.

Beating the Bounds, Saturday 10 May. Starts at Christ Church, Trapps Lane, Chesham HP5 1NX, Chesham. There will be a stop halfway at The Glebe Cafe in Ashley Green. Bring packed lunch also, see event link for details. There will be jacket potatoes at the end at Christ Church ( donation)

A  free guided 25-mile walk as part of the Chilterns Walking FestivalPlaces are limited  Book via Chilterns National Landscapes website.

What is Beating the Bounds?

An extract from Wikipedia:

Beating the bounds or perambulating the bounds is an ancient custom still observed in parts of England, Wales, and the New England region of the United States, which traditionally involved swatting local landmarks with branches to maintain a shared mental map of parish boundaries, usually every seven years.

These ceremonial events occur on what are sometimes called gangdays; the custom of going a-ganging was kept before the Norman Conquest. During the event, a group of prominent citizens from the community, which can be an English church parish, New England town, or other civil division, will walk the geographic boundaries of their locality for the purpose of maintaining the memory of the precise location of these boundaries. While modern surveying techniques have rendered these ceremonial walks largely irrelevant, the practice remains as an important local civic ceremony or legal requirement for civic leaders.”

 

 

Details

Date:
10 May
Time:
7:30 am - 5:30 pm
Cost:
Free
Event Categories:
,
Website:
https://www.chilterns.org.uk/whats-on/walkingfest/3701-4/

Organiser

Chilterns National Landscape
View Organiser Website

Venue

Christ Church, Waterside
Trapps Lane
Chesham, Bucks HP5 1NX United Kingdom
+ Google Map

Details

Date:
10 May
Time:
7:30 am - 5:30 pm
Cost:
Free
Event Categories:
,
Website:
https://www.chilterns.org.uk/whats-on/walkingfest/3701-4/

Organiser

Chilterns National Landscape
View Organiser Website

Venue

Christ Church, Waterside
Trapps Lane
Chesham, Bucks HP5 1NX United Kingdom
+ Google Map