Hartwell House is a country house in the parish of Hartwell in Buckinghamshire, Southern England. The house is owned by the Ernest Cook Trust, has been a Historic House Hotel since 1989, and in 2008 was leased to the National Trust. The Grade I listed house is Jacobean with a Georgian front and Rococo interiors, set in a picturesque landscaped park, and is most famous as the home of exiled French king Louis XVIII in the early 19th century.
🐦75+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Starling and Blue Tit
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
🐦75+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Starling and Blue Tit
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
Good to know
🐕Dogs welcome
Best for
8 activities
🦅
Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Starling, Blue Tit, Grey Heron +72 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Free
✦
Heritage
Very strong match
Grade I listed building: HARTWELL HOUSE; Historic site with public access
Free
🦉
Wildlife
Strong match
Birds — Starling, Blue Tit, Grey Heron +72 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
Free
🦋
Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Common Carder Bee, Marmalade Hoverfly, Summer Chafer +120 more · last seen 2025; Traditional orchard — specialist orchard insects and lichens
Free
🌿
Foraging
Strong match
Traditional orchard — seasonal fruit, fungi and wild plants
Varies
🐶
Dog walks
Good match
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km
🚶
Walking
▾
16 signed routes nearby · 31 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Midshires WayWalking route370 km▾
Multi-use trail links the Ridgeway National Trail with the Trans Pennine Trail
Named routeLength 370 kmRegional walking route
Round Aylesbury WalkWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Baron's Walk at WaddesdonWalking route2.4 km▾
Rediscovered in 2001, this walk was used to bring up plants from the huge glasshouses at the bottom of the hill to the parterre. Some sections uneven with moderate gradients up & downhill. Dogs welcome on short leads.
Named routeLength 2.4 kmDuration 00:30Point-to-pointLocal walking route
The Wellie walk, WaddesdonWalking route2.4 km▾
Stop & play in the stick dens or soak up the view of Aylesbury Vale, & Diamond Jubilee Wood. Look out for wildlife & woodland features. You can take a buggie but note - the path from the Stables up to the Manor is steep & Miss Alice's Drive can get muddy
Named routeLength 2.4 kmDuration 00:30-00:50Round tripLocal walking route
Winter Garden Walk at WaddesdonWalking route4.8 km▾
See Waddesdon's garden highlights, including a view of Flint House, 3D bedding birds near the Aviary & the Winter Garden. Some sections uneven with moderate gradients up & downhill so not suitable for all mobility requirements. Dogs welcome on short leads
Named routeLength 4.8 kmDuration 01:00Round tripLocal walking route
🚴
Cycling
▾
31 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 50Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 50National Cycle Network
Pebble WayCycling route▾
Named routeRef PebbleLocal cycle route
Topaz WayCycling route▾
Named routeRef TopazLocal cycle route
St Peter's GreenwayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Platinum WayCycling route▾
Named routeRef PlatinumLocal cycle route
National Byway (Bucks)Cycling route▾
Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route
🐴
Horse riding
▾
4 public paths nearby
Public paths
Thame Valley Walkbridleway · 348 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 348 mPath type: footway
