Now that we can all start exploring again, I have been venturing out into my home county of
Buckinghamshire - into the green and undulating countryside, where the great chalk Ridgeway
dominates the villages nestled within the Chiltern Hills, over which red kites soar. It’s a perfect place to regroup your thoughts, get some fresh air into your lungs and feel re-inspired. Boy! Do we all need it!

Several towns have guildhalls supported by columns within which the old corn markets used to
operate, and where lively markets still do, where you can buy local specialities for your picnic.

And you can visit those artisans too - there are breweries working to 300 year old recipes, and
vineyards producing local sparkling wine, splendid cheeseries, butchers and smokeries. One local
winery has even been talking about building a ski slope alongside the vineyard so I’m looking
forward to the prospect of skiing down a slope with a glass of wine in one hand and a ski pole in the other!!

For the gardeners, there is plenty of scope; one especial garden close to my heart is Greys Court (National Trust) where you can gawp in their walled garden and gape at the monstrous Wisteria – before going to their scrumptious tea room in the old stables, passing by the scene of the Grantham’s picnic (yes, Greys Court appeared in “Downton Abbey”)

It would be a crying shame not to spend a little time by the river. How about a boat trip or maybe
you’re just happy to sit and watch people rowing up and down stream, or drifting by in their cruisers, passenger boats and narrow boats. AND this area is only around 30 miles west of London!

No wonder the Chilterns has a magnetic attraction for film makers. Don’t forget that the famous
film studios at Pinewood, Leavesden and Shepperton are not far away. Over the years they have
come to film scenes for James Bond, Johnny English, The Vicar of Dibley, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Eagle has Landed, even The Land That Time Forgot! In some villages, you do almost feel that you have gone back in time. Maybe that’s why the crew of Bentley Productions have filmed most of the 197 or so episodes of “Midsomer Murders” here. “Hooray!” say I (being a Midsomer enthusiast).

Some businesses have picked up on it too. Anyone who “likes a bit of sustenance” can turn a visit
experience into a visit-and-eat experience. In Thame you can eat a “Barnaby Bun” at Rumseys tea
room and in The Argyll pub in Henley (which appeared in an episode called “Last Year’s Model”), you can even get a beer called “Try before you die”! I even heard that the deli in Watlington sold a “Sykes Sausage Roll” but I have yet to find out if that’s fact or fiction!

A charming place to staycation, with Midsomer Murders connections (at least 4 episodes have been filmed here), is White Pond Farm, near Henley, which has three self-catering cottages. It lies well within the reach of the photogenic towns of Henley on Thames, Wallingford, Dorchester, Thame and Marlow, all oozing unique olde-world charm.
Blue Badge guides like myself can be booked for those who would like to be shown all the sights in carefree bliss, and safety, without the worry of spending hours researching.

A charming place to stay, with Midsomer Murders connections (at least 4 episodes have been filmed here), is White Pond Farm, near Henley, which has three self-catering cottages, and is a great base from which to explore the whole area, lying well within the reach of the photogenic towns of Henley on Thames, Wallingford, Dorchester, Thame or Marlow, all oozing unique olde-world charm.

Blue Badge guides like myself can be booked for those who would like to be shown all the sights in carefree bliss, and safety, without the worry of spending hours researching.

For more staycationing tips for the Thames and Chilterns, or to My Tours, please contact the author, Blue Badge Guide, Bobbie Latter: bobbiebluebadge@gmail.com 07770933117