🚗 Thornborough & Coombs Woodlands Car Park – Buckinghamshire Countryside & Trailhead Access Guide

🚗 Type: Free Public Off-Street Car Park (Buckinghamshire Council)
🕒 Open: Dawn–Dusk (approx. 06:00–20:00; seasonal variation)
🌟 Rating: 4.5 / 5 (visitor reviews aggregate)

💰 Pricing & Permits

Cost	Payment	Return Restrictions	Blue Badge Holders
Free	Not required	None within opening hours	Exempt (no display needed)

Unlimited stay during daylight hours; no charges or tickets.
No return restrictions—stay as long as you wish while the car park is open.

📊 Capacity & Physical Features

Feature	Detail
Total Spaces	~25 marked bays
Surface	Compacted stone & grass verges
Lighting	None
Security	Unmanaged, no CCTV
Height Limit	None (all vehicle types welcome)

♿ Accessibility

Disabled Access: Level parking area but no marked bays—badge holders may use any space.
Nearest Adapted Bays: Buckingham Swan Pool Car Park (0.6 mi) – 4 marked bays.
Drop-Off Zone: Gravel lay-by at entrance gate.

🔌 EV Infrastructure

On-Site Charging: None.
Nearest Options:
- Buckingham Swan Pool Car Park – Pod Point 7 kW bays (0.6 mi)
- Tesco Extra Buckingham – 22 kW rapid chargers (1.5 mi)

📅 Peak Times & Occupancy

Timeframe	Occupancy	Typical Users
Weekdays 9–11 am	30 %	Morning dog-walkers
Weekdays 12–3 pm	20 %	Picnic & bird-watchers
Weekends 10 am–4 pm	75 %	Families & hikers
Bank Holidays	90 %	Day-trippers & nature groups

Pro Tip: Arrive before 10 am on weekends and holidays for the best choice of bays.

🚶 Walkability & Trail Access

Destination	Walk Time	Key Benefit
Thornborough Lakes Loop	On-site	2 mi circular path around two lakes
Coombs Woodlands Entrance	1 min	Access to 5 mi of ancient woodland trails
Thornborough Medieval Church	10 min	Historic church ruin & viewpoint
Buckingham Town Centre	5 mi	Shops, cafés & public transport links

🛒 Nearby Amenities

Public Toilets: Buckingham Swan Pool (0.6 mi)
Café & Refreshments: Pop-up weekend kiosk by lake car park entrance
Bus Stop: Thornborough Village (Route 60 to Buckingham) – 2 min walk

⚠️ Important Notices

Seasonal Closure: Car park closes at dusk; no overnight parking.
Surface Condition: Stone surface can be uneven—sturdy footwear recommended.
Unmanaged Site: No lighting or patrols—visit in daylight and secure valuables.

📌 Expert Tips

Sunrise Visit: Early-morning trips reward you with misty lake views and quiet woodland.
Loop Hack: Combine lakes loop with Coombs woodlands for a longer 7 mi hike.
Wildlife Watch: Bring binoculars—kingfishers, herons and deer are commonly sighted.

🔮 Future Developments

2025: Buckinghamshire Council consulting on installing two EV charge points at Swan Pool, improving local access.
2026: Proposed interpretive signage and picnic table upgrades under the “Green Buckinghamshire” initiative.