๐ Thornborough & Coombs Woodlands Car Park โ Buckinghamshire Countryside & Trailhead Access Guide
Free all-day parking at Thornborough & Coombs Woodlands โ your gateway to ancient woodlands, lakeside trails and wildlife spotting in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire MK18.
๐ Type: Free Public Off-Street Car Park (Buckinghamshire Council)
๐ Open: DawnโDusk (approx. 06:00โ20:00; seasonal variation)
๐ Rating: 4.5โ/โ5 (visitor reviews aggregate)
๐ฐ Pricing & Permits
| Cost | Payment | Return Restrictions | Blue Badge Holders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Not required | None within opening hours | Exempt (no display needed) |
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Unlimited stay during daylight hours; no charges or tickets.
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No return restrictionsโstay as long as you wish while the car park is open.
๐ 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) |
โฟ Accessibility
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Disabled Access: Level parking area but no marked baysโbadge holders may use any space.
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Nearest Adapted Bays: Buckingham Swan Pool Car Park (0.6 mi) โ 4 marked bays.
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Drop-Off Zone: Gravel lay-by at entrance gate.
๐ EV Infrastructure
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On-Site Charging: None.
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Nearest Options:
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Buckingham Swan Pool Car Park โ Pod Point 7 kW bays (0.6 mi)
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Tesco Extra Buckingham โ 22 kW rapid chargers (1.5 mi)
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๐ Peak Times & Occupancy
| Timeframe | Occupancy | Typical Users |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays 9โ11 am | 30 % | Morning dog-walkers |
| Weekdays 12โ3 pm | 20 % | Picnic & bird-watchers |
| Weekends 10 amโ4 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.
๐ถ 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, cafรฉs & public transport links |
๐ Nearby Amenities
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Public Toilets: Buckingham Swan Pool (0.6 mi)
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Cafรฉ & Refreshments: Pop-up weekend kiosk by lake car park entrance
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Bus Stop: Thornborough Village (Route 60 to Buckingham) โ 2 min walk
โ ๏ธ Important Notices
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Seasonal Closure: Car park closes at dusk; no overnight parking.
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Surface Condition: Stone surface can be unevenโsturdy footwear recommended.
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Unmanaged Site: No lighting or patrolsโvisit in daylight and secure valuables.
๐ Expert Tips
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Sunrise Visit: Early-morning trips reward you with misty lake views and quiet woodland.
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Loop Hack: Combine lakes loop with Coombs woodlands for a longer 7 mi hike.
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Wildlife Watch: Bring binocularsโkingfishers, herons and deer are commonly sighted.
๐ฎ Future Developments
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2025: Buckinghamshire Council consulting on installing two EV charge points at Swan Pool, improving local access.
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2026: Proposed interpretive signage and picnic table upgrades under the โGreen Buckinghamshireโ initiative.
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