Farnham Royal: History, Nature and Varied Excursions

Farnham Royal is a destination for anyone who wants to combine historic village scenery with nature experiences and active days out. Highlights include St Mary's Church, listed buildings and Burnham Beeches. There are also paved paths, sports pitches and a golf course. This gives families and other travel groups a varied range of options: you can combine cultural discoveries with time in the countryside or sporting activities, without limiting your holiday to just one type of experience.

Nature at Burnham Beeches

Burnham Beeches is located in the parishes of Farnham Royal and Burnham. The area is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a National Nature Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation. When planning a day outdoors, around 1.5 miles of paved paths with easier access are available. This is an approximate distance and is therefore primarily intended as a guide for planning your day.

The journey can also be clearly put into perspective: from the bus stop in Farnham Common, the entrance to Burnham Beeches is about a ten-minute walk away.

Historic Buildings in the Village

St Mary's Church dates from the 12th century and was largely rebuilt in the 19th century. The surviving chancel dates back to the 12th century, while most of the church was rebuilt by Eden Nesfield between 1867 and 1869. The building therefore offers several historical periods that can be distinguished when exploring the village.

The churchyard includes a Tudor-style lychgate built in 1893. It is made of dressed flint, ashlar and some “Roman” tiles. Black-and-white timber framing and a Tudor-style oak arch shape its design. The lychgate is a prominent feature of the streetscape and is designated as an important building within the Farnham Royal Conservation Area. Architecture enthusiasts will find it worthwhile to pay particular attention to the materials and forms here.

Further historical points of interest add to the character of the village. The Green Man Public House on Beaconsfield Road is a Grade II listed building, as is The Stray in Farnham Royal. Yew Place has origins dating back to the 16th century, was refaced in the 18th century and later restored. Surviving panelling from the 16th and 18th centuries, along with a staircase featuring turned newel posts, makes its architectural history tangible. Farnham Court dates back to the 17th century and was formerly the manor farm of Farnham Royal Manor, as well as the location of the manorial court. The war memorial at the entrance to Church Road was erected in 1920.

Sporting Days and Different Holiday Paces

If your travel group has varied interests, Farnham Park Playing Fields provide a sporting addition with numerous rugby and football pitches. During a multi-year project, the playing fields will remain open as usual. Farnham Park Golf Club also offers an 18-hole course for beginners and amateurs.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Farnham Royal, it helps to decide on your preferred daily rhythm in advance: should Burnham Beeches be the main focus, should historic buildings take priority, or would you like to alternate between nature and sport? You can then choose a holiday apartment or holiday house more purposefully according to the location that suits your planned mix. For trips with children, it may also make sense not to combine cultural visits, walks and sporting activities all on the same day, but to spread different interests throughout your stay.

Further Destinations for Orientation

For further orientation in the region, you can also explore Little Missenden, Gerrards Cross, Easington, Aylesbury, Great Missenden, Botley, Fulmer and Taplow.

For the overarching travel overview: Buckinghamshire.