The walk is just as magical as the sunflower farm offering sweeping views over the rolling Chiltern Hills, woodlands, a deer park and a National Trust House once linked to a king
Tucked away in the heart of the Chiltern Hills, a bustling sunflower farm awaits discovery. Not only do they produce sparkling wine from the chalk-rich soils just north-west of London, but they also harvest their own honey and offer you the chance to pick your own sunflowers.
The journey to the farm is as scenic as the fields themselves, offering sweeping views over the rolling Chiltern Hills, woodlands, a deer park and the National Trust House that was once the residence of Catherine Carey, one of Henry III’s alleged offspring.
A train ride from Paddington Station, with a change at Twyford, will get you to the riverside town of Henley-on-Thames in just under an hour. Once there, face the church tower and choose either a left or right turn.
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After navigating some sizeable hills (a less strenuous option is to walk from Marlow), you’ll find yourself at the imposing 14th-century house, steeped in medieval origins and Tudor history. The gardens at Greys Court are encircled by ancient ruins and offer panoramic views of the Chiltern Hills.
First mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, this was once the dwelling of the powerful de Grey family. Among its notable residents was Catherine Carey, who married Sir Francis Knollys, a descendant of the de Greys, reports MyLondon.
She was the daughter of Mary Boleyn, and is widely believed to be the illegitimate child of Henry VIII. Centuries later, British politician Sir Felix Brunner resided in the house with his wife before donating it to the National Trust.
After immersing yourself in the rich history of Greys Court, it’s a brisk 90-minute journey to the sunflower farm. You’ll find a few pubs along the way, and the sunflower farm welcomes visitors from sunrise to sunset.
Upon reaching Stonor Farm, you’re greeted with two hectares of vibrant sunflowers – that’s larger than two football pitches. The farm has thoughtfully cut footpaths through the flowers for easy exploration.
Purchasing the sunflowers is a bargain at £2 per stem or £5 for three stems, with all proceeds going to charity. For a few extra quid, you can wander through a second field filled with even taller sunflowers. The farm also hosts themed events throughout August, including sunflower yoga and sunflower sound baths.
As for walking routes, there’s no shortage of options. If you fancy a stroll around Greys Court itself, there’s a circular walk through classic Chilterns scenery of beech woodlands and open countryside.
For a longer trek, you can walk from Henley-on-Thames to Greys Court. If you prefer driving to the sunflower farm, ample parking is available at the entrance to The Wine Farm on Stonor Road. Additional car parks are located in Henley and at Greys Court.
From London Paddington to Henley-on-Thames, the journey takes approximately an hour. Walking from Henley to Greys Court will take just over an hour and a half, and from there to Stonor Farm, it should take around one hour and forty minutes.
