The Parish

Great Missenden Parish is in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is made up of the villages of Ballinger, Great Missenden, Heath End, Hyde End, Prestwood and South Heath. The parish is about 35 miles northwest of London within easy reach of the M40, M4 and M25 and has good rail links to London Marylebone and Aylesbury.

The Parish is located in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, surrounded by rolling chalk hills, magnificent beech woods, quiet valleys, charming brick and flint cottages and historic listed buildings/churches. Take a local walk and you will soon find woodland, fields, ancient hedges, sunken lanes, nature reserves, ponds and clear streams. There is plenty of wildlife including red kites and some of our commons have rare species of orchids and butterflies. Local nature groups run many activities and work hard to conserve/protect our heritage.

Several episodes from the long running TV series Midsomer Murders were filmed in the Parish and Great Missenden itself is well known as being the home of Roald Dahl, the author of many well-known children’s stories including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG. Many of his tales are set in locations within the Parish and the popular Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre opened in the Great Missenden High Street in 2005. Also within the village is Missenden Abbey – dating back to the 12th century and now used as a Conference centre and event venue.

Prestwood is the largest village in the Parish – in 1850 there were around 100 houses and this has now grown to a population of around 10,000? people. Prestwood offers a good range of local shops, historic buildings/churches, a fitness centre/gym, a micro-brewery and a Nature Reserve.

Parish Map

Click to enlarge.