Pitstone’s biggest
Pitstone Recreation Ground
Playing field
2.3 ha (6 acres)0.2 km of path
3 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Pitstone
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Peter S · CC BY-SA 2.0AOutdoors Grade
Outdoors in Pitstone · parks, paths & countryside
Almost everyone in Pitstone lives within a 5-minute walk of a park
The Chilterns National Landscape reaches the edge of Pitstone. Footpaths add up to 49 km in the town and the kilometre around it, 4.2 for every square kilometre. Parks and playing fields in Pitstone add up to 1.6 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. Pitstone grades A for the outdoors: #4 of 39 in Buckinghamshire. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
1.6 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
100%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
49 km
4.2 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
40%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: Chilterns National Landscape
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Pitstone?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
A park on every doorstep100% of residents live within 400 m of a park or playing field.Protected countryside40% of the land within 5 km is Chilterns National Landscape.A town of footpaths4.2 km of path per km², more than 84% of UK towns. The typical town has 3.0.Less park per person1.6 ha of parks and playing fields per 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1.
Pitstone’s strongest suit is parks close to every home, followed by protected countryside on the doorstep. Where it falls short is park space per person.
Outdoors grade
Pitstone grades A for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Pitstone, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
A
Better than 90% of UK towns#4 of 39 in Buckinghamshire · 5th of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space1.6 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
31out of
100
100
A park within a walk100%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
89out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape40%of the land within 5 km
88out of
100
100
Footpaths4.2 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
84out of
100
100
The sea0%of the area within 5 km · Inland
42out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Towns its size
Pitstone is 5th of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 3,900 to 4,300 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Pitstone4.2
Towns its size3.0
Buckinghamshire towns3.2
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Pitstone1.6
Towns its size2.0
Buckinghamshire towns2.4
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Pitstone100%
Towns its size82%
Buckinghamshire towns74%
All UK towns83%
Against towns its size, Pitstone stands out most for path per km²: only 5 of the other 59 have more. It falls furthest behind on park space per resident, where 38 of the others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hextable Kent | A+ | 6.7 | 100% | 5.1 | 9% |
| 2 | Darley Dale Derbyshire | A+ | 3.8 | 100% | 3.4 | 51% |
| 3 | Telscombe Cliffs East Sussex | A+ | 3 | 58% | 5.1 | 42% |
| 4 | Southbourne West Sussex | A | 1.3 | 92% | 3.3 | 64% |
| 5 | Pitstone Buckinghamshire | A | 1.6 | 100% | 4.2 | 40% |
| 6 | Tenby Dyfed | A | 2.1 | 88% | 2.5 | 21% |
| 7 | Chickerell Dorset | A | 1.5 | 88% | 3 | 27% |
| 8 | Bisley Surrey | A | 8 | 92% | 4.8 | 0% |
| 9 | Milton Cambridgeshire | A | 10.4 | 100% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 10 | Holt Norfolk | A | 8.5 | 84% | 2.4 | 40% |
| 11 | Old Sarum Wiltshire | A | 4.6 | 100% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 12 | Bowerhill Wiltshire | A− | 7.4 | 100% | 3 | 0% |
| 13 | Hunstanton Norfolk | A− | 3.7 | 71% | 1.4 | 31% |
| 14 | Prestbury Gloucestershire | A− | 1.6 | 80% | 5.3 | 51% |
| 15 | Fairford Gloucestershire | A− | 3.4 | 100% | 1.8 | 17% |
| 16 | Bearwood Dorset | B+ | 2.5 | 100% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 17 | Lofthouse and Robin Hood West Yorkshire | B+ | 3.4 | 93% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 18 | Cheddleton Staffordshire | B+ | 3.5 | 88% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 19 | Bramley and Wonersh Surrey | B+ | 1.7 | 77% | 3.5 | 59% |
| 20 | Tangmere West Sussex | B | 2.1 | 100% | 1.2 | 36% |
| 21 | Grange-over-Sands Cumbria | B | 1.5 | 46% | 2.6 | 40% |
| 22 | Calverley West Yorkshire | B | 1.5 | 92% | 6 | 0% |
| 23 | Brampton Cumbria | B | 2 | 92% | 2.2 | 9% |
| 24 | Saltford Somerset | B | 1.6 | 75% | 3.6 | 24% |
| 25 | Bourton-on-the-Water Gloucestershire | B | 0.9 | 79% | 3.3 | 100% |
| 26 | Penrhyn Bay Clwyd | B− | 0.6 | 68% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 27 | Little Paxton Cambridgeshire | B− | 2.8 | 87% | 3 | 0% |
| 28 | Tumble Dyfed | B− | 19.5 | 93% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 29 | Stoney Stanton Leicestershire | B− | 2.5 | 100% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 30 | Topsham Devon | B− | 1.9 | 76% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 31 | Martock Somerset | B− | 2.9 | 85% | 3 | 0% |
| 32 | Easington Lane Tyne and Wear | B− | 0.9 | 100% | 4 | 0% |
| 33 | South Cerney Gloucestershire | B− | 2.5 | 77% | 2.4 | 7% |
| 34 | Kessingland Suffolk | C+ | 0.9 | 70% | 1.9 | 19% |
| 35 | Ystradgynlais Powys | C+ | 2.5 | 78% | 1.2 | 36% |
| 36 | Send Surrey | C+ | 2.6 | 28% | 3.3 | 5% |
| 37 | Old Tupton Derbyshire | C+ | 2.3 | 73% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 38 | Eaton Bray and Edlesborough Bedfordshire | C+ | 2.6 | 72% | 1.7 | 29% |
| 39 | Thorpe Hesley South Yorkshire | C+ | 1.8 | 80% | 4 | 0% |
| 40 | Heacham Norfolk | C+ | 1.5 | 53% | 1.1 | 29% |
| 41 | Holmfield West Yorkshire | C+ | 2.8 | 74% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 42 | Knebworth Hertfordshire | C+ | 1.5 | 81% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 43 | Shirland and Stonebroom Derbyshire | C | 3.7 | 43% | 3 | 0% |
| 44 | Kirkburton West Yorkshire | C | 1.4 | 86% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 45 | Warton (Fylde) Lancashire | C | 1.3 | 92% | 1.1 | 0% |
| 46 | South Darenth and Sutton at Hone Kent | C | 1.8 | 43% | 2.7 | 10% |
| 47 | Brayton North Yorkshire | C | 0.8 | 100% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 48 | Langley Park County Durham | C | 0.8 | 84% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 49 | Deanshanger Northamptonshire | C | 1.5 | 93% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 50 | Wynyard County Durham | C | 10.7 | 64% | 1.3 | 0% |
| 51 | Beck Row Suffolk | C | 5.3 | 76% | 0.8 | 0% |
| 52 | Great Glen Leicestershire | C | 1.4 | 91% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 53 | Nelson Gwent | C | 2.1 | 88% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 54 | Brookmans Park Hertfordshire | C− | 2.5 | 43% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 55 | Doddinghurst Essex | D | 1.6 | 60% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 56 | Middleton Cheney Northamptonshire | D | 0.9 | 70% | 2.6 | 0% |
| 57 | Gnosall Staffordshire | D | 1.2 | 42% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 58 | Cricklade Wiltshire | D | 0.3 | 9% | 3 | 0% |
| 59 | Llantrisant Mid Glamorgan | D− | 0.6 | 42% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 60 | Little Eriswell Suffolk | D− | 0.1 | 0% | 1.5 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Pitstone’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Pitstone
The biggest is Pitstone Recreation Ground, 2.3 ha (6 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 4 named parks by size: 4 ha (9 acres)
Playing fields 3.5 haPlay spaces 0.3 ha
The two biggest, Pitstone Recreation Ground and The Lawn, are 93% of the named green space. 3 of the 4 are under 2 ha: small gardens, play spaces and pitches.
The Lawn
Playing field
1.2 ha (3 acres)0.1 km of path
2 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.4 mi eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Pitstone Recreation Ground Play Space
Play space
0.1 ha (0 acres)
Centralin the middle of Pitstone
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Pitstone Skatepark
Play space
0.1 ha (0 acres)
Centralin the middle of Pitstone
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Close to home
How close Pitstone’s homes are to a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (100%)Further (0%)
Pitstone100%
Towns its size82%
Buckinghamshire towns74%
All UK towns83%
Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 7 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 587 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
National Parks and National Landscapes around Pitstone
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
National Landscape
Chilterns
At the edge east838 km²since 199040% of the land within 5 km
Official site40% of the land within 5 km of Pitstone is National Park or National Landscape, more than 88% of UK towns.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
Pitstone is on the The Ridgeway
49 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Pitstone and the kilometre around it, 4.2 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
NationalRegionalLocal
Grand Union Canal Walk8.3 km
Outer Aylesbury Ring6.5 km
Ashridge Boundary Trail North, Ashridge Estate6.2 km
Bridgewater Monument to Pitstone Windmill Circular Walk, Pitstone Windmill6.0 km
The Ridgeway4.6 km
Wild Trail3.4 km
Wildlife Walk, Ashridge Estate3.2 km
Two Ridges Link2.6 km
Icknield Way Path1.2 km
Grand Union Canal (Wendover Arm) Walk1.1 km
Grand Union Canal (Aylesbury Arm) Walk0.9 km
The The Ridgeway, a national route, passes Pitstone. Close to home, the Ashridge Boundary Trail North, Ashridge Estate has 6 km of local walk within 2 km of the town. 5 regional routes pass through, including the Grand Union Canal Walk, Outer Aylesbury Ring, Icknield Way Path and Grand Union Canal (Wendover Arm) Walk.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
When to get out
The best walking months in Pitstone: May to September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.3 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.6 | 16.7 | 16.2 | 14.6 | 12.6 | 10.5 | 8.7 | 7.8 |
| High (°C) | 7 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 8 |
| Rain (mm) | 66 | 50 | 42 | 50 | 54 | 52 | 54 | 59 | 56 | 72 | 73 | 65 |
March is the driest month (42 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 22 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 73 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 46 nights a year. The climate in Pitstone →
Things to do
7 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
The nearest beaches
Pitstone is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
The Beach13 mi from Pitstone’s edge
DirectionsThe Hollows27 mi from Pitstone’s edge
DirectionsHog Hole27 mi from Pitstone’s edge
DirectionsGood to know
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Up high. Paul’s Knob, at 200 m, is the highest named top within 2 km of Pitstone.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 1
Ivinghoe Beacon0.9 mi from town
DirectionsHills and peaks 7
Paul’s Knob200 m (656 ft) · 0.5 mi from town
DirectionsPitstone Hill219 m (719 ft) · 0.6 mi from town
DirectionsSouthend Hill140 m (459 ft) · 0.8 mi from town
DirectionsBeacon Hill233 m (764 ft) · 0.9 mi from town
DirectionsSteps Hill239 m (784 ft) · 0.9 mi from town
DirectionsAldbury Nowers222 m (728 ft) · 0.9 mi from town
DirectionsWestend Hill1.1 mi from town
DirectionsNature reserves 1
College Lake Nature Reserve65 ha · 0.4 mi from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 4
Plus 4 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 7
Plus 7 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 1
Town Farm0.3 mi from town
DirectionsNext door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
CheddingtonTringEaton Bray and EdlesboroughAston ClintonTotternhoeWingravePitstone
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitstone | A | 1.6 | 100% | 40% |
| Cheddington 1.4 mi | C+ | 2.2 | 35% | 16% |
| Tring 2.7 mi | A+ | 5.7 | 95% | 57% |
| Eaton Bray and Edlesborough 3.6 mi | C+ | 2.6 | 72% | 29% |
| Aston Clinton 4.1 mi | B+ | 3.1 | 61% | 29% |
| Totternhoe 4.7 mi | A+ | 9.6 | 100% | 26% |
| Wingrave 4.7 mi | B− | 3.7 | 100% | 0% |
Totternhoe, 4.7 miles away, grades A+, the best next door: every resident lives within 400 m of a park. Tring, Totternhoe and Wingrave have at least twice Pitstone’s green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Pitstone
What is the biggest park in Pitstone?
Pitstone Recreation Ground, 2.3 ha (6 acres). The Lawn (1.2 ha) is second. 4 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Pitstone near a National Park?
It covers 838 km² and was designated in 1990.
What are the best walks near Pitstone?
11 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the Grand Union Canal Walk, Outer Aylesbury Ring and Ashridge Boundary Trail North, Ashridge Estate.
What is the nearest beach to Pitstone?
The Beach, 13 mi from the edge of the town, then The Hollows (27 mi). Pitstone itself is inland.
How many people in Pitstone live near a park?
100% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Pitstone?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Pitstone good for walking?
For paths, yes: 4.2 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 84% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 31% (1.6 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Pitstone’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Pitstone’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.