Pete's Walks - Kensworth, Markyate, Studham, Whipsnade (page 2 of 3)
I left Markyate as soon as I entered it, taking a path on the right (before the first house on that side) and then, after one or two hundred yards, forking half-right on a path following a hedge-row at an angle up the hillside. This was the toughest part of the walk, as again the snow had drifted to knee-high and I was going uphill (admittedly at a very gentle gradient). At each step, my leading leg would go a few inches down into the snow, but as I lifted my trailing leg and swung it forward, the shift in my bodyweight would cause the first leg to sink further into the snow. I took this very carefully, as my knees aren't that great and I didn't want to injure myself. This was very slow and tiring, and I was really relieved when after several hundred yards the hedge petered out, meaning the snow hadn't drifted and was now a reasonable depth to walk through. In the field corner I went through a gate and followed a hedge on my left to reach Roe End Lane, where I turned left. Where the surfaced lane ended (it continues as a track), I turned left and followed the farm track to Beechwood Home Farm - the going was now quite straightforward as several vehicles had been along here already.
The path from Markyate to Roe End, the toughest bit of the walk with knee-deep snow and going gently uphill
The path to Roe End - conditions eased once the hedge on my left ended as the snow had no longer drifted and was only 3-4 inches deep
Roe End Lane
The track to Beechwood Home Farm
Track near Beechwood Home Farm
I turned right at a track crossroads by Beechwood Home Farm, and after passing the farm continued through Gravelpit wood. When the track turned left, I took a path going straight on through Great Bradwins Wood. On leaving the wood I went right for a hundred yards or so to reach Studham Common, where I turned left and soon stopped for my lunch at a convenient bench (a bit early as it was only 12.30pm, but I knew there would be nowhere else convenient to stop [UPDATE 29/01/2025 there are two more benches on the next section of the common]).
Track through Gravelpit Wood
Path through Great Bradwins Wood
Approaching the end of the path through Great Bradwins Wood
Looking across Studham Common in the direction of Holywell
Looking across Studham Common towards Studham
The path across the top of Studham Common (approaching Byslips Road)
I continued on along this eastern section of the common, to reach a small car park and Byslips Road. Over this, I continued along the top of the central third of the common. Across another road, the path continued through the wooded western section of the common, soon bearing very slightly right and descending slightly. Emerging from the trees into a grassy area, I turned left and passed just left of a house as I left the common. A path followed the bottom of a valley, between an arable field and a hedgerow on my right. On reaching Valley Lane, Studham, I turned right, and at the top of the slight hill turned left into Church Road. I opted to go on to Studham church (rather than take a bridleway going left), keeping left of the church as I went through the churchyard. Beyond the churchyard I turned left and followed the right edge of an empty pasture, with nice views back to the church.
The path from Studham School to Valley Road
Studham church
Path near Studham church
Looking back to Studham church