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Happy New Year! For my first walk of 2010 (on Saturday, 2nd January) I chose an old favourite, my local walk from Kensworth to Totternhoe and back, a distance of about 13 miles. Click here to see a map of the walk (but only if you have already read my disclaimer and notes regarding maps).
I set off from my home in Kensworth about 9.30am, going the short distance down Common Road to the start of Hollicks Lane. It was very cold and icy - my parents thought there had been a slight dusting of snow, but I wasn't sure whether it was just a very hard frost. I took the path beside the lane up and down the steep valley north of the village, and continued along the lane to Church End. I took the path behind the church and then joined the path around the huge Kensworth quarry.
Looking east from near the start of Hollicks Lane, Kensworth
Looking west from near the start of Hollicks Lane, Kensworth
Church End, Kensworth
The path behind Kensworth church
Kensworth quarry - I would follow the path round to the right, to about as far as the tallest tree on the horizon (left)
The quarry path, near Dunstable
The quarry path
It was bright and sunny, so the views from Dunstable Downs were pretty good today. There weren't too many people walking about the downs, but I saw several Paragliders as I made my way northwards to the Five Knolls. I then took the broad path down to Dunstable, crossed Tring Road and continued along Green Lane.
View from Dunstable Downs, looking over the London Gliding Club to the Vale of Aylesbury
Paragliders on Dunstable Downs
Some of the Five Knolls (ancient burial mounds) on Dunstable Downs
The path down the northern tip of the downs to Dunstable
Green Lane, Dunstable
Shortly after Green Lane had left Dunstable, I turned right on a path heading for the hamlet of Sewell. I saw a Fieldfare here, apparently on its own which is unusual. I followed the path to the edge of Sewell, then continued on towards Totternhoe. The deep ruts in the track contained many puddles that were frozen over.
Path between Dunstable and Sewell
Near Sewell
The path from Sewell to Totternhoe
An ice-covered puddle between Sewell and Totternhoe
Home Latest Walks Long-distance paths Lake District Chiltern Hills Photographs Links Huntington's Disease Association