Pete's Walks - Pitstone Hill, Ashridge, Dagnall (page 2 of 3)
I followed a road across the front of Ashridge House (now a Business School), and took a path on the far side that led down to the Golden Valley. I turned right for a short distance here, then took a bridleway leading gently up the other side of the small valley to a part of Little Gaddesden. Here I took the familiar path to Hudnall, soon passing through another stables where I spotted a Red Kite overhead. The path crossed a small valley and passed through a small wood to emerge on a lane by Hudnall Common (like the Ashridge Estate, it's owned by the National Trust).
Ashridge House
The Golden Valley
Bridleway between the Golden Valley and Little Gaddesden
The bridleway from Little Gaddesden to Hudnall - it turns left along the valley, then turns right alongside the hedgerow visible in the photo
I turned left and followed the lane through the hamlet of Hudnall, soon crossing a minor road and continuing along a private drive. Where this bent right, I continued ahead on a lengthy footpath, following a hedgeline towards Little Gaddesden church. Just before reaching the church the path crossed an empty pasture with nice views towards Dagnall.
Lane through Hudnall
Near the start of the path from Hudnall to Little Gaddesden church
Approaching Little Gaddesden church
From the same spot, looking towards the northern end of the Gade Valley around Dagnall
From the church a path continued through more pastures and paddocks to reach another part of Little Gaddesden (the village is strung out for almost two miles along a minor road), where I almost double-back on myself to take a lengthy path to Dagnall. As I approached Hoo Wood I came across three Guinea Fowl, which I've seen here before. Beyond the wood, I crossed a huge but empty paddock with horse jumps, then crossed several arable fields as I steadily made my way to Dagnall, entering the village by a path that has fairly recently been re-routed to avoid a large farmyard. As I passed the farmyard I heard a Red Kite, which came across the field on my left and passed almost directly overhead at about tree-top height, and then joined two or three of its fellows circling over the village.
The path from the church to Little Gaddesden
Approaching Hoo Wood
Path through Hoo Wood
Path on the other side of Hoo Wood, heading to Dagnall
The path to Dagnall
The rather unusual Dagnall church