Pete's Walks - Kensworth and Ivinghoe Beacon (page 2 of 2)
I followed part of the Ridgeway national trail from Steps Hill to Ivinghoe Beacon. The usual splendid views were entirely obscured by the fog (it had lifted slightly as I'd crossed the Gade valley, but was now back with a vengeance).
Path from Steps Hill to Ivinghoe Beacon
Nearing the top of Ivinghoe Beacon
No view from the top of the Beacon today!
The fog lifted again slightly as I made my way down from the Beacon and started along the Icknield Way, initially heading for Ward's Hurst Farm where several paths converge. I stopped for lunch at the edge of a wood, sitting on a large log. On the far side of the wood steep steps climb up through the trees to reach the farm - the large pond here was completely frozen over.
The start of the Icknield Way, heading towards Ward's Hurst Farm
My lunch spot, just before entering the woods
The path through the woods
Steps going uphill through the trees to reach Ward's Hurst Farm
From Ward's Hurst Farm the path follows a very long and gentle descent, heading towards Dagnall nestling in the start of what becomes the Gade valley. After a couple of sheep pastures, the path joins the drive from Hog Hall, with the White Lion of Whipsnade Zoo on the Downs in view ahead.
The view towards the Gade Valley and Dagnall from Ward's Hurst Farm
The path from Ward's Hurst Farm to Hog Hall
The drive from Hog Hall - if you look carefully you can just about make out the White Lion at Whipsnade Zoo
Dagnall
From Dagnall the route soon goes back uphill, close to the edge of Whipsnade Zoo to reach Whipsnade Park Golf Course (by coincidence, when I got home I found the quarterly magazine from the Chiltern Society had arrived, and inside it was an article about the wildlife on this golf course). The path ran along a belt of trees between two fairways then turned left to cross five or six fairways. There was then a lengthy section alongside the tall fence of the zoo, where several species of exotic deer started suspiciously as I made my way past.
The path from Dagnall
Path through Whipsnade Park Golf Course
The path beside Whipsnade Zoo
I then followed a former lane from the edge of Holywell to reach Studham, turning off the surfaced path to follow field paths to reach the brick-built village church. I then bore right across part of the green and made my way to the woods of Whipsnade Heath. A path led through the woods and across a couple of fields to take me back home to Kensworth.
The old lane between Holywell and Whipsnade
Looking towards Whipsnade Heath from Whipsnade
The path through Whipsnade Heath
As always this was an enjoyable route to follow, with a good variety of fields and woods and some ups and downs. But the conditions weren't great. I didn't feel the cold, being well wrapped up in my warm Paramo gear, but the fog and generally grey skies really limited the usual fine views. The slight dusting of snow just didn't have the same effect as a god snowfall would have done - things looked different, admittedly, but in an untidy rather than impressive way.