Pete's Walks - Alternative Ashridge Walk again (page 2 of 2)
The start of Frithsden Beeches
Beyond Frithsden Beeches I followed a path that took me past part of Berkhamsted golf course. When I eventually reached a road, I took a path parallel to it on my right, downhill through trees again. After a couple of hundred yards or so I turned right again (if I went straight on I'd have reached Well Farm, which I passed near the start of my walk two days ago). This path is very pleasant, running for about half a mile along a valley, just inside the edge of the woods.
Just beyond Frithsden Beeches
The path to Berkhamsted Golf Course
The long path along a valley, keeping just inside the edge of the woods
I had lunch on a tree trunk at the junction where I turned left (I usually have lunch on a bench about half a mile further on, but last time I came this way I thought the bench had gone - it was there this time, I must just have missed it somehow). I crossed the valley I'd been following, continuing along hedgerows to reach a path junction where I turned right. This took me past a school on my left and then a small estate of chalet bungalows on my right, part of Northchurch (this section had been part of my walk on Monday, in fact I walked it both ways). I then followed the Northchurch to Ringshall road a short distance, before taking a long path on the left that went up and down a couple of times as it stayed just inside another section of woods. As so often, I spotted more Fallow Deer as I crossed a private drive here. The path eventually took me to the hamlet of Norcott Hill.
The path across the valley, heading eventually towards a school on the edge of Northchurch
Near the start of the path from Northchurch to Norcott Hill
The path to Norcott Hill
From Norcott Hill I followed a bridleway that had been resurfaced since I last walked it (the National Trust have been resurfacing a lot of bridleways around Ashridge in the last year or so), then bearing left to follow a fence line on the edge of the woods to reach another hamlet, Tom's Hill. I followed the short lane from there to where it met a minor road at a hairpin bend, and took a gently descending path down to Aldbury.
Bridleway in Ashridge again, between Norcott Hill and Tom's Hill
The path down to Aldbury from Tom's Hill
I walked through the village allotments and on into the centre of the village, then took the path from near the church that passes a stables and goes on to cross the golf course. In the woods of Aldbury Nowers (I still don't know if that's the name of the woods or the hill, I'm afraid), I rejoined the Ridgeway National Trail, and followed it back to Pitstone Hill.
Aldbury from its allotments
The path through the golf course at Aldbury
The path through Aldbury Nowers
Looking out from Aldbury Nowers
Aldbury Nowers, approaching Pitstone Hill
The path rising along Grim's Ditch on Pitstone Hill
Ivinghoe Beacon and Steps Hill from the path down Pitstone Hill - the car park is hidden behind the hillock
I got back to my car about 3.35pm, so allowing for my lunch break the walk had taken around 5 hours 50 minutes. Despite the grey and gloomy conditions that had persisted all day, I'd enjoyed it, as I always do. It's a good route, with plenty of lengthy woodland sections interspersed with a few field paths, and some really good views at various points too.