Pete's Walks - Kensworth and everywhere (page 2 of 3)
From Bison Hill I followed a bridleway to Whipsnade, then followed the edge of the huge common or green here. There was the usual Bank Holiday queue of traffic for the zoo. I then took the old lane toward Holywell, turning off it to follow a bridleway that initially ran along the zoo fence. the bridleway then continued along a hedge past two large fields to reach a wood (I'm never sure from the map whether this is Church Grove or Mason's Plantation).
The bridleway from Bison Hill to Whipsnade
The green or common at Whipsnade, next to the zoo
Nice to see one of our quaint English traditions being upheld - a Bank Holiday traffic jam! The queue from Whipsnade Zoo can tail back a couple of miles to where I live in Kensworth, and sometimes almost all the way through Kensworth to the A5
The former lane from Whipsnade to Holywell
The path beside Whipsnade Zoo - as usual there were Wallabies and Chinese Water Deer to be seen here
The bridleway between the old lane and Studham
The bridleway in Church Grove (I think!)
I then took a path going left, crossing a pleasant meadow to reach the back of Studham church. I went through the churchyard and along Church Lane, then went right down Valley Road. At the bottom of a valley I turned left along a path that took me to Studham Common.
Path through meadow near Studham church tower just visible in trees)
Church Lane, Studham
The path along the valley, approaching the first part of Studham Common
As I reached Studham Common, I spotted my first Buzzard of the day. I turned right on a path that took me to the top of this wooded first section of Studham Common (it is divided into three by two minor roads). The path then continued along the top of the grassy second and third sections. As usual on this walk, I stopped for lunch on a bench on this third section, admiring the view over the common to Studham itself. As I sat munching my sarnies, I heard my first Cuckoo of the year (I think it was in Great Bradwin's Wood behind me, which meant it was actually in a different county to me - I was in Beds, but the border with Herts runs along the near edge of the wood).
The wooded first section of Studham Common
The second section of Studham Common
The third section of Studham Common
From the corner of Studham Common Ii took a path that led to Great Bradwin's Wood, and turned left on a long path through the wood. I continued on along a track through the adjoining Gravelpit Wood to reach Beechwood Home Farm.
The path from Studham Common to Great Bradwin's Wood
Path through Great Bradwin's Wood
Track through Gravelpit Wood
Track through Gravelpit Wood