Pete's Walks - Kensworth to Redbourn (part 3)
I then took the lane going right, going steadily uphill between hedgerows. At the top of the hill I came to a crossroads. Curiously, Friendless Lane was both the road ahead of me (which I’d been on briefly as I’d entered Flamstead) and the road to my left. I now followed it to the left, heading towards Cheverell’s Green on the edge of Markyate.
The lane beyond the bridleway
Friendless Lane (just to show I'm not making the name up!)
Friendless Lane, heading towards Cheverell's Green
However, after a few hundred yards I turned left onto a path that runs parallel to the lane. It started where the lane met Friendless Wood (where I saw Small Balsam growing earlier this year). After going through the wood it turns right on a field path beside the wood.
The path parallel to Friendless Lane, beside the wood
A notice board near the corner of the wood showed where the landowner had provided a permissive path, linking this path to the lane visible down in the valley to my left. However I stayed straight on, following the path beside a hedge on my right and then alongside another small wood. The path then crossed part of yet another stubble field, then ran beside a hedge on my left. The path turned right in the field corner for a few yards, before going left through a gate and running beside a long and thick garden hedge on my left as I crossed a couple of paddocks to rejoin Friendless Lane just before it ended at a minor road on the edge of Cheverell’s Green (Markyate was now a short distance downhill to my right).
The path parallel to Friendless Lane, crossing a field of stubble
The path parallel to Friendless Lane, beside the long garden hedge
I went a few yards right, then took a path on the opposite side of the road, which led through a small meadow of rough grass. I then went through a hedge gap and turned left, following the edge of a huge ploughed field as the hedgerow irregularly curved to my right. There were pleasant views here over rolling hills and valleys, with brown fields interspersed with many woods. Eventually reaching the far field corner, I went though a kissing-gate and went left, continuing alongside a hedge through a meadow, with a farm visible over to my right. I then turned right, along Roe End Lane, passing the farm on my right and a few scattered houses on my left.
View in the direction of Kensworth, from near Cheverell's Green
Roe End Lane
The lane ended after about a quarter of a mile, but I continued straight on along a bridleway lined by hedges. This is a particularly pleasant stretch of the walk, with occasional views over the countryside either side. After about half a mile (just before the bridleway turned left), I turned right through a small area of trees (where I passed a lady walking her two spaniels) and then turned left on a path just inside the edge of Byslips Wood (extending to my right). This soon brought me to Byslips Road (a minor road between Studham and Kensworth), where I went a few yards to the left to reach a path starting on the opposite side (it's a little hidden from view approaching it from this side, it starts immediately before the first house on the right).
The start of the bridleway continuing from Roe End Lane
The bridleway continuing from Roe End Lane
The path through the edge of Byslips Wood
This path is one I use frequently on my walks (there are only a limited number of paths leading in and out of Kensworth!). It led across a huge ploughed field, soon passing a lone tree and then a wood on the right. Beyond the wood, the field was currently being harrowed and there was no sign of the path. So I had no option but to make my own way across, heading for an entrance into a wood on the far side. The path through the wood led to the edge of Holywell, where I turned right and followed the path that bordered the garden fences on my left.
The start of the path from Byslips Road to Holywell
The path from Byslips Road to Holywell
The path from Byslips Road approaching the small wood before Holywell
The path took me down to Buckwood Lane, close to the junction with Dovehouse Lane (a few yards to the right). I followed the latter, which headed gently uphill with the tall hedges either side overarching the lane to almost form a green tunnel. At the top of the hill I reached Shortgrove Manor Farm, where I turned left. The track through a meadow was rather overgrown but then there was a clear path through a much larger field of short grass, with a view towards the houses of Kensworth across the small valley to my right. It was then a short walk (right) along the Whipsnade Road to return to my starting point in Kensworth. I got home about 3pm.
Buckwood Lane and the junction of Dovehouse Lane (Buckwood Lane is the continuation of Buckwood Road which I had crossed earlier in Markyate - we locals sometimes pronounce it 'Bucket Lane')
Looking towards Kensworth from the path between Dovehouse Lane and the Whipsnade Road - the farm is Dovehouse Farm
The Whipsnade Road heading into Kensworth
I enjoyed this walk, as I always do (the last time I did this walk in this direction I had to endure three spells of rain or heavy showers, and still enjoyed it!). There is nothing remarkable about the walk, but it passes through some very pleasant undulating countryside and visits some attractive villages and hamlets. There are often good views of open countryside, with many woods visible. On a beautiful day like today, the walk was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.