Pete's Walks - Kensworth and everywhere in the snow (part 1)
If you are considering walking this route yourself, please see my disclaimer. You may also like to see these notes about the maps and GPX files.
Click here to see a rough map of the walk (but only if you have already read my disclaimer and notes regarding maps) - note that on this occasion I walked 'alternative 2' shown on the map.
I did this walk on Tuesday 3rd February 2009. We had just had the heaviest snowfall here for almost 20 years and I made the most of the conditions by doing my ‘Kensworth and everywhere’ walk (see here for a fuller description of the walk in normal weather conditions). The advantage of this walk is that I can cut it short at numerous points as it is never more than a few miles from my home. I didn’t expect to do the whole walk, as I thought 15 miles through snow would be tiring, but in the end I did do the full walk.
It was very sunny as I set off just before 10am, and remained so until about midday. I took lots of snowy photos as I followed Hollicks Lane to Church End, then followed the Quarry path round to Dunstable Downs. I got talking to three different people as I walked round the quarry, the conditions making everyone unusually friendly and willing to talk to strangers.
Common Road, Kensworth, in the snow
The path besides Hollicks Lane - there were children sledging on the opposite slope
Looking west along the valley behind Kensworth
The top of Hollicks Lane
Hollicks Lane approaching Church End
Kensworth church
The path behind Kensworth church
The short path that connects to the long circular Quarry path
Just after I joined the Quarry path
Kensworth Quarry in the snow
The Quarry path
Another view of Kensworth quarry in the snow
Dunstable, from the Quarry path
The Quarry path
The Quarry path
The path beside the golf course approaching Dunstable Downs