Pete's Walks - Whipsnade Downs in the snow
I did this walk on Sunday 7th February 2009. There was still deep snow lying on the ground, and it was a bright sunny afternoon.
I started by walking up Common Road, Kensworth, and taking the path on the left that crosses two fields to reach Whipsnade Heath. I took a turning on the right to walk through the woods and reach the Dunstable Downs road on the far side of the heath.
The entrance to Whipsnade Heath, along the path from Kensworth
Path through Whipsnade Heath
I took the bridleway on the opposite side of the road (no worries about it being too muddy today!) and followed it towards Whipsnade. At the end, I turned right and followed a much longer bridleway that took me to Whipsnade Downs.
Looking towards Whipsnade
The bridleway from Whipsnade to Whipsnade Downs
Where the bridleway reaches Whipsnade Downs
I walked a short distance right along the top of the Downs, then turned left alongside the fence that here is the boundary between Whipsnade Downs and Dunstable Downs (most people seem to treat Whipsnade Downs as part of Dunstable Downs, but I like to preserve the distinction - anyway, much of 'Dunstable' Downs is actually in Kensworth!).
Paraglider over Dunstable Downs
The Vale of Aylesbury from Whipsnade Downs
The Vale of Aylesbury (from roughly the boundary between Whipsnade Downs and Dunstable Downs)
I went through a kissing gate and turned left alongside the fence (there is a National Trust sign here indicating that this is now Whipsnade Downs), following the path beside the huge open field at the top of this part of the Downs. After some distance, the path starts to descend gently and becomes an old drover's way with an embankment on the right. Where it met another one coming up from the right, I turned left and made my way up to the car park on Bison Hill.
Looking down an old drover's way, towards Ivinghoe Beacon
From Bison Hill, looking towards the section of Whipsnade Downs that lie within Whipsnade Zoo (that's funny, someone seems to have stolen the White Lion! :))
I then took a hedge-lined bridleway from Bison Hill towards Whipsnade. On the edge of the village I turned left on a path to the Tree Cathedral (passing some type of Children's Activity Centre, with various unusual animals including a number of Jacob's Sheep).
The bridleway from Bison Hill to Whipsnade
Jacob's Sheep at Whipsnade (no, not in the zoo!)
Whipsnade Tree Cathedral
There were some impressive 'snowmen' on the green at Whipsnade. I made my way back to Whipsnade Heath, and then retraced my steps from there back to Kensworth.
Looking back at the sunset, Whipsnade Heath
Looking back to Whipsnade Heath from the path to Kensworth
This was a thoroughly enjoyable walk on a wonderful afternoon - I really love walking in the snow! The route was basically a slightly shortened version of a walk I frequently do on Sunday mornings.