Pete's Walks - Kenworth and Whipsnade Downs
I did this short local walk on Wednesday 4th March 2009. As I walked round I changed my mind about the route I was going to follow, as I realised that the previous night's rain would make part of a bridleway almost impassable. I then absent-mindedly went the wrong way at a couple of junctions, and ended up doing a yet different route! It ended up being a very pleasant figure-of-eight walk - starting through Whipsnade Heath to Whipsnade, to Bison Hill, down and back up the steep slope of the Whipsnade Downs, back to Whipsnade, to Holywell and back home along Dovehouse Lane (lovely name!).
The path from Kensworth to Whipsnade Heath
Usually I turn right in the woods of Whipsnade Heath, reaching the Dunstable Downs road at the far end of the heath. But I realised the bridleway on the far side of the road would be very muddy, so I went straight on through the heath and up to Whipsnade. I followed the path to the left of the Tree Cathedral, and then turned right on a bridleway (also muddy in places!) to reach Bison Hill.
The entrance to Whipsnade Tree Cathedral
Ivinghoe Beacon from Bison Hill
I then followed a path steadily downhill to the foot of Whipsnade Downs - on the way I saw a far steeper path that is currently being reconstructed (I'm not sure I'm too happy with what the National Trust is doing here, and on the Downs in general).
The Vale of Aylesbury from Bison Hill
Path being reconstructed on Bison Hill
The Vale of Aylesbury from Bison Hill
Dunstable Downs from a path on Bison Hill
Old drover's way on Whipsnade Downs
Another old drover's way on Whipsnade Downs
Dunstable Downs
At the foot of the Downs I headed back uphill on another old drover's way. I then made my way back to Whipsnade by a path that took me through the Sallowsprings Nature Reserve and passed the other side of the Tree Cathedral. I went a short distance along the old lane to Holywell, but soon took a footpath on the left that took me to Holywell a different way. I then returned to Kensworth along Dovehouse Lane.
And another old drover's way on Whipsnade Downs
Part of the green at Whipsnade, looking towards the church
Footpath from the old lane between Whipsnade and Holywell