Pete's Walks - Kensworth to Little Gaddesden and back
I did this walk on Monday, 13th April 2009 (which was Easter Monday). This is my favourite local walk, which I have already documented in the 'Local Walks' section of my 'Chiltern Hill' pages (see here). But today I did it it anti-clockwise, the first time I'd done it in this direction for at least a couple of years. I always used to do it in this direction - there was a convenient seat on the edge of Hoo Wood, with good views over Great Gaddesden and the Gade valley, which I usually reached about 1pm, so an ideal lunch spot. Unfortunately, I got there one time to discover that all that remained of the seat were the wooden slats - the iron supports had obviously been stolen to be melted down!
I started the walk by walking up Common Road, Kensworth, and taking the field path to Whipsnade Heath. I used the path that was the old continuation of Buckwood Lane into Whipsnade, and walked through the churchyard and on to the former lane between Whipsnade and Hollywood. From there I took the path beside the zoo fence, continuing ahead where the fence turned right to reach Studham near the church.
The path from Kensworth to Whipsnade Heath
The green at Whipsnade
Heading from Whipsnade church to the former lane between Whipsnade and Holywell (Whipsnade Zoo in the background)
Path between Whipsnade Zoo and Church Grove, Studham
As I left Studham on the bridleway to Hudnall, I heard and then saw four Buzzards flying over woods nearby, the first of many I would see today. Soon after I spotted a Yellowhammer. When I crossed the Gade valley, instead of going straight up the far side of the valley, I turned half-left about halfway up the slope, following the edge of a wood to reach Hudnall by a slightly shorter route.
The path across the Gade Valley, heading towards Hudnall - I turned half-left along the edge of the trees on the far side
From Hudnall it was a short walk to Little Gaddesden. There then followed a walk down the long empty valley towards Nettleden - this goes for over a mile without passing so much as a hedgerow.
The long empty valley between Little Gaddesden and Nettleden
The lone tree at the end of the long empty valley, near Nettleden
From Nettleden it was uphill to the Buddhist Monastery in the hamlet of St Margarets. Just past the monastery I saw my first Greater Stitchwort of the year. It was then gently downhill to Great Gaddesden, with nice views across the Gade valley.
The uphill path from Nettleden towards the Buddhist Monastery
Approaching Great Gaddesden
The Gade valley, near Great Gaddesden
It was uphill to Hoo Wood. I saw more Buzzards as I walked through the wood, I see them more often than not here. There was a solitary Wood Anemone here, several Primroses, and for the first time this year I saw a sizable patch of Bluebells in flower.
Path from Great Gaddesden to Hoo Wood
Path through Hoo Wood
I had my lunch on an old stile just beyond Hoo Wood, then continued on past the edge of Gaddesden Row. I again saw four Buzzards circling, possibly the same four I'd seen earlier.
Field path between Gaddesden Row and Studham
When I reached Studham Common, I walked down the eastern edge, and took the 'public highway' towards Roe End. There were an elderly couple walking here, and the lady pointed out a black rabbit in an adjacent field. I turned off the 'highway' to walk through the edge of Byslips Wood, and took the usual route back to Kensworth via Holywell, Dovehouse Lane and the Whipsnade Road.
The 'public highway' from Studham to Roe End - I turned off where it turns to the right
Path beside the residences of Holywell
Apart from the flowers and birds already mentioned, I saw two Great Spotted Woodpeckers near Studham church, and I saw a lot of Common Chickweed.
This is my favourite local walk, but somehow I didn't enjoy it so much today, possibly because of the generally rather grey weather conditions (though there were a few sunny intervals) or maybe it was just the mood I was in.