Pete's Walks - Pitstone Hill and Wigginton (part 2)
The paths now took me through fields, including another charming hay meadow and beside a field of oil-seed rape. I then took the bridleway through the trees, heading uphill to the hamlet of Tom's Hill. There was a lot of Small Balsam growing here and also along the path that led down to Aldbury.
The track to Tom's Hill
The lane from Tom's Hill
Path descending from Tom's Hill to Aldbury
Aldbury
I then took the track heading back uphill through the trees towards the Bridgewater Monument, but forked left just before the top of the hill onto a contouring bridleway. This led to another bridleway heading back down through the trees (I stopped here to eat my packed lunch, about 12.45pm), and then I took field paths that led me to Clipper Down.
The track from Aldbury up towards the Bridgewater Monument, Ashridge
The path contouring round just below the Monument
Bridleway heading downhill through Ashridge
The path near Duncombe Farm, looking ahead towards Clipper Down
The path up Clipper Down was very enjoyable, with good views back towards Aldbury and to Pitstone Hill over to my left. I spotted my first Fragrant Orchid of the year along here.
The path up Clipper Down
The path up Clipper Down
Looking back from Clipper Down towards Aldbury
At the top of Clipper Down (by the kennels) I turned left for a short distance along the main track from the Monument to Ivinghoe Beacon, but soon forked left on a path heading gently downhill. This soon emerged from the trees onto grassy chalk downland (I got a nice photo of a Six-spot Burnet moth on a Pyramidal Orchid here). The path came to a crossroads at the foot of Steps Hill, where I turned left to return to the car park where I'd started.
The main track from the Monument to Ivinghoe Beacon, on Clipper Down
The path descending from the Monument-Beacon track, looking ahead to the Vale of Aylesbury
The Ridgeway Path returning to the car park where I started, with Pitstone Hill and the unnamed hillock beyond
I had originally considered extending the walk a little, by continuing on from Wigginton through Tring Park to Hastoe, but by the time I got back to the car I was really glad I had decided not to. I think the heat would have brought on a migraine if I'd gone much further. In any case, this was a really enjoyable walk, the numerous wildflowers and butterflies really adding to my pleasure.