Pete's Walks - Pitstone Hill and Wigginton (page 3 of 3)
Grand Union Canal at Tring Station
From Tring Station I followed the road towards Aldbury for a short distance, with Toms Hill (where I'd been earlier) at the top of the wooded slopes away to my right. The Ridgeway Path soon turned left, and followed a lengthy track between trees and hedgerows, a 'tunnel' in places where the hedges met overhead. The track took me to the Aldbury Nowers nature reserve, where I turned left to follow another lengthy path through the woods of Aldbury Nowers.
Close-up of Toms Hill, from near Tring Station
Part of the Ridgeway Path, between Tring Station and Aldbury Nowers
Part of the Ridgeway Path, between Tring Station and Aldbury Nowers
The Nature Reserve at Aldbury Nowers (very good for butterflies, but not at this time of year!)
Path through the woods of Aldbury Nowers
Path through the woods of Aldbury Nowers
At the end of the woods it was then an easy climb to the top of the grassy slopes of Pitstone Hill, following the the course of the ancient earthwork of Grims Ditch. As I made my way along the top of the hill, and then up and down the small hillock by the car park, there were the usual grand views out over the Vale of Aylesbury, and ahead to Steps Hill and Ivinghoe Beacon.
The path along Grims Ditch on Pitstone Hill
Part of the Vale of Aylesbury, from Pitstone Hill
Part of the Vale of Aylesbury, from Pitstone Hill (the church spire, middle right, is at Ivinghoe)
Ivinghoe Beacon and Steps Hill from Pitstone Hill
Ivinghoe Beacon and Steps Hill from the 'hillock' by the Pitstone Hill car park
Part of the Vale of Aylesbury, from the 'hillock' by the Pitstone Hill car park (the church spire at Ivinghoe is now on the left)
The path down the 'hillock' to the car park, with Incombe Hole and Steps Hill beyond.
I was back at my car just after 1pm, so the walk had taken the four hours I'd expected. It had been very enjoyable as always - several ups and downs to begin with, the pretty village of Aldbury, lots of fine views. I'm not really sure which way round is best for this walk, clockwise like today or anticlockwise. The weather had been really good throughout, a mixture of blue skies and grey clouds and not too cold. All in all, a thoroughly pleasant morning's exercise.