Pete's Walks - Kensworth, Markyate, Studham, Whipsnade (page 2 of 3)
I left Markyate as soon as I entered it, taking a path on the right and then forking half-right on a path following a hedge-row at an angle up the hillside. This was the toughest part of the walk, as again the snow had drifted to knee-high and I was going uphill (admittedly at a very gentle gradient). At each step, my leading leg would go a few inches down into the snow, but as I lifted my trailing leg and swung it forward, the shift in my bodyweight would cause the first leg to sink further into the snow. I took this very carefully, as my knees aren't that great and I didn't want to injure myself. This was very slow and tiring, and I was really relieved when after several hundred yards the hedge petered out, meaning the snow hadn't drifted and was now a reasonable depth to walk through. I continued on to reach Roe End Lane, and then took the farm track to Beechwood Home Farm - the going was now quite straightforward as several vehicles had been along here already.
The path from Markyate to Roe End, the toughest bit of the walk with knee-deep snow and going gently uphill
The path to Roe End - conditions eased once the hedge on my left ended as the snow had no longer drifted and was only 3-4 inches deep
Roe End Lane
The track to Beechwood Home Farm
Track near Beechwood Home Farm
I turned right at the track crossroads by Beechwood Home Farm, and headed into Gravelpit wood and then left the track to follow a path through Great Bradwins Wood. It was then just a hundred yards or so to Studham Common, where I stopped for my lunch at a convenient bench (a bit early as it was only 12.30pm, but I knew there would be nowhere else convenient to stop).
Track through Gravelpit Wood
Path through Great Bradwins Wood
Approaching the end of the path through Great Bradwins Wood
Looking across Studham Common in the direction of Holywell
Looking across Studham Common towards Studham
The path across the top of Studham Common (approaching Byslips Road)
I continued on along the top of the common, and then past Studham School to reach Valley Road. I turned down Church Lane and opted to go through the churchyard rather than bypass it. There was then a short section through an empty pasture, with nice views back to the church.
The path from Studham School to Valley Road
Studham church
Path near Studham church
Looking back to Studham church