Pete's Walks - Kensworth and Whipsnade Downs (page 1 of 2)
I did this local walk on Sunday, 20th December, 2009. It was probably about six miles, and took two and a half hours. There had been another 1/2 inch of snow overnight, on top of the 3-4 inches that had fallen on Thursday night.
I set off from my home in Kensworth about 10am, going the short distance down Common Road to the start of Hollicks Lane. As I turned down the lane I noticed that it had been closed to traffic. I took the path running beside the lane as it descended a steep valley and rose up the other side. Where I rejoined the lane I found an abandoned lorry, obviously the reason for the lane being closed. The lorry had apparently made it up the steepest part of the hill (the lane is 1 in 7 or steeper each side of the valley) but was left at an angle across the lane just where the gradient started to ease.
Looking down Common Road, Kensworth
Looking east along the valley immediately north of Kensworth, from near the start of Hollicks Lane
The footpath beside Hollicks Lane (it rejoins the lane at the hedgerow at the top of the opposite slope)
Looking west along the valley north of Kensworth, towards the quarry
As I walked through the churchyard at Church End people were clearing snow from the path to the church door, in readiness for the morning's service. I took the path behind the church, then took the short path going left to join the path round the quarry, where I turned right. This first section of the quarry path can be very muddy, but obviously not in today's snow. I had to be a bit careful here, though, as there were deep puddles covered in thick ice under the snow in places, and I had to be wary about slipping or going through the ice. Unlike my previous walk, plenty of other people had already walked this way, so there were plenty of footprints for me to follow. At no time on today's walk did I have to contend with the knee-deep snow I'd encountered two days ago.
Kensworth church, at Church End
Footpath behind the church
The short path linking the path behind the church to the quarry path
The quarry path, just after I joined it
The quarry path
Kensworth quarry
The path went down and up either side of a small valley, then came to a small section of open grass on my right, with views over Dunstable and Blows Downs. I saw a couple of dog walkers ahead of me, the first of several I'd see along this section of the quarry path which runs very close to the edge of the town.
The quarry path, near Dunstable (downhill on the right)
Looking across the south of Dunstable to Blows Downs
Looking north across Dunstable
I continued on along the lengthy quarry path, now with trees and bushes to my right. Eventually I turned right on the short path that led to a path beside Dunstable Downs Golf Course (it runs between Dunstable and the Downs), where I turned left and reached the road over Dunstable Downs in about another 100 yards.
The quarry path
The short path linking the quarry path to a path between Dunstable and Dunstable Downs
The path approaching Dunstable Downs