Pete's Walks - Kensworth, Dunstable Downs, Whipsnade
I did this very roughly 6-mile walk on Sunday, 12th September 2010. It was a variation on a local walk I have done numerous times before. I have been suffering problems with my left foot and leg that have prevented me from going for long walks for a couple of months now (very frustrating!), but I finally thought I'd be OK for a two-hour walk.
I started walking about 9.35am, taking Hollicks Lane and the path beside it to reach Church End. I walked through the churchyard and continued along through the meadow behind the church (where I spotted a Red Admiral butterfly). I followed Beech Road for about a third of a mile, before going a few yards to join the path round Kensworth quarry (I chose not to join it earlier because I knew the first section would be very muddy).
The path beside Hollicks Lane, between Kensworth and Church End
The path in the meadow behind Kensworth church
Kensworth quarry
I soon reached the section of the quarry path where I could see across the southern end of Dunstable on my right to Blows Downs. I met a few dog walkers as I continued along the quarry path. I saw a couple of Speckled Wood butterflies, and a brown dragonfly that wouldn't settle long enough for me to identify it.
Looking across Dunstable to Blows Downs and beyond
The quarry path, close to Dunstable
The quarry path
The quarry path, getting close to Dunstable Downs
I eventually turned off the quarry path to reach Dunstable Downs, unsurprisingly quite busy this pleasant Sunday morning. I turned left, and followed the path along the top of the Downs past the new visitor centre (the Chiltern Gateway) and on towards Whipsnade Downs. I soon turned left, onto a bridleway, then forked right onto a footpath along a private drive that took me to the tiny Sallowsprings Nature Reserve. Beyond that I rejoined the private drive for a few yards, before turning right to reach Whipsnade Tree Cathedral. All the way along the Downs and on to Whipsnade I met countless runners coming the other way, competing in the Dunstable Downs Challenge (that's what it said on the numbers pinned to their chests).
Dunstable Downs
The view from Dunstable Downs
Ivinghoe Beacon from Dunstable Downs
Heading towards Whipsnade Downs from near the new visitor centre on Dunstable Downs
The private drive beyond the Sallowsprings Nature Reserve, Whipsnade
The edge of Whipsnade Tree Cathedral
I carried on into Whipsnade, crossing part of the huge irregular green to reach the church, then bearing left and downhill to reach the crossroads (well, a roundabout now) at Whipsnade Heath. It was then a short stroll through the woods of the heath and across a couple of fields to return to Kensworth.
Part of the huge irregular green at Whipsnade
The path from Whipsnade Heath to Kensworth
It was a short but pleasant walk, on a fine September morning. I was pleased to see several wildflowers still in flower, including Herb Robert, Common Toadflax and White Campion.
I felt a couple of twinges in my leg during the walk, but felt fine at the end of the walk and for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, the next morning the foot problem that I thought I'd sorted out had flared up again, and I also had backache. So I don't know when I'll be fit enough for another walk.