Pete's Walks - Ashridge Estate Boundary Trail (page 2 of 3)
Just before the drive reached some large gates, I took a path on the right, running through trees on the edge of Northchurch Common, with fields just to my left. When the path reached the bottom of a valley, I took a path going right - after a few yards it turned left, going steeply uphill through an open area of grass and dead bracken. At the top of the slope I turned right, and followed a path that ran through a more wooded area before running along the edge of the huge open area of grassland that makes up the majority of Northchurch Common.
The start of the path along the southern edge of Northchurch Common
Northchurch Common - my camera lies again, this is actually very steep!
Northchurch Common
Northchurch Common
After a while I took a path going left into the trees - I looked carefully for a path then forking further left, as I remembered that this was one of the few points on the route that could be more clearly signposted. I was soon on a well-surfaced bridleway running through the woods for some distance. I crossed the road that goes to Aldbury past Tom's Hill, and continued on into more of the woods of Ashridge. I went right a few yards and then left to continue on another well made bridleway - Aldbury was somewhere downhill on my left, hidden from view except at a point by a bench where trees had obviously been felled to provide a good viewpoint. The bridleway eventually reached the path from the Bridgewater Monument to Aldbury - I followed it right, soon reaching the grassy area around the Monument, which was busy with people on this lovely Spring-like Saturday.
View ahead, shortly after crossing the Tom's Hill road
Bridleway going north, towards the Monument
Looking out westwards, over Aldbury and beyond
The Bridgewater Monument, Ashridge - it was open today, and people had climbed the stairs to the viewing platform at the top
The Ashridge Estate Boundary Trail continued northwards along the main track from the Monument towards Ivinghoe Beacon. It is a pleasant walk on a good surface through attractive woodland, but I hurried along it today trying to get away from the crowds as quickly as possible. After about a mile, I stopped for lunch on a bench with another view downhill, over the valley of Duncombe. I carried on, soon passing the small kennels on clipper Down and the forking left off the main track, following a path going gently downhill through the trees, emerging to follow a fenceline between open downland and arable fields.
The main track from the monument to Ivinghoe Beacon
The main track from the monument to Ivinghoe Beacon
Looking westwards over the valley of Duncombe to Aldbury Nowers and Pitstone Hill
The main track from the monument to Ivinghoe Beacon
The main track from the monument to Ivinghoe Beacon, just before the kennels on Clipper Down
The path going down towards the Ridgeway, looking ahead towards Ivinghoe and the Vale of Aylesbury