Pete's Walks - Hudnall and Potten End (page 3 of 3)
I continued onwards through the delightful beech trees of Frithsden Beeches, then followed the edge of a huge grass common for about a hundred yards. I then turned right (leaving the route I walked last Saturday) and within a few yards a came to the road or drive from Frithsden to Ashridge House. I crossed over, and followed a private drive leading up the opposite hillside.
Frithsden Beeches
Frithsden Beeches
The edge of the huge grass common
The private drive, going uphill from Frithsden
At the top of the hill, the drive ended but a footpath continued ahead between hedges and then fences. Through a gate, it continued across part of a huge pasture, heading gently down into the bottom of Golden Valley near to Ashridge House (hidden by the trees to my left).
The path continuing towards Golden Valley
The path approaching Golden Valley
The path approaching Golden Valley
Looking right, along Golden Valley
Looking left along Golden Valley, from the start of the path up to Little Gaddesden
At the valley bottom I turned right onto a footpath that followed a wide track gently uphill through a wood. The public footpath goes straight on at a hairpin bend in the track, but I stayed on the track and followed it up to the road that runs through Little Gaddesden. Across the road, a footpath led along a drive, between walls and then through a stable yard. It continued as a good track going down into the next valley bottom (looking along the valley to my right, I could see the huge ploughed fields I'd have had to walk through if I'd stuck to my original route). The path then turned left for a short distance, before turning right to reach a small wood. As I walked through the wood, i met a monk in orange and brown robes, clearly from the Buddhist monastery I'd passed earlier (I've seen these monks a few times now). Beyond the wood I returned to the lane where I'd started, with the car park just a few yards to the left.
The path up to Little Gaddesden
The path up to Little Gaddesden (this section is not shown as a right of way on the map, but it's open access land)
The path from Little Gaddesden (near Home Farm) to Hudnall
Looking right (my original route would have followed most of the bottom of this valley)
The path to Hudnall
The path to Hudnall, just before reaching the lane and the car park
The walk had taken two hours. Despite the grey and overcast conditions (sorry for the rather dismal photos!) it had been a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon. I'm sure I'll do the walk again, and then maybe I'll finally get to follow the route I'd originally planned!