Pete's Walks - Studham and Little Gaddesden (page 3 of 4)
I walked a few yards left towards the village, but almost immediately took a footpath on the left that followed a hedgerow uphill. Towards the top of the hill I spotted some Dark Mullein growing. The path continued besides paddocks and meadows on my left, then ran between tall hedges either side, with the grounds of the Buddhist monastery at St Margaret's on the left.
According to its web site, the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery is a monastery in the Theravada tradition of Buddhism and a centre of teaching and practice. Its heart is a resident community of monks and nuns, whose life of meditation and work is open for visitors to share, as a living example of the Buddhist path. ‘Amaravati’ means ‘Deathless Realm’ in the Buddhist scriptural language, Pali, a verbal reminder of the highest spiritual aspiration.” There are usually about 60 people living there – 20 monks, 15 nuns and 25 guests.
Start of the path from Nettlebed to St Margaret's
The path from Nettlebed to the Buddhist monastery at St Margaret's
The path from Nettlebed to the Buddhist monastery at St Margaret's
The path beside the grounds of the Buddhist monastery at St Margaret's
I crossed the road at St Margaret's and took a footpath that ran along a small wood on my left, with a paddock on my right. Beyond this I had to walk downhill through a cattle pasture - I was a little concerned because as I approached the pasture I saw the young cattle running around, but they were quite placid as I passed by (I had to take a slight detour through very long grass because they congregated on the path). I went through an open gateway into a connected pasture, and initially headed half-right towards the opposite corner before turning left to reach a stile. I then followed a street through the edge of Great Gaddesden, before taking a path on the left that ran through another pasture (connected by an open gate to the previous two). The path crossed a long footbridge over the infant river Gade and then took me back to the road that runs through the Gade valley.
There has been a church at Great Gaddesden since Saxon times, as shown by the massive Hertfordshire puddingstones in the foundations. The fabric of the church also includes re-used Roman tiles. The first Rector was recorded in 1255. Gaddesden Place, the grand house on the hillside overlooking the village, was gutted by a fire in 1905, in which the butler died. The house has since been restored.
The start of the path from St Margarets to Great Gaddesden
The path descending to Great Gaddesden
Approaching Great Gaddesden
The long footbridge over the river Gade at great Gaddesden
The river Gade at Great Gaddesden
I took a path starting on the other side of the road beside some cottages. It ran along a driveway, passed some garages behind the cottages, and then followed a hedgerow on my right. The path then ran uphill through a field to reach Hoo Wood. There was then quite a lengthy section of pleasant woodland walking through Hoo Wood, where I glimpsed a large orange butterfly - probably a Comma but possibly a Silver-washed Fritillary (I've yet to see one of these this year). I also saw a flower I didn't recognise, which I later had identified on WildABoutBritain as Heath Speedwell.
The start of the path from Great Gaddesden to Hoo Wood
The path to Hoo Wood
The path through Hoo Wood
The path through Hoo Wood
The path through Hoo Wood.
The path through Hoo Wood
Beyond Hoo Wood the path continued through a meadow, following a hedgerow on my right - there was lots of Agrimony and other wildflowers here. The path went through an open gateway in the hedge, by a stile, and continued along the other side through another meadow (with much longer grass). In the field corner I went through another open gateway to switch back to the left of the hedgerow. I soon reached a lane on the edge of Gaddesden Row, where I turned right.
The path continuing from Hoo Wood
The path continuing towards Gaddesden Row
The path continuing towards Gaddesden Row
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