Pete's Walks- Kensworth and Flamstead (page 3 of 3)
In the corner of this paddock I went through a gate and turned left along Friendless Lane. Within yards I reached its end at Cheverells Green on the edge of Markyate. A short way to my right I took a path across the road, which led through a small overgrown field. Beyond this I turned left and followed a hedgerow for several hundred yards beside a huge cornfield. In the next corner the path turned left to follow the edge of another cornfield.
The path at Cheverell's Green
The path to Roe End
The path to Roe End
I then turned right along Roe End Lane, continuing along it when the tarmac surface ended and it became a hedge-lined green lane (actually a public byway). As ever it was very pleasant walking along here, with many wildflowers brightening the hedges, including the splendid Rosebay Willowherb. Eventually I left the byway when a small area of trees started on the right (shortly before the byway turned left). A path led through the trees, then entered a corner of a field. Immediately I turned left following a path just inside Byslip Wood.
Roe End Lane (public byway)
Roe End Lane (public byway)
Roe End Lane (public byway) - the striking pink flower is Rosebay Willowherb
Roe End Lane (public byway) - I turned off to the right where the trees start
Path through Byslip Wood
I went left a short way along Byslips Road before taking a path on the right (immediately before the first house on that side). This soon led into a large field, where the path passed a solitary tree and then ran beside a small wood on the right. The path then crossed a huge field of beans to reach a wood on the edge of Holywell.
Near the start of the path from Byslips Road to Holywell
The path from Byslips Road to Holywell
The path from Byslips Road to Holywell
Wood on the edge of Holywell
Beyond the wood I turned right, and followed a path beside garden fences down to a valley bottom. Here I went right at a path crossroads and immediately came to Buckwood Lane. A few yards right I turned into Dovehouse Lane and followed it uphill. By a brick building on the right (Shortgrove Manor Farm), l took a path on the left which went through two fields to reach the road from Kensworth to Whipsnade, where I turned right to return to the start of the walk.
Dovehouse Lane
The Whipsnade Road, heading back into Kensworth
It seemed a long time since I last walked to Flamstead, and I enjoyed walking some fairly local paths that I'd not visited for a long time. The walk was pleasant but not spectacular (perhaps I'm being unfair as my previous walk at Barton had been so wonderful!). It was a warm but grey and overcast day, only brightening up right at the end when I reached Dovehouse Lane.