Pete's Walks - Kensworth to Redbourn (part 4)
I turned right and followed the edge of the common and soon passed the cricket pitch (the first game of cricket in Redbourn was way back in 1666, and though the current club only dates from 1823 organised games had been played on the common eighty years earlier, making it one of the oldest village cricket clubs in the country). Having had a late start it was now a few minutes before 1pm, so I sat on one of the many seats around the common to eat my lunch. I then carried on along the edge of the green and then turned right to leave Redbourn along Flamsteadbury Lane. Beyond the village, this passed between ploughed or stubble fields and then crossed back over the motorway on another bridge. The lane ended at Flamsteadbury, a large farm/stable complex (there's also now a cricket centre here), but I continued straight on ahead, on a farm track. After a fork or junction where I kept right (almost straight on), the track ran for almost a mile between huge ploughed fields, without passing so much as a hedgerow. I saw a jogger and then a cyclist along this stretch.
Path beside the common at Redbourn
Path beside the common at Redbourn
The lane to Flamsteadbury
The lane approaching Flamsteadbury
The very long farm track
The very long farm track
Eventually I reached the end of the track at a corner of a lane, where I continued ahead towards Trowley Bottom. There were several mature trees lining the first part of the lane, and I saw (and heard!) a large number of Jackdaws here. After a while the lane turned right and headed downhill, enclosed now by tall hedges. At the bottom of the slope I soon came to a lane junction where I turned right. It was now only a short distance into Trowley Bottom, an attractive hamlet adjoining Flamstead.
The lane to Trowley Bottom
The lane to Trowley Bottom
The lane to Trowley Bottom
The lane to Trowley Bottom
Approaching Trowley Bottom
I immediately turned left at a junction, passing some attractive cottages as I reached a minor crossroads. Here I left the hamlet as I took a bridleway going on ahead, following a valley bottom. After a short while I crossed the Chiltern Way at a path crossroads. The bridleway ended at a lane corner, where I turned right and followed the lane (Valley Lane) uphill.
Trowley Bottom (I turned left by the row of cottages)
The bridleway from Trowley Bottom
The bridleway from Trowley Bottom
The lane beyond the bridleway (Valley Lane)