Pete's Walks- Wigginton and Drayton Wood (page 2 of 2)
Across Shire Lane a path led through a small wood then went diagonally (half-left) across a corn field to reach the start of a line of trees marking part of the course of the ancient earthwork called Grim's Ditch. I just followed the path past the near end of the trees, then went half-right across another corn field. This took me to a track called Browns Lane which I then followed left to reach a road junction in the hamlet of Hastoe.
The path continuing to the line of trees along part of Grim's Ditch
The path from near Grim's Ditch going north to Browns Lane, Hastoe
Browns Lane, Hastoe
I went a few yards left and took a private drive on the other side of the road. This ended at a cottage where public byways went either side. I took the one on the right, but immediately turned right again onto a footpath. Within a few yards I came to a junction where I forked left to go deeper into Grove Wood. After a few hundred yards I kept right where this path merged with one coming in from the left. After some way the path ran along just inside the edge of the wood on my right. At a waymark on a post, I went a few yards right to exit the wood, then turned left alongside what was now Stubbing's Wood. I stopped for lunch at a bench by a corner of the wood (it was now about 1.15pm).
The private drive, Hastoe
The path in Grove Wood, after I forked left
Further along the same path
The footpath in Grove Wood, heading northeast
The footpath along the edge of Stubbing's Wood
Lunch over, I continued along the path, now approaching the brow of a hill with Ivinghoe Beacon dead ahead. I spotted my first Ringlet and Marbled White butterflies of 2022 along here. The path dropped steadily downhill, with a tall hedge nearby on the right. Towards the bottom of the hill the path turned right, with the A41 dual carriageway down in a cutting on the left. The path led to a lane close to the edge of Tring (to my left) and on the opposite side a short permissive path led through a meadow into Tring Park.
The path starting to descend towards Tring, Ivinghoe Beacon in the distance
The path continuing to descend towards Tring
The path continuing to descend towards Tring
The path continuing towards Tring Park (the A41 dual carriageway is over the boundary on the left)
The permissive path approaching Tring Park
Straightaway I passed the end of a footbridge over the A41 on my left, and a few yards further on took a path going half right across the park (this was the furthest of two paths starting at almost the same point), aiming towards an obvious chalky white scar in the grass. This was a very pleasant section, with a few moree butterflies and wildflowers in the long grass and a long wooded slope directly in front of me. On reaching the trees the path climbed half-left to reach an Obelisk. Five paths led off from here, I took the second one on the right (second one counting anti-clockwise) which led uphill to another path junction within sight of a gate (to the left) leading from Tring Park into Wigginton. Beyond some cottages, I turned right and followed the road through the village to a sharp turn to the left. Here I crossed over and turned left along the edge of a playing field, turning right in the corner. I then followed a short street to its end, crossed another street and followed the path ahead back to the car park and then made my way to where I'd parked on the road.
The path through Tring Park
The path through Tring Park
The path rising through the trees to the Obelisk
The path rising southwards from the Obelisk
Approaching the Wigginton exit from Tring Park
The first playing field in Wigginton - I turned right in the corner
As always this was a very pleasant walk, and quite undemanding with just one bit of uphill near the end. The erly part of the walk is mainly in woods, on the way back the section from Stubbing's Wood and through Tring Park was very good.
Once again, though, I was disappointed by how few butterflies I saw. I'm not seeing many on any of my walks, in the garden or when I visit nature reserves. Other friends who are keen naturalists say it's not just the butterflies that are scarce, it insects generally. It's a bit worrying.