Pete's Walks- Kensworth, Roe End and Bison Hill (shortened version) (page 4 of 5)
If you are considering walking this route yourself, please see my disclaimer. You may also like to see these notes about the maps and GPX files.
Google map of the walk (this route uses Alternative 1 on the Google map)
The bridleway immediately passed a bungalow on the right, and continued for several hundred yards between old hedgerows either side. It eventually emerged onto the top of Bison Hill, where I followed a path going half-right through the grass, descending slightly. At a path junction in the grass I turned right to reach a metal kissing-gate (another path was a short way to my left, close to a road), through which a path continued with the hillside soon sloping down to my left. I soon reached a faint fork where I kept left, the path curving slightly left and then to the right (this path was much less clear than usual, for some reason) [UPDATE 27/01/2025 - this path is now overgrown and blocked by thorny bushes, so use the right fork (much clearer) instead, to reach the crossroads of sunken tracks]. After a few hundred yards there was a steep descent for a very few yards that brought me to a crossroads of sunken tracks worn into the hillside - these are old drovers' ways i.e. paths shepherds used for centuries to move their sheep from place to place.
The bridleway to Bison Hill
The bridleway to Bison Hill
Arriving at Bison Hill
Path on Bison Hill (I took the left fork here, before turning right at a path junction in the grass)
Path on Bison Hill (after going through the pedestrian gate)
Path on Bison Hill
Path on Bison Hill
Path on Bison Hill
I went straight on here, dropping more steeply downhill. I slowed right down and spent the next 30 minutes or so going very slowly as I was now looking for butterflies and orchids - I've included a few photos of what I found. At the bottom of the slope I followed the path as it curved right. Soon the path was again a sunken track with an embankment on my left, gradually working its way back up the hillside.
The old Drovers' Way descending Bison Hill
Mother Shipton moth (note the outline of an old hag's face on its wings)
The path reaching the foot of Bison Hill
The old Drovers' Way slowly ascending Whipsnade Downs
The old Drovers' Way slowly ascending Whipsnade Downs
