Pete's Walks- Studham Common and Nettleden (page 5 of 5)
I turned left and followed the lane through part of Hudnall. I went straight on at a crossroads (now on a bridleway along a private drive). I soon reached a fingerpost, where I took a bridleway forking slightly right (a footpath went further right from the same spot). This ran a short way through a wood, and then gradually went downhill beside a hedgerow on my left, with views over the Gade valley on my right. On reaching a field corner, the bridleway turned right for a few yards, before switching to the left of the hedgerow and continuing gently downhill to reach the road that runs along the valley.
The lane through Hudnall
The drive after crossing the road at Hudnall
The start of the bridleway from Hudnall
The bridleway from Hudnall
The bridleway from Hudnall
The bridleway crossing the Gade Valley
Across the road, a bridleway continued straight up the opposite side of the valley, gently at first but soon getting steeper. Just after the bridleway turned slightly right, it went through a hedge gap and continued between the hedgerow and a tall wire fence on my left, with a newish plantation and then Ravensdell wood on the other side of the fence. It was still slightly uphill, until just before I reached the end of the wood. The bridleway then continued for several hundred yards along the right edge of a large field, before following a short drive to reach Common Road, Studham.
The bridleway crossing the Gade Valley, after crossing the road
View right, along the Gade Valley
The bridleway continuing towards Ravensdell Wood
The bridleway continuing through Ravensdell Wood
The bridleway continuing from Ravensdell Wood
Across the road, a bridleway went half-right, descending a ploughed field to reach the valley bottom where it was crossed by a road (Valley Road, Studham). I crossed the road and continued along the valley bottom on another (or the same) bridleway. This eventually brought me to Studham Common, where I soon turned right or half-right, going a short way uphill before continuing just inside the edge of this wooded section of the common. I then crossed a road, and continued along the top of the middle section of the common (mainly grass). I then just had to cross another road to return to the car park where I'd started.
The bridleway going half-right after crossing Common Road, Studham
The bridleway along the valley, after crossing Valley Road, Studham
Studham Common, where I turned half-right (past the yellow marker post)
The path through Studham Common
The path through Studham Common
The path through Studham Common, after crossing the first road
I really enjoyed this walk. Considering that I more or less made up the route as I went along, it worked out really well. It was nice to walk a few paths I'd not walked before, and I also loved the views over the Gade valley from near Gaddesden Place (which I'd not seen for a few years). Of course the very sunny weather no doubt contributed to my enjoyment. I'd certainly be happy to do the walk again sometime.