Pete's Walks- Kensworth, Markyate, Studham, Whipsnade (page 3 of 3)
Instead of continuing ahead along a path to Valley Road, I turned right and followed the short lane from the school to the road through Studham. At the junction I turned left through this part of the village, soon coming to a sharp corner where Valley Road went left. I went straight on along Church Road to reach Studham church, passing through the churchyard to the left of the church. A lengthy path continued straight on, initially beside a hedge on my left, crossing two small valleys and then bringing me to the old disused lane between Holywell and Whipsnade (I joined it on the edge of Holywell, to my right).
The road through Studham
Church Road
Studham church
The start of the path from Studham church to Holywell
The path from Studham church
The path from Studham church
The path from Studham church (it goes left at the second hedgerow, and then follows it round to the right)
I turned left along the old lane (closed to traffic over 30 years ago), following it for almost half a mile before taking a path on the right (just past where the lane is blocked to traffic by bollards). This went slightly uphill to a field corner, where I went through a pedestrian gate and turned left through an open farm gate. I then followed the right edge of a meadow to reach Whipsnade church. I went through the churchyard, passing left of the church, and turned right through part of the huge irregularly-shaped green in Whipsnade, heading downhill to meet the road opposite the Old Hunter's Lodge pub and restaurant.
The old lane from Holywell to Whipsnade
The old lane from Holywell to Whipsnade
The path after I turned right from the old lane from Holywell to Whipsnade
Approaching Whipsnade church
Whipsnade church
Looking towards Whipsnade Heath from Whipsnade The building is the Old Hunters Lodge pub and restaurant.
I soon turned off the road, taking an overgrown old section of lane on the right (this was the former continuation of Buckwood Lane, the only way into Whipsnade before the new road from Kensworth was built about 1930 to provide access to Whipsnade Zoo). At its end, I crossed over and went left, and crossed the Whipsnade Road by a roundabout to reach Whipsnade Heath. I took the familiar path through the small car park and straight on through the wooded heath, continuing along the path through two fields to return to Common Road, Kensworth, where I turned right to return to my home.
Another old lane, this used to be the final part of Buckwood Lane
Whipsnade Heath
Whipsnade Heath
The path from Whipsnade Heath to Kensworth
This was a very pleasant walk, and quite undemanding - it was seldom flat but the numerous ups and downs were never very steep. Despite the muddy conditions, I was reminded once again of how lucky I am to have such attractive countryside on my doorstep.