Pete's Walks - Studham Common, Great Gaddesden, Hudnall (page 3 of 3)
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.
I crossed the road and continued down a private road or drive opposite. After two or three hundred yards, just before it went slightly right, I took a bridleway that forked very slightly right (other paths or bridleways started at the same point). This ran a short way through a wood, then followed a hedge on my left through a large grassy field sloping down into the Gade valley. On reaching a field corner, the bridleway went a few yards right, then turned left through a hedge and immediately ended at a bridleway T-junction. I turned right, following the hedge on my right gently downhill into the Gade valley to reach the A4146 again.
The private drive in Hudnall, after I crossed the road
The bridleway going north from Hudnall
The bridleway going north from Hudnall
The bridleway across the Gade Valley (the OS Map shows the river starting just a short way to the right of where this bridleway crosses the road)
Across the main road, the bridleway continued up the opposite side of the valley, now with a hedge on my left. This was the only steepish part of today's walk. Near the top of the slope the bridleway switched to the left of the hedge, continuing between the hedge and a youngish plantation on my left. Further on I passed Ravensdell Wood on my left, then the bridleway continued along the right edge of an arable field. On reaching the corner of this field, the path continued along a short track or drive to reach Common Road in Studham.
The bridleway continuing up the opposite side of the valley
Looking back across the Gade valley
The bridleway continuing towards Studham, passing Ravensdell Wood
The bridleway continuing towards Studham, passing Ravensdell Wood
The bridleway continuing towards Studham
The bridleway continuing towards Studham
Across the road the bridleway went half-right across another field, dropping down into a valley. It reached the field corner, where I crossed Valley Road and followed a bridleway along the valley bottom. This brought me to Studham school and Studham Common. Just a few yards into the common, I turned right onto a path that entered trees and curved left to run along near the top of this wooded section of the common. Across a road I continued along the top of the grassy central section of Studham Common, and when I reached a second road I just had to cross it to return to the car park where I'd started.
The bridleway continuing between Common Lane and Valley Lane, Studham
The bridleway after I crossed Valley Lane, heading to Studham Common
The start of Studham Common (I turned right a short way along here)
Path through the wooded western third of Studham Common (the common is divided into three by two roads)
The central third of Studham Common
This was a really pleasant walk, though the weather changed from bright and sunny to grey and overcast, with slight mist for the last half mile or so. The nicest section was the path through Hoo Wood, but there were a number of spots with good views across the Gade Valley. I'd be very happy to do the walk again sometime.