Length: 22 km (13.7 miles) Back to Tring: 17.6 km (11 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10 Some steady inclines in the morning as you approach the Beacon. The afternoon is mostly flat, easy going.
London Euston: 10-24 hrs West Midland service to Northampton Watford Junction 10-40 hrs
Arrive Tring: 10-58 hrs
Return
Tring to Euston: 15-27, 16-00, 16-18, 16-37, 16-57, 17-17, 17-27, 17-59 and so on
Berkhamsted to Euston: 16-05, 16-23, 16-32, 16-46, 17-02, 17-23, 17-32, 17-48, 18-05, 18-26, 18-30 and so on
Rail ticket: buy a day return to Tring
This is an "extra" bluebell walk, one of the best in south-east England, on account of Dockey Wood. But timing is tricky - last year I posted the walk a week too early: back in 2019, I was a week too late. This year it looks as though bluebells are appearing early - so I am taking a punt on Friday 29 April.
Leaving the railway station the walk starts through light woodland before a ridge path takes you over grassy plateaus and fields before a steady uphill path takes you up into light woodland then down to the foot of Ivinghoe Beacon. You can climb it if you wish. Afterwards, or otherwise, keeping to the main route today (not the shortcut) you walk along field edges and through a wood to the base of Wards Hurst Farm - you should find lots of wild garlic in this wood and either side of a steepish path which takes you up and through the farm. You now take a detour from the original TO Book route as you head towards Dockey Wood - famous for its carpet of bluebells. Do spend a little time here enjoying the 'bells before returning to the TO Book route (although I just walk along the road) until you reach the hamlet of Ringshall. From here you take woodland path to the village of Little Gaddesden, for lunch at the good Bridgewater Arms pub. Booking ahead is advisable unless you are happy dining in the pub's beer garden, to the side of the pub. Your e.t.a is 1-25 pm 01442 842408.
After lunch you enter the main grounds to the Ashridge Estate as your head for some more lovely bluebell displays - Flat Isley being the best. On then to the Bridgewater Monument, for a possible early tea stop. Here it's decision time: to return to Tring, or head to Berkhamsted. If you have the energy, the latter is recommended today, as the route takes you initially through some more bluebell woods. Crossing the B4506 road you say goodbye to bluebells today as you now head to Berkhamsted, through a mixture of woodland, farmland and via a nature reserve before you drop down to the town. If you are not in a hurry to return home, pass by the railway station and head for one of the three canal-side pubs for post walk refreshments. For those of you who like to purchase "supplies" for your journey home, the shop in the railways station has an excellent selection of wines.
If you like bluebells you will like this walk.
T=2.5
Walk Directions are here: L=2.5
2 comments:
Did this walk today, sat 23/4... bluebells out everywhere... enjoy!
8 arrived at 10:58 and set off only to find that 3 had already arrived at 10:52. They were miles ahead by the time they were caught up with. That makes n=11 including 2 first-timers. There were cowslips along the top. The group fragmented soon after coalescing, with 3 taking a secret short -cut to Dockey Wood ("not so short” said one), the rest progressing to Ivinghoe Beacon. Although 4 of those could well have been abducted by aliens, as they were never seen again . (Doo doo doo doo)
Dockey Wood was impressive but we have seen it better. Theres a £2 charge over the Bank Holiday so we did well to come Friday.
7 at the Bridgewater Arms where, apparently, there's a ban on eating in the garden. (no Health-and-Safety-gone-mad certificate). Not that we'd have wanted to on such a w=cloudy-chilly day.
Flat Isley was so purple Alice Walker could have written a book about it. Bluebells again. Lots of the little blighters. And, a bit later, a wonderful green bit with light filtering through the young beech leaves. On and on we went, eventually reaching Berkhamsted where 2 of the remaining 3 caught the 17:32, and one the 17:44. A grand day out
Incidentally, there are reports the Valiant Trooper in Aldbury has closed.
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