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This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Saturday, 19 November 2022

Saturday Walk - Tring to Berkhamsted via Tom's Hill walk, A canal, Ashridge estate, Berkhamsted Common and World War One trenches


Length: 15.5 km (9.6 miles) 4 out of 10

T=swc.366

This walk takes a completely different route to the Book 2 Classic Tring to Berkhamsted. The start follows the Grand Union Canal, then you walk through ancient woodland and commons, passing chimneyed lodges and an impressive college building. You enjoy extensive Chiltern views, pass some trenches dug by World War I soldiers, to finish in Berkhamsted at a waterside pub.

This walk should have plenty of leaf colour from the beech trees in the Ashridge Estate.

Trains: Get the 1022 Northampton train from Euston (Watford Junction 1039) arriving Tring at 1057. Return trains are frequent at varying times.


Lunch:  The Bridgewater Arms (tel 01442 842408) in the village of Little Gaddesden. The pub serves good value food from a varied menu (Greene King),  inside dining areas and a very pleasant beer garden. 

A good picnic spot is the churchyard of the church in Little Gaddesden, some 400 metres or so from the pub, or if you're not visiting the pub, carry on the route to the start of The Golden Valley.


Tea: Just before the railway station you come to the Crystal Palace pub on the canal, which has reopened (December 2021) following refurbishment after a lengthy period of closure. Various other options on the High Street.

The The Platform Wine Shop at the rear station entrance- perfect for SWC walkers who like to purchase "supplies" to enjoy on their train journey home.

1 comment:

Mr M Tiger said...

9 at the station and one joining at lunch makes n=10 The day was w=dry-sunny-and-slightly-chilly At Cow Roast, we got to witness an unexpected spectacle. Alpacas wresting! Then on through Ashridge where the colours were vibrant. In Little Gaddesden, most had sandwiches in the churchyard but a few went in the Bridgwater for a meal. Mr Tiger wasnt expecting to eat but was fed a few chips by a kindly benefactor.
The group split here, the alfrescos having gone ahead. The noble few continued through Golden Valley (it was) and Frithden Beeches (it was, too). Nobody stopped at the Crystal Palace, as far as I know. Now an independent pub, it was packed and very lively but just a bit too lively for a quiet end of walk drink.