Circular walk to Ivinghoe Beacon

08/08/2007 by pete.

This was a really nice day for a walk, bright and sunny but not too hot. I did one of my regular walks from home, going from Kensworth to Ivinghoe Beacon and back, about 14 miles.

The route goes from Kensworth past Holywell to Studham church, then on across the Gade Valley (a very attractive Chiltern valley) to Little Gaddesden and then Ringshall. It’s then a very pleasant walk through the woods of Ashridge to Ivinghoe Beacon. I spent half an hour or so looking for wildflowers there. I hoped to see frog orchids, but was disappointed. I did see some type of gentian - I think it’s field gentian  rather than chiltern gentian, but annoyingly my camera refused to focus on them and none of my photos are any good so I can’t really tell for sure.

The walk back largely folowed the route of the Icknield Way path, and I noticed there were a whole load of new stiles and kissing gates here. I went through Dagnall, across Whipsnade golf course and then along the boundary fence of the zoo and on into Whipsnade itself. It was then just a short distance through Whipsnade Heath and back to Kensworth.

Not too many wildlife sitings, but I did see a fox and two Fallow deer.

I was again struck by how lucky I am to live here. On a sunny day like this, the views from the Beacon and from both sides of the Gade Valley were really gorgeous.

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