Dunstable Downs, Chilterns walks

The Ridgeway the other way. The NationalTrail from NE to SW. This Stage 1 goes over the Chilterns, across the Grand Union Canal, past Tring, through the Three Hundreds of Aylesbury to reach the market town of Wendover.

The Ridgeway is linked at Ivinghoe Beacon by the Two Ridges Link (8 miles and included on OS mapping) with the Greensand Ridge Walk that in turn also connects with the Icknield Way Path. The Link uses the Grand Union Canal North from near Slapton. This route shows the link from North to South.

Starting from Hemel Hempstead Station this is a walk which can be enjoyed without a car. The station is right on the edge of the town so virtually all the route is through the open country, much of it through Boxmoor Trust land, on the plateau of the Chilterns and along the Grand Union Canal. There are lots of reminders of the history of the area from 1594 through WWII. If you are lucky you may see a couple of rare farm breeds kept on Trust land and some interesting birds along the canal.

A fairly level Bedfordshire walk starts from Woburn and passes through the extensive grounds of Woburn Abbey to reach Eversholt. The return route includes the opportunity to have lunch in Milton Bryan and a further section of walking through the Abbey's extensive parkland.

This section of the walk takes you from Wendover down to Buckmoor End (where there is a pit stop and possibly a bacon sarnie!) across in front of Chequers through the nature reserve and over to The Plough at Cadsden.

The Ridgeway the other way. The National Trail from NE to SW. This Stage 2 is the most undulating with several climbs in and out of valleys and is, therefore, the most strenuous part of The Ridgeway. The route climbs Coombe Hill, passes by Pulpit Hill fort and over Lodge Hill. Goes around Bledlow Great Wood near Chinnor to go along a disused railway and go underneath the M40. It goes along the bottom edge of the Chilterns scarp and passes Watlington Hill.

Starts at Two Brewers Inn, Chipperfield. Passes thru' Kings Langley where we join the Grand Union Canal for a short distance. Then thru' Bedmond & Potters Crouch before descending past the Roman wall into Verulamium Park and past St Albans Cathedral to finish at St Albans Abbey Station.

A linear walk from Chesham to Wendover climbing to the top of the Chiltern escarpment with spectacular views over the Oxford plains from the top of Coombe Hill. The Chiltern Hills are the main point of interest - you walk up one side, to the shoulder, then back down to civilisation. The physical nature of the geography and geology makes this walk feel bigger than it is.

The stage starts at St Albans Abbey Station. Soon joins River Ver Path for 0.65 miles. Climbs to join the Alban Way (old railway line) all the way to and thru' Hatfield. Passes Mill Green Mill and follows Welwyn Centenary Walk thru' a golf course & The Commons Nature Reserve, then joins the Cole Green Way (old railwayline) to Hertford. Goes thru' the old part of this county town, taking in the castle and grounds, then joins the River Lea Navigation to just north of Hertford East Station.