Main walk last checked Option a) last checked Option b) last checked Option c) last checked 15 December 2020 26 November 2020 7 November 2019 26 November 2020 Document last updated: 28 January 2021 This document and information herein are copyrighted to Saturday Walkers’ Club. If you are interested in printing or displaying any of this material, Saturday Walkers’ Club grants permission to use, copy, and distribute this document delivered from this World Wide Web server with the following conditions: * The document will not be edited or abridged, and the material will be produced exactly as it appears. 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Tring Circular Ivinghoe Beacon and Chiltern beech woods Length Main walk 16.3km (10.1 miles) a) Short circular walk 12.8km (8 miles) b) Tring to Berkhamsted 20.6km (12.8 miles) c) Short walk from Tring to Berkhamsted 9.4km (5.8 miles) Toughness 4 out of 10 Maps Explorer 181, Landranger 165 Features The first part of this route – which follows the Ridgeway along the Chiltern escarpment to Ivinghoe Beacon – is exhilarating, offering downland scenery as fine as anything on the South Downs. From the Beacon itself, it seems as if you can see half of England on a fine day. Then, by way of contrast, you are plunged into the ancient Chiltern beechwoods of the Ashridge Estate. Lovingly preserved by the National Trust, they provide fine autumn colours in late October or early November. Tea is at the Brownlow Café, a popular kiosk with outside seating on the Ashridge Estate. All of the climbing is in the first half of the walk: the second half is all flat or downhill. Towards the end of April and more particularly in early May, this is also a magnificent bluebell walk - arguably the best in the south east. The star attraction is Dockey Wood, just off the main walk in paragraph 33. But Flat Isley (to the right in paragraph 53: also reachable via a diversion in paragraph 76 in option a) is just as good and less well-known or frequented. Lastly, Old Copse to the south of the Brownlow Cafe (at the start of option b, but also reachable from the main walk as a short stroll) also has extensive displays. Being further north and higher up, all these woods are at their best a week to ten days later than others in the south east. Walk options a) Short cut from Ivinghoe Beacon to the Bridgewater Monument: This option avoids Little Gaddesden (and the lunch pub) by using a direct 4.7km (2.9 mile) route from Ivinghoe Beacon to the Bridgewater Monument, for the most part on an easy gravel track through beech woodland, 1 but with occasional escarpment views. There is an optional diversion into the woods midway, which also takes you through the wonderful bluebell wood of Flat Isley (see Features above). In all this option reduces the main walk to 12.8km (8 miles). To do it, follow the main walk directions to paragraph 21 on page 4 and then switch when directed to the directions in paragraph 66 on page 7. b) Extension to Berkhamsted: This pleasant walk initially through woodland (with bluebells in season - see Features) and then over open hills offers an alternative ending to either the main walk or option a) above that is 4.3km (2.7 miles) longer than the standard version, making a total walk of 20.6km (12.8 miles) if you add it to the main walk, or 17.1km (10.6 miles) if combined with option a). It has some bluebells in late April and early May. To do this option, either follow the main walk to the Bridgewater Monument (paragraph 56 on page 6) or follow option a) to its end. You then switch to paragraph 82 on page 8. c) Short walk from Tring to Berkhamsted: This walk goes direct from Tring station to Aldbury and the Bridgewater Monument (both offering refreshment options) and then joins option b) above to make a short walk of 9.4km (5.8 miles), including a particularly fine section of the Ashridge beech woods. To do this option, start with paragraph 116 on page 10. Transport Three trains an hour run between London Euston and Tring from Monday to Saturday; there are two an hour on Sundays (journey time 35-43 minutes). Take the train nearest to 9.30am to get to lunch in time. There is also one train an hour from East Croydon and Clapham Junction via Shepherd’s Bush from Monday to Saturday (journey time 75 minutes from East Croydon or 58 minutes from Clapham Junction): on Sunday you have to change at Watford Junction. Berkhamsted is served by all trains that stop at Tring as well as some that do not. It is one stop nearer to London than Tring and so covered by a return ticket to Tring If you’re driving, park at the large (paying) station car park at Tring. Lunch & tea places Bridgewater Arms, Nettleden Road, Little Gaddesden, HP4 1PD (01442 842 408 www.bridgewater-arms-berkhamsted.co.uk). Open 11am-11pm daily. Food served noon-10pm daily. Located 10.2km (6.3 miles) from the start of the walk, this fine old country inn has a classy restaurant and offers cheaper bar meals at lunchtime. This is the suggested lunch stop for the main walk. It also serves hot drinks and cakes from 11am to 6pm. Brownlow Café Ashridge Estate Visitor’s Centre, Moneybury Hill, Berkhamsted, HP4 1LX (01442 851227). Open Jan-Mar, Nov, Dec 10am-4pm daily. Apr-Oct 8am-6pm daily. This tea kiosk with outside seating opposite the Bridgewater Monument has a fine selection of homemade cakes and also offers some hot lunch options. It is the recommended tea option for the main walk, and a possible lunch stop on the shorter walk options. Greyhound Inn 19 Stocks Road, Aldbury, HP23 5RT (01442 851228, www.greyhoundaldbury.co.uk). Open 11am-11pm Mon-Sat; 11am-10.30pm Sun. Food served noon-2.30pm, 7-9.30pm Mon-Sat; noon-7pm Sun. This relatively upmarket pub is a possible lunch or dinner stop in Aldbury towards the end of the main walk, but near the start of the short walk from Tring to Berkhamsted. Valiant Trooper Trooper Road, Aldbury, HP23 5RW (01442 851203). Open 11am-11pm Mon- Sat; noon-10.30pm Sun. Food served noon-2.30pm Mon; noon-2.30pm, 6-9pm Tue-Fri; noon- 9pm Sat; noon-4pm Sun. A basic, walker-friendly pub with a varied menu, this is an alternative lunch option in Aldbury village for the shorter walk options. It also serves hot drinks and cakes, making it a possible tea option on the main walk or option a). Berkhamsted High Road has various refreshment options if you are finishing the walk there, including Costa Coffee open until 7.30pm weekdays and 7pm weekends (soon to be joined by a 2 Caffe Nero), Bel Caffe, open till 6pm daily, Mario's Gelateria and Espresso Bar, open till 5pm daily and 5.30pm Saturday, and Simmons Bakery, which serves hot drinks, has tables, and a good selection of cakes: open until 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 5pm Sundays. Among pub options is The Crown, part of the Weatherspoons chain. Picnic: Both Pitsdown Hill and Ivinghoe Beacon are excellent picnic spots. A good picnic spot for option c) is also identified in paragraph 97. WALK DIRECTIONS For c) Short walk from Tring to excellent place to see rare butterflies Berkhamsted start with paragraph 116 on from April to August.) page 10. 8 In 80 metres, just after the path Tring station to Ivinghoe Beacon enters the wood, ignore a smaller path to the left that slants back downhill, (5.6km/3.5 miles) but in 10 metres more take the next 1 From the platform at Tring Station, left, once again clearly signposted walk up the stairs and turn right. At ‘Ridgeway’. Climb up a long flight of the end of the footbridge turn half left wood supported steps, and at the top across the car park towards its turn half left, your direction 310 entrance. degrees, following a yellow arrow and acorn sign on a post, and 2 Do not cross the road, but turn right ignoring an apparent path that carries along its near side and then on straight upwards. immediately right again through a metal and wood kissing gate. Turn left 9 You now stay on this path, ignoring along the hedge, parallel to the road, ways off, as it curves up through the with an earth bank to the right initially. woods, then descends slightly and levels out. In 1km you reach a wooden This path along the field edge is a kissing gate and exit the woods. permissive path, ie not a right of way. If it is closed, you will need to follow 10 Beyond the gate keep straight on the road, taking care of the traffic: along a well defined path which slants ignore a road to the left in 100 metres up the open hillside, ignoring another and in 70 metres more turn left onto a path that forks left downhill.