Tring Circular – Ivinghoe Beacon and Chiltern beech woods

25 card carrying (freedom pass) worthy people set out on this sunny windy day to show the rest of the world that seniority was no handicap when it comes to climbing Ivinghoe Beacon. And there were plenty to stand and gaze in amazemnt as we skipped up the hills for the promise of winters end had brought the multitude out.
It was a lovely day.

Date: 
Sunday, 17 April 2016 - 9:30am
Walk Leaders: 
Renate and Chris Wright
Leader Phone: 
Mobile : zero seven seven five three three eight two eight zero eight
Meeting Point: 
TRING Train Station Large Car Park
Distance: 
11 miles
Maps: 
Explorer 181 Landranger 165
Travel: 

Outward Travel: Euston Station 8.55 am Northampton Train , Watford Junction 9.14 am Senior Rail Card return £6.35
Return to Euston 15 and 35 minutes past the hour. Car park at Tring Station £4.20. No Loo break at the station.

Route: 

The Ridgeway along the Chiltern escarpment to Ivinghoe Beacon, where on a fine day you can see half of England! Ancient Chiltern beech woods and carpets of bluebells should they flower early. Icknield Way through pine forest, Wards Hurst Farm fields along a path overgrown with cherry laurel. Bridgewater Monument erected in 1832 to the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, the Canal Duke, Ashridge Estate, Aldbury village.

Lunch: 

The Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire. Tel: 01442 842408, Sunday roasts, usual pub food, no sandwiches. Dogs welcome in the bar area.

Notes: 

We climb two long flights of wood supported steps and a steep hill up and another down in the morning and go through many kissing gates during the walk through woodlands, commons and farmland. No stiles. Some paths are very muddy in the woods and slippery along the chalk ridge. Please be alert as we share the bridle way with horses and bicycles and emerge onto main roads.