The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 8.6 miles (13.84km)
Time to walk: With stops to admire the scenery, roughly 4.5 hours
Difficulty: Mostly on forest & grassy tracks. There are some steady climbs, but nothing too strenuous. As these are chalk downs some of the exposed paths may be slippery in wet weather. There are no stiles, but this is not wheelchair / pushchair friendly
Parking: Pay parking at Tring Station…off-peak £7 per day. Postcode HP23 5QR. what3words: pies.losing.indeed
Public toilets: Tring Station at the start & end – nothing in-between
Map of the route:
As this walk is all about the spectacular views, I recommend you plan ahead & choose a fine, clear day to undertake it.
Ivinghoe Beacon is a prominent hill & landmark just over the County border in Buckinghamshire, in the Chiltern Hills. From Northampton it’s 34 miles
The Beacon lies within the Ashridge Estate & is managed & owned by the National Trust. It’s the starting point of the Icknield Way to the east, & the Ridgeway long-distance path to the west
Ready for an amazing stroll?
Let’s Walk!
1. Before setting off don’t forget to pay for your car parking – the machine is beside the bridge…
Walk to the exit & turn right on the path beside the road
2. After a few yards pass through the metal gate on the right…
…& then bear left continuing in the same direction as the road
3. As the road & track bends right look across to see a footpath sign beside the tree…
Carefully cross the road & follow the path in the direction of the footpath sign…
4. As it climbs the path enters a charming wood…
…& at the junction continue in the same direction
5. A National Trust sign post tells you you’re entering Aldbury Nowers, part of the Ashridge Estate…
As the path continues to climb the views start to appear & they will only get better & better
6. There’s still more climbing to be done & the path continues upwards through the woods once more…
…& then up the steps in the picture below
7. The path’s very well signposted…
We’re always a sucker for a gate with a view so look out for the one on the left
8. Eventually it’s time to leave the woods behind so pass through the gate in the picture below & keep heading upwards…
…& now the really exciting part of this walk begins as it’s big views all the way!
9. Immediately they start unfolding on your left…
The path ahead is undulating, but well marked. Just be careful if the ground’s wet as any of the exposed chalk could be very slippery. In the distance your can see Ivinghoe Beacon
10. Look across into the valley on your left to spot Pitstone Windmill. It’s thought to have been first built around 1627 as this date is carved on part of the framework. This is the earliest date to be found on any windmill in the British Isles
For nearly three hundred years grain grown in the two adjoining villages was ground at the mill into flour. In 1874 the mill was bought by Adelbert Wellington Brownlow Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow who owned the nearby Ashridge Estate. He subsequently left it to a local farmer, who ran a successful milling business from the mill
In 1902, the mill was damaged beyond economic repair during an enormous gale. Around 1922, the derelict ruined mill was bought from the Ashridge Estate by a farmer whose land was close to the mill. In 1937, he donated it to the National Trust. However, it was not until 1963 that a band of volunteers began to carry out renovations at their own expense. In 1970, after an interlude of 68 years, the mill once again ground corn
(picture @nationaltrust)
Today the windmill is open to the public on Summer Sunday afternoons
11. Just keep following the grass track, climbing the hill ahead…
…& what goes up must come down so head towards the road & car park
12. Carefully walk through the car park & continue ahead on the other side. If you look ahead you can see the ridge as it bears left & climbs upwards again…
Eventually you’ll arrive at the metal gate in the picture below. Ignore this for now, but you will pass through it on your return journey
13. For now take the small track to the left of the gate a pass through the gap in the shrubs…
The track now bears right along the edge of the ridge to arrive at another gate
14. Pass through the gate & continue to climb again. Ahead of you now you can see the path leading to the summit of the Beacon…
The track eventually arrives at a road. Carefully cross this a carry on upwards on the other side
15. And now it’s head down for the final push to the summit…
…& suddenly there it is & what a summit!
16. The Beacon was once a hilltop settlement area overlooking the Aylesbury Vale. It has a series of earthworks surrounding it, & also a barrow at its highest point. The site is thought to have been occupied since the Late Bronze Age, but the earthwork ramparts probably date back to the Iron Age
Six counties can be seen from the summit & 4 scenes from the Harry Potter movies were filmed here
17. Time to move on & our return route begins by heading east along the Ridgeway towards Dunstable Downs – in the distance you can see the carved shape of the Wicksteed Lion in the distance
Pass through the gate in the picture below
18. This really is wonderful ridge walking…
Ahead now are two more gates which is the point at which you’ll leave the ridge…
19. Don’t go through the gates, but turn right & head down the hill…
Pass through the metal kissing gate & you’ll see the well marked path ahead which turns to the right
20. You can see the next hill to be climbed straight ahead…
At the end of the field go through the gate
21. Now it’s head down & straight up the steep hill, maybe stopping for a couple of breathers…
At the top enter the car park where, if you’re lucky, you might find the ice-cream van!
22. Carefully cross the small road & walk through the gap in the hedge…
Be careful as this track might be slightly muddy. At the junction take the left path
23. At the T junction in the picture below turn left…
Eventually the track arrives at a metal gate…do you recognise it? It’s the one you ignored on the way up earlier
24. Pass through the gate & turn left…
And now it’s simply a case of retracing your steps & following the route all the way back to Tring station where you started this wonderful walk
So that’s it…what an amazing stroll. It will take some planning, but this walk has to be done in fine weather because you don’t want to miss the incredible views
It’s a cracker!
Go Walk!