Ivinghoe Beacon and Ashridge Bluebell Beechwoods Circular

Miles: 12-13 moderate
Meeting time: 10:30 Meeting place: Tring Station (on right side of footbridge near carpark)
Leader: Sue Aldridge Leader’s phone: 07713 025494 on the day only
Travel: Depart Harrow & Wealdstone 9.51 Watford Junc. 10.00 Arrive Tring 10.21 (will be checked again nearer the time)
Nature of walk: From Tring Station follow ‘The Ridgeway’ to Ivinghoe Beacon. Then along the Gallows Hill ridge with views ahead to Dunstable Downs. Then walk through some of the best beechwoods on the Ashridge Estate, finally descending to the canal to follow the towpath back to Tring Station. Picnic lunch on slopes of Ivinghoe Hills with splendid views. A later tea stop will be taken at the NT Visitor centre café with toilets. From the visitor centre the walk can be slightly shortened to 9-10 miles if a walker wishes to descend independently via Albury village, with a more direct half hour easy walk to Tring Station. (Directions provided). The main group follows the wooded escarpment through the last bluebell wood, to descend from Norcott Hill to the canal for the return to the station. (Map Explorer 181)