Ivinghoe Beacon to Wendover, The Ridgeway the Other Way

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.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: The Ridgeway the Other Way in six stages

Technical sheet

23748315
A Ivinghoe walk posted on 09/07/22 by El Sud. Last update : 06/10/22
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.23 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 5h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 208 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 297 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 257 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 127 m
  • ⚐
  • ⚐
    District: Ivinghoe 
  • ⚑
    Start: N 51.842178° / W 0.608334°
  • ⚑
    End: N 51.762832° / W 0.741453°

  • Today’s forecast: … Loading…

Description

Start : Summit of the Ivinghoe Beacon. Grid ref. SP 959 168

(S) From the summit of the Ivinghoe Beacon, head South to drop down to the local road, where a number of paths lead off in different directions.

(1) Cross the road straight ahead to take the path heading for Steps Hill (signposted Ridegway Trail and Tring Station) which starts with a number of steps in the gravel path. Keep following the indications to climb up Steps Hill and drop down near Incombe Hole to cross fields and come out onto Stocks Road, opposite is the Pitstone Hill Car Park.

(2) Either walk through the car park and take the path up Paul's Knob to join the trail on the other side or turn left along the road about 50m to pick up a footpath through the hedge right and into Brook's Statnalls Wood. The trail heads up Pitstone Hill and joins Grim's Ditch bearing left (South-South-East) along the ridge.

(3) The route enters a wood at Aldbury Nowers to go past a disused pit and descend to Westland Farm.

(4) Here the path turns right to run alongside the access road to join Station Road (use the path on the right) that leads to Tring Station.

(5) Cross the railway and after crossing the Grand Union Canal bear left along Beggars Lane. About 50m after the row of parked cars, on the right, the trail is indicated past a metal gate, over the fields and through Chestnut Wood to the old Roman Road (Akeman Street) now the A4251 next to a gatehouse.

(6) The trail is indicated across the road and along the path on the other side. After a 100m turn left up the track into the trees. Bear right then left to cross the footbridge over the A41 and up the hill to the road (The Twist). Go straight across and along the edge of Langton Wood to the top of Langton Hill.

(7) Carry on down to Fox Road and continue on the other side (indicated Tring Park, Rider's Road and Ridgeway) to come to a wooden gate which leads into Bull's Wood. At a path crossing turn left (South-West) to continue on the ridge all the way to Bishop's Wood.

(8) Here the route turns South to meet Marlin Hill Lane. Follow this lane left and at the junction, Hastoe Cross, turn right (West) along Church Lane past Marlin Hill Farm and into the village of Hastoe. At a road junction bear slightly left (West-South-West) to carry on along Gadmore Lane as far as a sharp left, where the tarmacked road becomes Shire Lane.

(9) Our route heads straight on into Pavis Wood and follows the ridge close to the drystone wall and bearing South-West into Northill Wood coming out onto Bottom Road near Chivery Hall Farm.

(10) Turn left then right through a metal swing gate that leads into fields by the side of farm buildings. Head South-West through a small copse and onto St Leonards Lane near Chivery. Go through another metal swing gate almost opposite and along the country track through woods dropping down to Hale Lane near Milesfield Farm.

(11) Cross straight over the road and into Hale Wood. Continue along the indicated route following the ridge past Cock's Hill and through Barn Wood. At a path crossing, follow the indications for The Ridgeway turning right to eventually come out of the wood at Boswells Farm.

(12) Continue along Hogtrough Lane, now heading North-West to reach Wellhead Farm.

(13) Continue straight ahead along Church Lane past the church on your left-hand side take the footpath right with Hampden Pond on your left-hand. At the path junction with Hampden Meadow turn right along the orchard on your left to Chapel Lane.

(14) Go straight on the footpath ahead and keep walking North on Heron Path into Wendover at the roundabout at the junction between High Street, Aylesbury and Tring roads. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 219 m - Ivinghoe Beacon
  2. 1 : km 0.54 - alt. 207 m - Road - Steps Hil
  3. 2 : km 2.32 - alt. 182 m - Pitstone Hill car park
  4. 3 : km 3.52 - alt. 197 m - Road - Woods
  5. 4 : km 5.18 - alt. 149 m - Westland Farm
  6. 5 : km 5.57 - alt. 129 m - Tring Station
  7. 6 : km 7.04 - alt. 160 m - A4251 - Road
  8. 7 : km 8.14 - alt. 217 m - Langton Hill
  9. 8 : km 9.64 - alt. 222 m - Marlin Hill Lane
  10. 9 : km 11.08 - alt. 248 m - Pavis Wood
  11. 10 : km 12.32 - alt. 249 m - Chivery Hall Farm
  12. 11 : km 13.89 - alt. 243 m - Road - Hale Wood
  13. 12 : km 16.3 - alt. 171 m - Hogtrough Lane
  14. 13 : km 17.25 - alt. 135 m - Church Lane
  15. 14 : km 17.87 - alt. 132 m - Chapel Lane
  16. E : km 18.23 - alt. 127 m - Wendover

Useful Information

Start : Summit of the Ivinghoe Beacon. Grid ref. SP 959 168
Below are indications to car parking facilities in the area. If you are on foot and public transport, Tring Station is on the route and it only requires backtracking to Ivinghoe Beacon over 5.57km. Altrernatively, there is a link route from/to Leighton Buzzard (12.95km) mostly along the Grand Union Canal. The route is described here https://www.visorando.com/en/walk-two-rid...
Parking :

  • Ivinghoe Beacon National Trust car park. Off Beacon Road, Ringshall HP4 1NF. Grid ref. SP 963 159. To get to the starting point, from the car park, walk towards the north entrance of the car park. Take the footpath left going north to join the Icknield Way Trail on your way you will pass "The hills are Alive" information board. The footpath goes parallel to Beacon Road on your left-hand side. When you see the bend of Beacon Road on your left you have two options : or you carry straight on up the hill to visit Ivinghoe Beacon summit or turn now left and take the path heading for Steps Hill (signposted Ridegway Trail and Tring Station) which starts with a number of steps in the gravel path. Keep following the indications to climb up Steps Hill and drop down near Incombe Hole to cross fields and come out onto Stocks Road, opposite the Pitstone Hill Car Park. waypoint (2)
  • Pitstone Hill Car Park. From this car park, you can start to read the description from waypoint (2).

Terrain: This route has a mixed bag of landscapes from hilltops to woods and roads to small villages.

Facilities : There should be places to fill your water bottle along the way and the villagers are friendly enough. You might have to take a detour if you want a hot meal with The Greyhound Inn at Wiggington the most obvious choice.

Note : Don't leave any rubbish and be prepared to help others. Take care of yourself and look out for wildlife along the way. Just enjoy the journey and make the most of the moment.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

During the walk or to do/see around

  • There are plenty of things to see along the way and the contrast between hilltop and woods is enough to make this an interesting walk.
  • In Hale Wood there are a number of curious wood structures and the architecture of some of the villages and farm buildings is quite pleasant.
  • __Ashridge Estate National Trust__.

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine.

The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

Loading…