Start: National Trust Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre (A) car park. Nearest postcode (HP4 1LT) Grid ref. SP 971 130
(S/E) From car park walk around the visitor centre, pass the Cafe and Monument Cottage and take the bridleway ahead.
(1) Before the bridleway starts to descend steeply, bear left on the Meadleys Meadow Track and follow the fence along the meadow until it bends to the left. Leave the track around the meadow and continue ahead for 30m to a fork. Bear left along a level path through the woods, bearing left again at the next fork. Follow this path as it twists and turns through the woods to a wide track.
(2) Turn left along the track and stay on it for 500m, ignoring all tracks on either side. Continue past the estate cottages on the right and to the main road (B4506) ahead. Cross the road with great care (B) and continue straight ahead on the tarmac driveway, signposted to the Bridgewater Arms.
After the lodge, take the path diagonally left (North-East) through the woods and follow the markers. You cross a grand avenue (the "Prince's Riding") and, shortly after, come to the edge of a golf fairway which you cross.
(3) Once on the other side, turn right along the edge of the fairway and then pass a bunker to an access road. Turn left along it past Old Park Lodge (C). Note the part sundials on its walls. Where the road bends to the left, keep straight ahead to the right of a barn and through a wood.
(4) Stay in the same direction across the golf course, following the marked path up the hill to the left of the clubhouse. At the top bear left along an access road to a junction.
(5) Turn left and after 50m bear diagonally right (North-West) to join the well-marked path across two fairways and into a copse. The path then meets a crossing path that runs along the side of garden fences.
(6) Turn left on this path and follow the fencing all the way to the main road (B4506). Cross to the wide track ahead. Stay on this for 1km ignoring all tracks left and right. Shortly after a clearing, the track narrows slightly and then divides.
(7) Take the track that swings round to the right and follow it through a car park to a road. Cross into Dockey Wood (D). Explore the paths around the wood and return to the entrance gate.
Cross back over the road and back-track to where you left the larger track.
(8) Turn right on the broad track . After 600m it nears a road and a footpath joins from the right. Shortly after, follow the footpath as it bends left and descends steadily through the woods down to a major track. Turn left on the broad surfaced track and follow it for 1.6km back to the café.
(9) On the way, you will pass Duncombe Terrace (E) before reaching Bridgewater Monument (F) and the café. (S/E)
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