This is the prime time and prime location for bluebells, so join us on this Stag Walkers-led joint walk with our southwestern neighbours Chiltern Young Walkers.
This walk is for up to 30 people (15 from each group, including the leader).
The Force is with us and we have got our wands out as we set off from the Ivinghoe Beacon car park, a location in The Rise Of Skywalker, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and other movie productions.
We first descend a chalk grassland slope and turn south, passing through a farmyard and fields. There will be sheep and lambs here and in other fields later on, so please be aware if you are bringing a dog.
Arriving at the renowned Dockey Wood, if conditions are right, we will have a photo interlude here amongst the bright green new leaves of the beech trees and dense carpet of bluebells. This marvel of spring flora continues to surround us after we cross the road and journey deeper into the woods of the Ashridge Estate, in which Britannia, Robin Hood and other productions have been filmed.
Reaching the Bridgewater Monument we will have a lunch stop, with an opportunity to use the facilities at the Visitors' Centre. With our step thus resprung we descend the ridge, breaking out of the treeline, and push westward across open fields. At the far side of the fields the land rises and we ascend into Aldbury Nowers wood. Here we pick up the ancient track of the Ridgeway, and follow it out of the wood along Pitstone Hill past chalk pits to our left and Ashridge across the vale to our right, and back up to the car park.
Dogs are welcome on a lead.
For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.
Booking your place: If you would like to join, you must book in advance using the Stag Walkers Meetup group - see Notes for how to book & what to bring. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your booking so that someone else can take your place.
Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited.
Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.
Please car-share or use public transport if possible. To offer a lift or ask for one from a fellow walker, please use the Meetup event page.
This is a circular walk.
Please be aware of the walk grade: walks are graded Easy, Leisurely, Moderate or Strenuous
Use our Meetup group to book your place on the walk: https://www.meetup.com/StagWalkers/
Book your place via the Stag Walkers Meetup group by clicking the ‘Attend’ button on the event page. If the walk is full, click ‘join waitlist’ and you will be added if a place becomes available. If you’re on the waitlist, please check back regularly to see if you have been added to the attending list.
Please:
DO NOT book onto a walk unless you are pretty sure you will be able to make it.
UPDATE YOUR RSVP. We understand ‘life happens’ so if you need to change your RSVP please do this at least 24 hours before the walk and before booking closes to enable someone else to take your place.
DON’T NO-SHOW on the day unless it is absolutely unavoidable (we do understand ‘life happens’) because it prevents others from enjoying a walk if it is fully booked.
*TAKE NOTE that if you no-show and/or cancel after the booking closing deadline three times, without extenuating circumstances, we will decline further bookings from you for a period of six weeks.*
Bring a packed lunch/snacks and drinks, appropriate clothing for the conditions and optionally a basic first aid kit.
Please follow NHS guidelines and do not attend the walk if you are unwell.
We are a Ramblers group, non members are welcome to try us out for two or three free walks before joining Ramblers as a full member.
As a charity we ask that non-members consider making a voluntary donation to Ramblers until they become a full member. We suggest £3-4 per walk. You can donate in person or online.
The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577. Registered office: First Floor, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE.