A WALK: CASSIOBURY PARK AND WHIPPENDELL WOOD, 2 HOURS

This page will be amended 2 or 3 times per month over the next few month. You won’t get lost following these directions! But I’ve yet to check the exact timings and add all the shortcuts.

The entire walk lasts two hours but, along the way, there are options to cut it short, making it 30mns, 1 hour, or 1½ hours.

DIFFICULTY

Steep hills but no steps. The bottom of the hills can be waterlogged in the winter. Most of the paths in the wood are No Cycling. The last part of the walk is not suitable for buggies but there’s a shortcut back, with a good path.

START-POINT

From the car park in the park. At the top (uphill) of the car park is a ticket machine. For a small group of people, meet here. For a larger group of people, don’t’ do this, you’ll block the car park. Instead, take the path to the left of the ticket machine (as you face uphill) and meet by the map.

At the bottom of the path (bottom of the hill) turn right. The start-point for the walk (starting at “0 minutes”) is at the bridge over the river (Meadow Bridge) on your left.

or

From the picnic benches at the two bridges that cross the river and canal (3mns from the Langley Road entrance) take the path alongside the fence, over the level crossing, past the station for the miniature railway, Meadow Bridge is on your right.

The numbers in brackets are the distances in minutes from the start-point excluding any detours. The detours are optional, the directions assume you haven’t made a detour!

SUMMARY

For those who know the area, this is where you will be. Cross Meadow Bridge, follow the river then turn right onto the path (by the canal) to the two bridges. Left across Iron Bridge to Lime Walk but instead of taking the main path, weave through the golf course to the top. At the Rotund, left down the steep hill to the junction of paths at Rousebarn Lane Car Park, then sharp right to take the path diagonally across the wood to Whippendell Wood Car Park (at Grove Mill Lane). Down through the strip of woodland, between Grove Mill Lane and the golf course, to the canal. Along the canal to the two bridges and back through the park to the Meadow Bridge where you started.

THE WALK

The numbers show minutes from the start of the walk.

0 minutes. Start on the path by the bridge.

Cross the bridge and turn sharp right along the river.

Keep going, over the little bridge (Little Meadow Bridge), keep going (the path can be overgrown in the summer) until you run out of path.

5½ . Turn right onto the main path.

8. At the end of the path turn left (you may wish to detour onto the bridge to the right, the Rustic Bridge over the River Gade, but for the walk you must turn left).

Cross the bridge (Ironbridge, over the Grand Union Canal)

Continue ahead for just 20 paces.

Turn right (signed Public Footpath 30).

Keep going for just 50 paces

10. Fork left through the trees (towards the map) as marked by the orange arrow on the wooden post.

On the other side of the trees you find yourself on the golf course but with no clues as to where to go next.

STOP, LOOK RIGHT! Turn right and walk alongside the trees for 90 paces then stop.

Cross the green and keep ahead through the small cluster of trees.

You will cross the gold course three more times, just keep ahead each time. In detail:

- 12. On the other side of the trees is a second green. STOP, LOOK LEFT! – cross the green, passing to the right of the bunker and into the woodland (orange arrow on wooden post marks the path). The path crosses a track and continues (very slightly to your the right) ahead.

- 16. At the third green, STOP, LOOK RIGHT! and continue straight ahead across the green and back into woodland.

- 18. At the fourth green, STOP, LOOK LEFT and continue straight ahead across the green and back into woodland.

That’s the end of the golf course, you are now in Whippendell Wood proper.

20½ . At the junction of paths fork right (orange arrow on the wooden post)

22. At the main path (Lime Walk) turn left, keep, take the path marked Horse riders must keep to perimeter track – and down the steep hill.

28½ . At the very bottom of the hill (just FYI, the gate is at Rouseboun Lane) at the junction of paths turn sharp right, taking the path No horse riding. No Cycling).

35. Kee ahead the crossroads (steep path!)

40. The path ends at a wide bridle path, car park (at Grove Mill Lane) to your left, woodland ahead..

SHORTCUT BACK:

40. Once you are level with the gate of the car park turn right along the bridle path.

46. You are back at the Rotund, it should look familiar. Follow the main path (Lime Walk) to your left. Near the bottom of the hill the path bends right through trees, and at the very bottom look to your left and you will see the bridge over the canal.

58. Cross the bridge over the canal.

The path crosses the second bridge (over the river)

60. to the picnic benches.

If you started the walk at the Langley Road entrance, turn left.

If you started the walk at Meadow Bridge or the car park, turn right along the fence.