Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Bluebells and Beechwoods

This is my favourite walk this time of year as the beech trees have just come into leaf and the bluebells are out. Michael and Sara will remember this walk, except with the latter we did it in the opposite direction a couple of years ago.

The car parks at the centre were getting busy mid morning. Few people walk out of Wendover Woods in the direction I take as it is close to the entry road. But the bluebells are a pretty sight. There is a very nice short track off the road. The beech trees have a luminous look this time of year.
Then across a field covered in buttercups.
To arrive at the top of Aston Hill where the following plaque explains it's significance.
The path down Aston Hill passes the mountain bike area before lovely views across Aylesbury Vale. In the distance is Ivinghoe Beacon and the end of the Chiltern Ridge.
At the bottom of the hill I cross two fields with the next part of the Chiltern Ridge in the distance and my next destination which is Pavis Wood.
Reaching the bottom of the woods there is a gully that winds up the hill. This used to be the path but is now used mainly by horse riders. The new path runs parallel to and above the gully.
At the top I join The Ridgeway, the path that extends all the way along the Chiltern Ridge. This takes me all the way through Pavis Wood. The bluebells here are the best I have found anywhere. They cover the ground all the way along the mile route through the wood.
The best part is the tiny paths that have been created through the bluebells off the main track.
Leaving Pavis Wood, the Ridgeway crosses two more fields. The calves there were pretty friendly. Although they did try to block my way to the style.
Crossing a minor road, the path makes it way back into Wendover Woods and the end of my circular walk.
This time I follow the road that takes visitors out of the woods. In previous years there have hardly been any bluebells here, but now they are spreading all the way off the road. The weather was great. Mainly sunny but with a fresh chilly breeze. Perfect.

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