June 11, 2018 -

Quick escape route from Watford unto Berkhamsted via A41, a fast smooth road.

Once in Berkhamsted, it is a relatevly straight forward (depending on a time of day) ride through town before you turn right towards Ashridge Estate. This is where fun begins through a lovely sweeping lefthander (speed limit here is 40mph) as you climb up a hill. Once you are up at the top, the scenery is simply amazing especially in the evening sunlight. Beware, at this point you are riding though a nature reserve and as such plenty of wild life can step in to the road, watch out for pheasant and deer. quick descend through a hairpin into Aldbury, (a few nice pubs for some grub can be found here)heading towards Tring, this section has some tight corners and road is narrower than average (watch out for gravel in the bends). just before arriving at Tring train station turn right heading towards Pitstone, then at the roundabout turn right again heading towards Ivinghoe, great stretch of road this one (if clear of traffic), some cool hidden dips and a sharp lefthander at the end of the straight, as you approach junction on the right (signposted for Dunstable) turn right here and you are treated with the view of Ivinghoe Beacon in the distance ahead. After a mile and a bit up just at the foothills of the beakon, turn right heading towards (signposted Ivinghoe Beacon) Ringshall (mind the cattle grid), head up a hill through some rather tight but cool bends before reaching National Trust carpark, well worth pulling up here if you have time as panorammic views are simply fantastic. From here you can see a White Lion of Whipsnade and beyond. From Here you carry on towards Ringshall crossroads and turn left here (Take your time at this junction as it is hard to see) towards Dagnall, less than half a mile up the road, keep your awareness of gravel in the road as you go round a sweeping right hand bend. Arriving at the round about in Dagnall, head straight towards Dunstable and Whipsnade Zoo, this section has a nice straight road once you leave Dagnall, but keep your whits about you as there is a short tights bend to the left at the end of the straight. a little distance after, take a sharp right up the hill towards Whipsnade village and Zoo, some really cool bends here as you climb up. There is a 30 & 40mph limit through the village. carry on this road until you come to the roundabout, then take 1st exit to the left and powering up a gentle hill you will shortly arrive at your destination. Have an Ice-cream, (hot drinks and food available at the pavilion a short walk/ride to the left of the car park) chill out with your friends while watching kids and adults alike flying kites, observe glider taking off and landing from the airfield bellow, sometimes you can see paragliders doing their thing, trying to get of the ground. The view of a sunset is amazing from here.

I hope you will enjoy this short but fun ride.
Ride safe!

EV