Spring has sprung and the wildflowers are starting to bloom! The bluebells will always be amongst my favourite species. I love to walk in the woods and since the bluebells grow mainly in woodland they can add an unexpected magical touch to a springtime walk. The UK is home to half of the world’s bluebells and some of the best bluebell woods are actually found very close to London, in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Flowering from mid-April to late May, NOW is the time to go and visit those Chilterns bluebell woods!
I took a 16 km circular walk to go and visit various bluebell woods, coupled with other places of interest in the heart of the Chilterns. Keep on reading for directions and sights to look out for during this full day outing from London. Even if you miss the bluebell season, this walk has got many things to offer and is worth doing!
Whenever, wherever you go on a bluebell walk, bear in mind that they are a protected species! Picking the bluebells or digging up the bulbs is illegal. Unlike some other woodland species, bluebells spread very slowly and it can take up to 7 years for new ones to flower. So take loads of photos, but leave the flowers alone.
Best bluebell woods in the Chiltern hills
This circular walk will allow you to visit some of the best bluebell woods in the Chilterns:
“Dockey Wood” bluebell wood
Dockey Wood is undoubtedly the most popular bluebell wood in the area, with its own car park and entry system. It’s stunning tough and worth a stop. Some footpaths are laid out in the wood to allow people to see all its corners without trampling flowers.
“Flat Isley” bluebell wood
Flat Isley is part of the Ashridge Estate and is typically less busy as it’s not part of significant walking trails. A wide path cuts through the wood. It allows walkers to get good views of the stunning bluebell spectacle, but you cannot get as up close as in Dockey Wood.
“Old Copse” bluebell wood
Old Copse is a little out of the way from the main walk. It is part of the Ashridge Estate and directions can be found at the main car park. Don’t let the detour put you off – it is a beautiful stretch of woodland in any season.
“Aldbury Nowers” woods & meadow
Aldbury Nowers is the first woodland you enter after setting off from Tring station. The bluebell patches here are more scattered compared to the other woods I listed. They’re still beautiful though!
Part of Aldbury Nowers are also large stretches of grassland with magnificent views over the Chiltern Hills. Various kinds of wildflowers will be in bloom here throughout Spring.
Other features of the walk
Even outside the bluebell season, this circular walk has gone many interesting attractions:
The Ridgeway National Trail
The Ridgeway is a long-distance path through the Chiltern Hills. The trail is widely recognised for being England’s oldest road. From Tring to Ivinghoe Beacon, you will be following this signposted trail. For long-distance walkers, Ivinghoe Beacon is considered the start of the trail. Apart from making route finding very easy, following the Ridgeway means you will get great views of the valleys and ancient landscapes.
Ivinghoe Beacon & the Whipsnade White Lion
Ivinghoe Beacon is a prominent 233m hill. A trig point indicates the highest point. From the top, you get a 360 degrees view of the surrounding valleys and of the Whipsnade White Lion. The Lion is a chalk drawing dating from the 1930s which indicates the location of Whipsnade Wildlife Park. I was very disappointed to learn this when reading up about the history of the chalk drawing. I typically associate these with ancient symbols rather than modern day art.
Ashridge Estate (National Trust) & Bridgewater Monument
The Ashridge Estate is a 2000 hectares area of the Chiltern Hills managed by the National Trust. Most of the walk will be in or close to the Ashridge Estate. The estate is a diverse mixture of woodlands, meadows and chalk downlands.
The walk will take you along some of the highlights, including Bridgewater Monument, commemorating Francis, the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater
The Ashridge House is today a business school and cannot be visited, but the landscaped areas around the house are free for all to stroll. Notably the Golden Valley is considered one of the greatest projects of architect Capability Brown.
Aldbury village
Shortly before the end of the walk, you will come through Aldbury. This is a typical tiny old English village where time has stood still. If it weren’t for the cars, this could easily be a filmset! There’s a pub if you fancy some food before heading back to the station.
Practical – planning to visit the bluebell woods
The start and endpoint of the walk is Tring. Trains from London Euston call at Tring station twice an hour. The direct journey takes around 40 mins.
Many versions of the Tring Circular walk are going around online. The version shared by the Saturday Walkers Club is by far the clearest.
All the attractions are free and don’t require booking. On busy days, Dockey Wood sometimes operates an entry system and small fee to manage the flow of people.
If you only want to see bluebells, you can skip most of this walk. Just head from Tring station to the Ashridge Estate main car park, where various walks, including their Bluebell Walk, are signposted.
