Ivinghoe Beacon & College Lake, late June 2010

[Pete Collins]

Anybody interested in a WAB meet at Ivinghoe Beacon and College Lake, Bucks, in late June? Probably either Saturday 26th or Sunday 27th.

The main interest would be in chalk downland wildflowers, but there will be butterflies and other insects about, and a few birds as well. This is the thread I started last year, to give you some idea: Ivinghoe Beacon, Saturday 11th July

It's about three-quarters of a mile from the car park to the top of the Beacon, and we would probably walk 2.5-3.5 miles over about three hours. There are some steep slopes, so stout footwear is probably advisable.

There are no facilities at the Beacon - the nearest are at Ashridge about five minutes drive away (NT Shop, food, toilets). But after exploring Ivinghoe Beacon, we would move on to the B,B & O Wildlife Trust's College Lake reserve (which does have facilities, though I've not been since they opened the new visitor centre). I think they suggest a £2 donation from visitors who are not Trust members.

Tiggrx wants to come, so we'll have someone on hand to identify the various wildflowers for us!

[Jim Ford]

Sounds good, but what about taking in the tearoom at the Bridgewater Monument? The food there is good and reasonably priced, and it's a nice spot.

Jim

[Hobjob]

Sounds good.
Probably for me - health and family may get in way.

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Sounds good, but what about taking in the tearoom at the Bridgewater Monument? The food there is good and reasonably priced, and it's a nice spot.

Jim

Possibly, but I think it would be very busy and crowded on a hot, sunny June weekend. Last time people were happy to bring their own packed lunches.

[HedgehogRescue]

From my memories of being dragged up the Beacon from the bottom many years ago, steep slopes is an understatement. Grappling hooks would have been handy.

There used to be, think it's still there, a very nice pub back towards Dunstable, along the Tring Road. Big car park and the food was great. Travellers Rest?

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by HedgehogRescue

From my memories of being dragged up the Beacon from the bottom many years ago, steep slopes is an understatement. Grappling hooks would have been handy.

I did this once - never again! There are much easier routes

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by HedgehogRescue

From my memories of being dragged up the Beacon from the bottom many years ago, steep slopes is an understatement. Grappling hooks would have been handy.

There used to be, think it's still there, a very nice pub back towards Dunstable, along the Tring Road. Big car park and the food was great. Travellers Rest?

As Tiggrx says, there are easier ways to the top of the Beacon! I did it the very steep way once, probably won't do it again.

And the Traveller's Rest is still there, though I've no ides what it is like.

[HedgehogRescue]

From memory, which is getting very dodgy these days, I've gone up the steep route at least twice. These days I'd sit at the bottom and cheer.

Used to live on the Luton/Dunstable borders so it was the sort of place your father used to drag you out to on a nice day when you needed entertainment that didn't cost anything. In those days it was just a hill, no cafes or anything useful.

Round here we have Beacon Hill which is part of the Highclere Estate and has the Earl of Carnarvon's grave at the top. It's also pretty steep and higher at 262m but not, as I remember anyway, as bad climbing as Ivinghoe. There are a couple of flattish areas halfway up you can sit down on to catch your breath, I seem to remember if you tried that on Ivinghoe you'd end up back at the bottom.

Now you've done it, you've got me all nostalgic. I'l have to go back and look to see if it's as bad as I remember.

[rogpow]

Originally Posted by HedgehogRescue

Used to live on the Luton/Dunstable borders so it was the sort of place your father used to drag you out to on a nice day when you needed entertainment that didn't cost anything. In those days it was just a hill, no cafes or anything useful.

Same here. I lived in Houghton Regis, and Ivinghoe Beacon or Dunstable Downs to watch the gliders taking off was a regular Sunday afternoon outing.

Also remember the Travellers Joy at Edelsborough.

Now I'm getting all nostalgic too.

[HedgehogRescue]

So you'll remember the California then.