Dunstable Downs – 243m / 797 ft – 10/03/20
So after a quick clean-up on the pub carpark in Wigginton I took a brief 20 minute drive to find a small parking area at a place called Totternhoe Knolls, just west of Dunstable. There were a couple of others parked up walking dogs but otherwise it was quiet and had decent views south across to the ridge of Dunstable Downs which was my target for this walk. It was dry now with no threat of rain but quite blustery and not knowing what terrain to expect I took the precaution again of wearing my trusted Altberg boots.
I set off initially eastwards along a muddy track and then up and over a fairly steep slippery knoll before joining a the grass track of The Chiltern Way/Icknield Way Trail skirting felds and then along the edge of a housing area curving southwards into the breeze before crossing over the B489 at a roundabout and heading for a public path up to an area called Five Knolls.
The initial climb was steep up onto the open access land of Central Bedforshire and as I crested the brow onto the ridge the wind was getting stronger and stronger. The path wound its way through the small rounded tops of the 5 knolls, it looked like a popular place for cyclists but there were none around. I put my head down into the wind and followed the route now due south along the ridge towards the beacon and visitor center I could see ahead.
It was an unexpectedly exhilarating walk along the top as the strong winds blew upwards from the steep face of the ridge below – there is a gliding centre there but that was not busy either. I struggled across the wide grassy downs towards a beacon and then to the visitor centre to find the trig pointing marking my destination. My attempts at filming videos were futile with the sound of the blowing gale.
There were hardly any people around, I had a quick look in the visitor centre and came out to admire the panoramic view northwards. I passed a young couple “sheltering” from the wind in a warm embrace then retraced my steps back to the path. I contemplated a steeper descent off the ridge to a lower path past the airfield below but decided to enjoy the wind for a while longer.
I descended the way I came with views ahead to where I had parked. It was an uneventful walk back, a bit slippery again over the knoll as I neared the car park, which was now a little busier. Next on my plan was to have a “wet-wipe” clean up and a full change of clothes as I had decided to head into central London for my final quest of the day. Hopefully none of the other carpark users observed or was offended by my various states of nakedness during this interlude.
