National Grade:Moderate  Distance: 10.5mi /16.9km  Leader: Alison D. Date:  Aug 26th 2026

 Alison had a perfect day for this lovely walk, dry, warm but not too hot and just before the long hot dry spell is predicted to break. The rain is badly needed but we were glad that there would be no need for raingear today though most of us carried some or at least an umbrella as a precaution.

There were sixteen of us gathered at the Tring Natural History museum, a popular spot to start with free parking, coffee and toilets.  

Before we set off Fiona, our Wednesday walks coordinator had an update about next week’s planned walk which will be postponed due to the leader's injury. We wish him a speedy recovery. This will be the 2nd postponement of this walk, the first time due to the heatwave so maybe it will be third time lucky? 

We soon got away from the A41 and made our way to the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal. We noticed that blackberries along here were still in good nick unlike the scorched specimens we see in more exposed areas. There were also some wild damsons though not quite ripe and having sampled some growing on the canal side I decided they weren’t worth the risk of falling in, although there would be no risk of drowning with the water at current levels. 

We took advantage of some benches along the canal to stop for morning break before heading towards Wendover Woods. A long incline meant we were glad of the shade as we made our way up through the woods to our lunch stop at Go Ape.
Here we had the luxury of picnic tables to enjoy our packed lunches which some of us supplemented with coffee or ice cream from the cafe. Alison and Richard went a step further and enjoyed a family lunch as their son and granddaughter were visiting Go Ape!

Continuing our ramble some of us were briefly fooled by what appeared to be a couple of Vietnamese Pot Bellied pigs by Chirvery Cottage but their lack of movement coupled with their position by children's swings brought us to our senses.
With the uphill section completed before lunch, we made short work of the return journey along Icknield Way, Grims Ditch and Tring Park. Arriving back in the afternoon sunshine we thanked Alison and Richard for this varied walk with woods, canal, countryside and a very comfortable lunch stop.

Report by:  Catherine Kelly