Gawping at gorgeous greenery and bragging about my step count are, quite possibly, the two largest slices in the pie cart of things I enjoy doing. Especially during the crisp, crunchy, cosy season. And so – you guessed it, folks – I come bearing a scenic spot in which I can do both of those activities in spades. And the scenic spot in question is the jaw-droppingly good-looking Ashridge Estate. A place so picture-perfect, that it’s recently been crowned one of the best autumnal walking spots in the whole darn country. And the very best part? It’s less than 90 minutes from London.
The Ashridge Estate
Spanning a whopping 2,000 hectares, the Ashridge Estate is the largest woodland in the care of the National Trust. Inside the rather enormous estate, you’ll find the lush and leafy likes of ancient trees (lots of them), rolling chalk grasslands, sprawling meadows, and over 80 miles worth of footpaths and bridleways to explore. Home to a diverse array of wildlife; a big old chunk of the woodland is also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The Ashridge Estate is filled to the brim with fascinating history, and has an abundance of ancient monuments dotted about. Each of which are a nostalgic nod to the estate’s lengthy backstory. Ashridge actually started its life as a monastery, founded in 1283 to house a holy relic. It became popular with royalty during the 13th century and eventually became the property of Henry VII and his children. It’s been passed through many different hands over the centuries since then, but the estate has been under the watchful eye of the National Trust since they took over in 1926.
Things to do at the Ashridge Estate
There are, of course, plenty of wonderful walks to embark on within the Ashridge Estate. There are four way-marked routes, ranging in length and difficulty. And each of them offer pretty breathtaking views. So much so that The Telegraph recently named Ashridge the best walking spot for soaking up some vibrant, autumnal colours.
If you fancy soaking up a more panoramic vista of the surroundings, you can climb the 172 steps to the top of the Bridgewater Monument. And if you’d rather admire something from the ground, Ashridge is also home to the Pitstone Windmill; one of the oldest of its kind in Britain. The Ashridge Estate has also been home to free-roaming deer since the 13th century, and the fallow deer are still a pivotal part of the estate’s sweeping landscape to this very day.
Once you’ve worked up both your step count and your appetite, there’s the Monument Cafe serving up drinks and light bites, and there are plenty of places to plonk yourself down for a picnic. The Ashridge Estate is also home to the historic Ashridge House, which is well worth a visit, too.
Getting to the Ashridge Estate from London
You can reach the Ashridge Estate in less than 90 minutes by car from Londonand there’s a free-to-use car park on-site. Non-drivers will need to hop on a speedy service from London Euston to Tringwhich is then a 30 minute walk (or a quick taxi ride) away from the estate.
The Ashridge Estate is open daily, from dawn until dusk – and it is free for visitors to explore. Find out more and plan your visit here.
📍Ashridge Estate, Moneybury Hill, Ringshall, Berkhamsted, HP4 1LX.
