Coronavirus walk no. 183, Aldbury, 18th November 2023
Distance
11 miles (total on foot)
This journey was a last-minute decision. I knew I wanted to go somewhere on the West Coast Main Line, but I had failed to figure out a plan (a walk that I could fit into the available time). I wasn’t even sure whether I was going to go anywhere at all, or just go back to bed, but I finally decided I was going to do this for my own sake, and that I would head off to Tring station. I had been to Tring before but remembered nothing about it except vague memories of the Natural History Museum.
I save the best weather and seasonal conditions for pylon hunts to obtain the best photos, but I go somewhere (almost) every Saturday regardless.
Walking to the stationA bizarre poster of performance figures for London Northwestern Railway. This will come in handy later …Sad ladybird at the stationAlighting the train at Tring station; class 350/1 350124 in new London Northwestern livery + class 350/2 350255 in the old London Midland liveryTring station in the hamlet of Tring Station; the station is over a mile from Tring thanks to landowners …
Tring Station as a location in its own right, mid-way between Tring and Aldbury, around a mile from each. I figured I’d pop down to Aldbury and back and then visit Tring but instead I only had time for Aldbury, with Tring being saved for another day. The weather wasn’t great, but at least it was warm.
Heading east to AldburyThe pavement soon came to an end. With no map and no knowledge of the place—being a mystery tour—I made the assumption that this was a public foothpath. In reality I think it’s a permissive footpath. Whatever it is, it was muddy and slippery.Looking out across the fieldsFollowing the road; a proper tarmac footpath would be helpful to the residents of Aldbury when it comes to taking the train …Aha, a signpost this time. Turns out left and straight on both go to Aldbury (as does right, after a 90° bend further on); I went leftLooking backMore mud!Spoiler …Approaching AldburyStarting to come into viewWalking on tarmac againSt John the Baptist, AldburyArriving in Aldbury; this place will look fabulous in the spring!Church clock towerMany villages have no shops at all: you have to drive (or take a long walk) to the next town. Aldbury Village Store is open until 5:30 pm Monday to Saturday (2:30 pm Sunday I think it said), meaning that I can get something to eat and drink before heading back.Lots of quaint old houses here. This place is like somewhere out of Midsomer Murders; hopefully I will make it out alive and don’t add to the body count (either actively or passively).This place was a pleasant surprise!Remains of the stocksAncient monument, please do not touch!Did someone steal the ducks?Quietly reflecting …Constructed before the invention of the rulerThis place is the terminus of a short bus route; the driver is stood having a fag (out of sight).Brick house,constructed 1906 …… right next to a thatched cottage. So much variety here.A few yards without carsThis bridleway leads to Berkhamsted, making for an interesting walk (alight the train at Tring, walk to Aldbury, then walk to Berkhamsted and board the train there, or vice versa)The end of AldburyThere actually isn’t anywhere in this direction, but I waited until the walkers had come past before taking this shot.Looking off into the distanceFaded old sign; Aldbury Church of England Primary and Nursery School is nearbyThe other end of AldburyWalking back to AldburyPeering out from the tree-lined pathBack to the villageFlowers outside someone’s houseIn addition to old houses there are also modern buildsOops. Funny how the character of the place changes so hugely depending on which road you walk down, and this is a small village.UnexpectedOld petrol pump outside of Aldbury GarageVintage phone box converted into a defibrillator stationWhere possible I prefer to return a different way to that by which I came. While wandering around the village I spotted this sign. I explored more, went back and got my snack, and finally exited the village following this signpost, not knowing where it led or what I would find. (Bearing in mind that I had a tight schedule to make my train connection.)Following the signLooking backOnwardsThe staple of public footpaths: gates full of waterHelpful signpostLooking back at the churchGrazing cowsThroughput of grazing cowsI just followed some kind of pretend directional instinct; after a while I realised I was heading in the wrong direction. I figured however, from observations on the way in, that it was likely that I would be able to turn left somewhere and head back to the station.And here we are: left (towards the “ridgeway” or in my case, the station), right, or (out of sight) straight on.Another helpful signpost; no mention anywhere of which way leads to Tring StationI had to hurry back but I am glad I chose to take this wayThe final leg of the walk back
Finally back at the station. I only had a rough idea in my head (not even deliberately committed to memory) of the train time back, as this was a last-minute plan. I ran the last bit, and made it back to the station with 3 minutes to spare. However, things did not quite got to plan, such as is the way with our reliable rail service.
“On time” changed to “15:16”, then “15:18”, then “Delayed”. No idea where the train eventually went; I ended up getting the 15:45, completely missing my connection. That puts me in the 24.9% of trains that don’t arrive within 3 minutes, and the 5.3% of trains cancelled or amended en route. (See image 2.)
Just got to hang out at Tring station for a while …
Buffer stopsPassing Avanti West Coast class 390 Pendolino tilting express train
When the train arrived, none of the carriages were showing a destination, yet everyone else on the platform boarded it. Was this indeed my train? I walked all the way along the platform to finally see the correct destination showing. (I don’t think I realised yet that some trains terminate at Tring, and this was one of them.)
Finally on boardNow a long wait for the connecting service …Darkness setting inA passing Avanti West Coast train comprising two “Voyager” express diesel-electric multiple unitsFinal rail journey
