Ancient Trackways - Ridgeway to Pitstone Hill & Ivinghoe Beacon

Walk along the Ridgeway from Tring across Pitstone Hill, past Incombe Hole to Ivinghoe Beacon then on to Moneybury Hill and Aldbury. The route crosses the Icknield Way and passes numerous burial mounds, a neolithic causeway enclosure and one of the oldest hillforts in Britain.
Here's the blog post about SPB Mais thelostbyway.co...
Please subscribe for regular videos: bit.ly/1EJjIB8
My book: This Other London amzn.to/25u6aKn
My blog: thelostbyway.com/
Follow me on Twitter: / fugueur
Music:
I Don't See the Branches, I See the Leaves by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: chriszabriskie....
Artist: chriszabriskie....
Nevada City by Huma-Huma
Dreams Become Real by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: incompetech.com...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Clean Soul - Calming by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: incompetech.com...
Artist: incompetech.com/
~-~~-~~~-~~-~
Please watch: "Walk from St.Paul's through Islington to Highgate"
• Walk from St.Paul's th...
~-~~-~~~-~~-~

[@CthulhuInc]

thanks, John, for taking me along with youon these walks - so interesting!

[@khawajaaamerraza6664]

Lovely and soothing music at the hill which is an ancient signal point. John great walk and your informative comments. Thank you John.

[@nvw2978]

I was born in Amersham, Bucks. This area was my old stomping ground as a kid. Very beautiful part of the country. Thanks for your lovely videos relighting memories from my childhood xxx

[@sohowsoon6652]

the thing i like the best John is i always learn something new from you and that is an incredible gift that turns to treasure almost immediately thanks

[@JohnRogersWalks]

That's fantastic to hear - thanks so much for your comment. I'm learning every day and love sharing it

[@leophillips5723]

Totally agree well said

[@sjsull]

I did almost identical walk two days ago. Wish I had seen your film first, would have been wonderful to have you along with me, in my ear as it were. Fabulous walk, none the less. Great film, John. Thanks….

[@jenniferlevine5406]

Beautiful walk and so historic. This has to be at least the third time I have watched this video. I have loved it each time. Thank you for taking us there!

[@michaelomalley7270]

Didn’t I roam these ways with my first love when I was nineteen and twenty in the early eighties.we would drive from Hemel Hempstead and watch the sun sink over the country from beacon hill.the dry chalkways warming the soul.thankyou for your film,for like the ancient sun,the memories abide yet.

[@baycast]

All of your videos are special, John, but it's incredible to think that ancient humans walked and lived around this area. It's def hallowed ground.

[@endless2804]

There is something very healing about this video. Thank you.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks for watching, it was a great walk, can't wait to get back out there

[@bw_digitalphotography]

Love the Ashridge area, went there last year, wonderful sights to see!

[@BaronMichaelDeBlone1066]

My kind of walk, gentle hills, wide open green spaces, ancient and historical landmarks and a continuing education with these videos. The Icknield Way fascinates me but I don't think I have ever set foot on it. Tring looks like a lovely place btw.

[@resiktd1944]

awesome stuff,I was watching the Clinton/Trump debate and losing my faith in humanity until I switched to this and it cheered me up,very enriching.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks so much - that's great to hear

[@gigis.garden]

Lovely film. I grew up in Luton so I have many great memories. I seem to remember a place called sharpen hoe clappers which has an amazing beech wood and sunken track way. It's particularly picturesque

[@peterwilson1317]

LOVE these visual psychogeographical travelogues. An absolute gem of a KZbin channel. Like a gonzo Jonathan Meades. Why BBC4 haven't commissioned a series from this man is an enduring mystery!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks indeed Peter - I love the 'gonzo Jonathan Meades' description

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

This brought back many memories for me John. I was born n bred at Leagrave and at 16 years joined the Luton Wheelers cycling club.so cycled a lot in the Chilterns, Ivinghoe, Tring ,the beacon and the monument.. Thanks a lot

[@gparry42]

I just love these walks !

[@darrenrobson5977]

Wow John, I love this so so much the hills the enclosures and barrows fascinate me so much I'm always trying to find a connection with the distant past when I walk over my local area and love every minute of it

[@sellis1799]

Great film John. I love a stones throw from the Bridgewater Canal, near Manchedter. It has a claim to be one of the first purpose built canals and was commissioned by the Duke of Bridgewater, so fascinating to see his monument.

[@endless2804]

Peripatetic loveliness of human in green and ancient landscape - it doesn't get much better in my book

[@JohnRogersWalks]

many thanks steph

[@AMcF54]

Great film, John. Time-travel and deep topography combined. Magic!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Amc

[@tomgirldouble3249]

As a Yorkshire lass I miss the hills, so nice to see some hills on this video ☺

[@barrieainge4937]

Only just discovered this walk, John, which was obviously made a while ago and what a lovely one it is. I'm in Swindon now - the other end of the Ridgeway which I'm exploring in sections. My ears pricked up when you mentioned S P B Mais as I still have a copy of his Southern Rambles for Londoners which my dad had when we lived in Dorking where I spent my teenage years in the 60s. Most of the walks were south of London - Guildford,Dorking ,Reigate, Sevenoaks etc and he certainly had a relaxed style which probably went with the era, 1930s probably ( no publishing date). On the back is an advert for ladies walking shoes for 16s 9p, about 84p in old money! We tended to follow the London Evening News ramble writer 'Fieldfare' as his were mainly south of London although he did do a few around Buckinghamshire.

[@stephennicolay1940]

A truly beautiful walkway. Also look at The Old Straight Track by Alfred Watkins.

[@JohnSmith-wj7ge]

Nice tranquil half an hour. Transported me out of my inner city Toronto basement apartment and reminded me of the Irish landscape of my earlier days. I'd like to do that walk next time I'm in England.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks John - highly recommend the walk if you get the chance, a glorious experience

[@tomgirldouble3249]

Wainwright is of course one of my walking heroes, and he always talked of the joy of walking alone. Very interesting. 😳

[@growingknowledge]

What a beautiful walk. Thank you

[@stewartconacher6552]

Very enjoyable half hour watching this video.Cheers.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Stewart

[@ThisWontEndWell]

Having walked he I'm glad it had you spellbound it really is a special area, but I'm biased being fairly local just the other side of Brickhill from the North Bucks tribe.

[@mike247fun]

My most favourite place to be and walk. Loved your video, Thank you :)

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Michael - it's so beautiful out there isn't it - been thinking about it ever since

[@JagBetty]

That was a good one, I love old hill forts and burial mounds. And a great name for an inn....The Valiant Trooper.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks - a great walk. Want to do the whole thing one day (a 20+ year old plan) - wonderful pint of local ale as well

[@tomgirldouble3249]

I enjoyed that pint with you John, beautiful walk, thank you 😊

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks tomgirl

[@davidmackey4808]

Love your channel, John. I'm American and lived on what was previously George Washington's land in Virginia for many years. Bit of trivia.... Tring was the town where George Washington's great-grandfather, John Washington, was born.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks very much for that David - so many connections between the United States and that part of the world - the Quaker meeting house at Jordans where the Mayflower voyage was planned is in the Chilterns, not far from High Wycombe where local Quakers raised the money.

[@Aengus42]

"On the beaten track!" Loved it mate!

[@barnabyrothwell3896]

Wonderful stuff John. Thank you.

[@Renfro1982]

Wonderful scenery John. All of your Neolithic discoveries remind me of my first trip to Europe. I went to a farm on the outskirts of Damme in northwestern Germany which belonged to my late uncle's relative. As it so happened, it was discovered to be the site of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9AD between the Romans and Barbarians. It's now a nice little museum.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for sharing that anecdote - what a great discovery. These sites are all around us and we often pay them little attention. I must visit Germany some day, lived quite close in Northern Italy but never made it over the border

[@Renfro1982]

John Rogers Berlin also has some great places to walk and amazing park land. Of course it goes without saying you also run into some rather unpleasant 20th century history.

[@Renfro1982]

John Rogers Berlin also has some great places to walk and amazing park land. Of course it goes without saying you also run into some rather unpleasant 20th century history.

[@geralltgriffiths7772]

I can see Ivinghoe Beacon from my bedroom window -- and drive there in less than 10 minutes. I now have no excuse not to follow John's lead and explore the place -- goodness knows, I need the exercise. How often do we fail to see what's right on our doorsteps? Thanks so much for the inspiration!

[@MarcyB]

Brilliant stuff John. I was hiking through The Chilterns in August and you transported me away from the stresses and strains of busy London and cheered me right up. You should consider narration for TV documentaries!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks so much for your comment Marcy - it's such a beautiful landscape. Yes, I'd love to do some narration for TV - thanks

[@chrisstaylor8377]

A great film John ,hope to get over your way soon and walk these trails

[@JohnDoe-px4ko]

Damn it! I keep saying to myself that I’ll just finish watching this walk and then I’ll get on with my chores. Then I spot the one “up next”. Sir, you are disrupting my meticulously-planned timetable!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Fantastic - thanks for watching John

[@gloriamc8385]

Thanks for sharing, I love the pace of this video, almost makes me feel like I'm walking right along with you! Very interesting & informative narrative as well. I hope to get there in person one day soon...

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Gloria, it was such a great day out, I'm writing about it at the moment so revisiting the walk and bringing back fantastic memories. I hope you get there - a magical place

[@StarWarsJay]

Hi John, I've only just watched this video, so sorry for the late comment. This is the first time I've heard about The Ridgeway...what an atmospheric part of the world! I could even feel the vibe of the place just from watching the video, so it must be an amazing place to actually visit. To think that those ancient trackways joined up and crossed Doggerland to Europe is mind blowing. I really do need to check the area out on my next weekend walk with my dog. Thanks for an amazing video and an idea for my next walk. :)

[@davidborunsky1778]

This must be the crown jewel in the walking series.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

I think you could be right David

[@cgeoffreytaylor1135]

Thanks for this, John. I recently discovered how to watch YT on my TV and I've re-watched a lot of your videos recently. Very pleased to see this one, which I watched last night. Been catching up on your old Resonance podcasts with Nick, too. I do a lot of walking around the Lea Valley - although I stopped for a few years in protest at the Olympics! Managed to catch yourself and Iain Sinclair in Hackney a few weeks back showing Overground - the 'jazz' approach to that book is appropriate. Maybe bump into you on a local walk one day .....

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Geoffrey - greatly appreciate you supporting the work. Glad you liked the approach to the Overground film, felt it was the only way to do it, and had originally intended to just put it here on KZbin but it seems to have grown. Really enjoyed making those radio shows with Nick, hopefully heading out with him in a couple of weeks to shoot a video celebrating the 10th birthday of this channel

[@nicwp7320]

i walk this route regularly , if you don't want to bump into crowds avoid it at the weekends, even in winter it is choc a block with people

[@drhowslounge]

Gallows Hill, Gallows Corner (Essex), Hangmans Hill (Essex), Hangmans Hill (Popes Hill, Elton, Gloucestershire).

[@john80c]

Wonderful walk. Great views not spoiled by the dross of developers ruining the area.

[@alanhumphries9297]

It's a magical place Ivinghoe Beacon and Albury Nowers

[@davidhull1481]

Thanks for this. I doubt I’ll ever get to the UK again, and certainly won’t be able to walk and drink there, so this’ll have to suffice.

[@montylowe6488]

Lovely films. The Acorn symbol isn't assigned solely to finger posts on the Ridgeway, they are National trail/path signs; they exist where I now live in Ireland too. From an Archaeological perspective, the word 'Tumulus' is never used.., it's probably some archaic mapping terminology for a generalised descripter of the varied barrow monuments. I've walked the Ridgeway a lot. Interestingly, most walkers start at the distal south-West and head North-East; I've preferred to conclude in the Wessex landscape and a sense of occasion to Avebury... each to their own.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for that Monty - maybe I’ll finally walk it all next summer

[@jde9095]

thank you for the adventure

[@JohnRogersWalks]

my pleasure

[@danielgornall5643]

Loving these videos going to take some time to get though your Catalogue

[@SCOTTBULGRIN]

Wonderful trek.🚶

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Scott

[@SCOTTBULGRIN]

@@JohnRogersWalks Your Welcome.

[@warrenstutely7151]

Wonderful. Thanks. warren

[@TracyPicabia]

@23:40 something meaningful about a pointless (fenceless) gate. What is it? There's plenty on the South Downs where I walk....... Ooooooh The Valliant Trooper. That looks like the perfect destination and a perfect pub.

[@saltpoolfilms5318]

nice one John, very informative and relaxing. what camera / cameras do you use on your travels? The results are stunning.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks indeed. The main camera I used here was a Panasonic GF5 that I picked up 2nd hand for £70 and I just use a cheap 14-42 kits lens. The timelapses are shot with a GoPro Hero4 Silver and the footage at the end is on my back-up camera - a Canon S120 that I used to use for my walks and used here for the shots of me walking to and from the camera. Hope that helps. For documentary work and interviews I use a Panasonic GH3 with 12-35mm lens and love it - truly great camera but a bit too big for these walks and needs an external mic.

[@trevorread9115]

Wonderful thankyou

[@michaeldillon3113]

So many paths - so little time.🚶‍♂️✌️

[@paulfish5074]

Hi John. Love your videos. Have been a fan for a few years now. Hust watched this and Buckinghamshire kept being mentioned. But Tring ia in Hertfordshire. I am a bit confused??

[@craigmorris7140]

Some scenes of Deadpool and Wolverine were filmed around Pitstone Hill and in Pitstone Quarry.

[@andrewmurray5542]

Seems the Valiant Trooper bas closed now meaning The Greyhound is Aldbury's only pub now.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

sorry to hear that Andrew - it was a nice pub

[@andrewmurray5542]

Update. It seems the Trooper has opened again after a refurb. Not been in there since but good that it's still a pub.

[@ReadySaltedCrisps]

Interesting nugget of information, 'Grim' is one of the many names of the pagan God Odin/Woden. Could be a possible link...?

[@JohnRogersWalks]

That's interesting - there's another in Hertfordshire as well where I'd heard it attributed to another name for the devil, but often they equated the old gods with devils to replace them with the gods of the new religions

[@Anglisc1682]

I thought the same. Grim means hooded one which is a reference to the Germanic god

[@drhowslounge]

SBP Maines. 1930s/1950s BBC Penniless. Walking principles. Like Mahatma Gandhi. Richard Attenborough. Egyptian Deities in Human Form - Pharoahs. Robert Johnson, Mississippi Delta Blues Maestro of the 1920s. > Eric Clapton 'is/was' a God? Both! Just like Jimmy, Jeff, Peter, Brian, Pete, Glenn, Elvis, Jimi, Buddy, Albert (King, Collins and Lee), Hanks, Duanne, Neil (to the Young), David, Sid, John (Fogerty), Johnny (Rotten), Gary (Skid Row), Jay Mascis, Stephen Malkmus, Thurston Moore, Teenage Fanclub (all 3!), Michael Kiwanaku, to name but a few........what a crazy rabbit hole that was John!

[@markarcher8500]

Is it ickneild path that goes from ivinghoe to Norfolk? Are they the same date for history?

[@drhowslounge]

Why are the Downs in the UK so called, and the Uplands/Highlands as such? Makes me think of a comment made by Iain Sinclair in one of his 'Shamanic' channelling sessions.

[@squeezyjohn1]

little ... fluffy ... clouds

[@thewalkingman777]

When in doubt, stay to the left...that's my rule as well! 😁