Annotated map reproduced courtesy of Googlemaps.
1. View from Aldenham 12
Photo: Michael Rackham, 13 Dec 2021
2. Continuing south-eastwards
Photo: Michael Rackham, 13 Dec 2021
3. Bear left at the fork
Photo: Michael Rackham, 13 Dec 2021
4. Junction with Aldenham 77
Photo: Michael Rackham, 13 Dec 2021
Bridleway 87 runs from Aldenham 77 to Aldenham 12, as shown by the thick blue line of the plan above.
The need to record this route was uncovered when the Patchetts Green Riding Club was conducting the survey of routes ridden as part of the British Horse Society's 1991 ARROW survey. It was found to be a popular route from Aldenham towards Blackbird's Lane, as part of a circular route. Accordingly, an application was made (in 1997) to ensure that riders were not prevented from using the route in the future.
Subsequently, with the development of the Wall Hall site for housing, the County Council and the Developer agreed to formalise the routes riders had been using, which would also save the wait for the definitive map modification order applications to reach the top of the queue. This route was owned by the developer, Octagon, and has been dedicated for the avoidance of doubt. This was done by means of a public path creation agreement, and so the path is maintainable at the public expense.
At the time of the BHS 2021 Access Survey (13 Dec 21), two gates were across the path, both with spaces to the side for horses. The gate at photograph (1) was not present in 1997.
