Situated on the Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire borders, it is within easy reach of many major towns including Berkhampsted, Tring, Hemel Hempstead and Dunstable.
Chalk Downland in areas such as Ivinghoe Hills.
Woodland including much of the area around the visitor centre.
Farmland such as Down Farm and Wards Hurst.
Commons such as those at Hudnall and Northchurch.
Parkland particularly around Ashridge House.
In 1604 Sir Thomas Egerton bought the estate which remained in the Egerton family (successively Earls and Dukes of Bridgewater, and latterly Earls Brownlow) until 1921.
James Wyatt and his nephew, Sir Jeffry Wyatville, designed the new house in Gothic style - now Ashridge College - for the 3rd Duke's successor.
Stanley Baldwin, then Prime Minister, appealed to the Brownlow trustees, local people - including the children of the six village schools - worked valiantly to raise money, and help from generous outside donors was enlisted.
The Trust's estate now covers 4,000 acres of wonderfully varied landscape running along the hills from Berkhamstead to Ivinghoe Beacon.
There are 1,200 acres of farmland; the rest is common, down and woodland.
