Thursday 29th June Barton > Galley Hill walk led by Tony P.

This 7 mile walk had 15 walkers and started from Old Rd in Barton
Taking a short walk up the road, we turned onto the footpath that leads us towards the Barton Hills nature reserve.
Not entering the reserve, we proceeded to climb the incline leading out from Barton.
We then entered the reserve and walked through a very wet Leet Wood on the edge of the reserve.

 Retuning to the tracks, we continued towards the Barton Hill Rd, where we crossed with care along with a short stretch of road walking we were soon on our old friend the John Bunyan trail.

 

We then joined the Icknield Way, where a coffee break was taken on the logs leading up to Mortgrove Farm.
Invigorated by the break we continued along the hedgerows & tracks, before joining the John Bunyan trail once again, leading up to Galley hill.

 

Diane leading the pack

We entered the nature reserve for our well deserved picnic lunch, overlooking the delights of the golf course and the Luton housing estates in the distance.

 

Picnic Time

 

Cathy, Sue & Kate at the picnic stop

Once suitably refreshed, we made our way through the reserve down towards the golf course.

Kate leading the way

Crossing the course safely, we entered Maulden Firs, continuing alongside the hedgerows and fields until we came to cross the Barton Hill Rd once again.

John at the front

Care was taken crossing & walking along the road, until we joined the footpath leading us back towards Barton

Taking care walking down the footpath as debris was everywhere after the hedges were recently cut with the tractor cutting machine.
Making it back to Old Road for the end of a very enjoyable if not wet at times walk on an overcast sometimes sunny day with a nice temperature for walking. 

Track of walk, walked in clockwise direction