Thursday 5th December 2024 Forest Centre and Millennium Country Park 4.8 miles

This 4.8 mile walk was led by Janet & John

Ten of us met at the Forest Centre on the outskirts of Marston Moretaine . We were lucky with the weather as it had rained overnight but mild and dry for the walk. We walked 3/4 way around the nature reserve then headed off past the sailing club to the top of the lake. We were not able to do the full circuit as a bridge has been closed for some time with no date for repair. 

 

We had a short coffee stop then retraced our steps and finished walking round the nature reserve back to the car park. Not a challenging walk by any means but basically not too muddy and everyone enjoyed being outside and having a good chat. Six of us then enjoyed refreshments in the cafe.

Thursday 28th November Milton Keynes walk led by Tony R

This 5 mile walk should have been led by Beryl, however she was unable to lead it & so Tony  who had "reccyed" the route took over the lead. 9 walkers met at the canal side car park at the bottom of Campbell Park on a dry but cold & frosty morning. We set off in a southerly direction along the canal until we reached a blue fence enclosing a partially built flat development. Here we crossed the canal but continued to walk along its other side. We soon came to the elevated walkway next to the Warbler on the Wharf pub.

 

Beryl had planned to cross the canal & have an early coffee stop opposite the new marina, but due to the low temperature no one was interested so we carried on. However we noticed the electric boat moored nearby which offers trips along the canal. We thought in might be a good idea to take this up in warmer weather. We soon met Diane coming the other way, she had parked in a different car park & missed the walk start. We passed a frost covered meadow where the sun was making the frost turn to steam which blew across the path making it quite misty. Quite an experience. We continued along the path between rows of poplar trees until the hard surfaced path ended. Here we left the canal & turned left along a path which led though Woughton past the sadly neglected water garden. We crossed the Newport Road & walked part way round a small pond. Here we stopped for a coffee break before continuing under Chaffron Way. We soon joined a detached part of Newport Road which led past Holy Trinity Church in Woolstone. We continued past the Cross Keys & the Barge pubs before turning off into Linford Lane. This led to a footpath which went under Child's Way to pass the rear of the Warbler & the marina. We then walked along the canal before tuning off to Camp Hill where we had lunch. Unfortunately we arrived rather early at 12 o'clock to find we were expected at 1 o'clock, The staff moved tables about to accommodate us without problems.

The 10 walkers having almost finished their lunch.

Sometime later Penny & Nita arrived having done a short walk starting from the same car park & they were joined by Beryl who had driven directly from home,
 

Nita, Beryl & Penny waiting for their lunch

After our lunch we left Camp Hill, crossed the canal & made our way along the tow path back to our cars.

Track of walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction.

Thursday 21st November Willen walk led by Penny

12 walkers started this 3.5 mile walk from outside the Ship Ashore pub in Milton Keynes.
We walked to the Grand Union canal which we followed south. After a short while we came to a frog carving which Beryl had to kiss.

Beryl kissing the frog.

Shortly afterwards we passed a playground where Cathy & Beryl practised on the see-saw

Cathy & Beryl on the see-saw

We left the canal & walked past Camphill, then some climbed the steps whilst others walked up the zigzag path. At the top we stopped for a breather before descending to the Peace Pagoda. We sat on the wall here for our coffee break & almost immediately we joined by Sandra & Paul who had gone to a different car park. After leaving the Pagoda we walked along the lake stopping at the Japanese building before going under the A509, turning left & walking along the lake dividing strip to the little footbridge.
We missed the path past the birdhide which had been unfortunately closed. We climbed onto the embankment on the east side of Willen Lake which we followed to "The Hooke" where Penny gave us a talk about Robert Hooke. Famous to me as an engineer because of Hooke's Law & the invention of the universal joint without which modern cars could not work. Apparently he was also an architect & designed Willen church where we stopped for a photo.

The walkers in front of Willen church.

We left the church & walked past a large school playing field to arrive back to our cars. All who had parked there decided to visit the Ship Ashore pub where most people had the Set Menu of 1 or 2 courses, which was excellent value. Thanks to Penny for another excellent interesting walk.

Track of the walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction.

Thursday 7th November Aspley Guise walk led by Bob & Celia

This 8 mile walk started with 8 walkers from the car park adjacent to the Aspley Guise Golf Club.
We left the car park, crossed Westhill & entered a narrow enclosed footpath to cross Woodside & join the MK boundary walk. We joined Aspley Hill by the Fir Tree pub where we crossed Woburn Road by the double roundabout to enter Sandy Lane. After leaving the houses behind we left this track to climb quite steeply up Old Wavenden Heath. After a while we rejoined Sandy Lane. At its end we walked a short distance along Longslade Lane before walking through Bells Copse where we stopped for a coffee break. Although we had a good view of the golf course no golfers were in sight. We passed Hundred's Farm before arriving at the corner of the raised reservoir above Horsemoor Farm. We kept right here to avoid what Bob said was a muddy area. After dropping down to the Horsemoor Farm track we climbed steeply into Landonhill Plantation before passing the forest school & then Marylands. We crossed Leighton Street & entered Wayn Close which we left near the Fire Station to join George Street. We walked past the Red Lion, now Fratellis, to join Duck Lane. We recrossed Leighton Street to see Beryl & Penny waiting for us outside one of the expensive restaurants. Behind the old Town Hall, now an antiques shop we found a tree with a circular seat around it. This was just the right size for the 10 of us to have our picnic

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After lunch we walked along Bedford Street, turning off past Eleanor Close to cross Crawley Road by the Village Hall. We then crossed the playing fields to pass Birchmoor Green & then Birchmoor Farm which looked empty. We carried on the path to join Horsepool Lane where we turned left & left again at the top of the hill to enter Gypsy Lane. We soon left this road on a footpath which led to Aspley Guise school. We then joined Mount Pleasant & crossed Bedford Road to join a footpath where Bob had assured us we would see some elephants. Unfortunately these elephants had disappeared so we carried on to join Bedford Road which we crossed by the church to join a footpath by the side of the cemetery.
This footpath led to the walk start where we were glad to find our cars still there. A great walk on a very dismal, but dry day.

Track of walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction

Steppingley Church Holy Halloween 26th October 2024

 Richard and Wendy led a 5.6 mile return walk from Flitwick following part of the St Katherine’s Way.
18 members enjoyed the walk with the beautiful colours of leaves in the woods and the sunshine.
Joan did particularly well to walk the first 3.6 mile route to the church.
We all managed a short coffee stop in the woods. Luckily it was not too muddy, but very pretty with all the colours of the leaves. Three members met us at the church.
Steppingley church hosted a Holy Halloween with the usual selection of lovely home made savouries and delicious cakes, plus hot and cold drinks. 

Members enjoying chatting as well as eating

 There was a raffle, pumpkin making and some of our members enjoyed climbing the bell tower & ringing the bells.

Sheila & Beryl ringing the bells

 

   On leaving around 3pm 14 members walked back to Flitwick.  

On the way back to Flitwick

They raised £475 pounds! Well done everyone, not just for supporting them, but for joining us and having a lovely time.

Thursday 17th October Wilstead walk led by Sheila & Mike Briggs

13 walkers met at the Bedford Rd. lay-by in Wilstead for this 6 mile walk. We walked through the village before turning left onto the Dragon Wood footpath going behind a school & some houses. Although the ground here was relatively flat we could see the Cardington Hangers in the distance so we stopped for a group photo.

The walkers with the green Hangers just visible in the background

We turned right to ascend Fir Tree Hill (not a fir tree in sight) before arriving at a bench where we stopped for a coffee break . Although we took a photo at this point sadly it disappeared into cyberspace. We continued past Firtree Hall & Firtree Hill Farm to Northwood End Farm where we turned left to join the John Bunyan Trail. This led downhill to Manor Farm where we left the JBT to continue along level ground crossing a brook several times. However on crossing it for the last time we encountered a flooded field which walked past keeping to the very edge where the water was shallower. Soon we left the flood & rejoined the path that we had walked previously in the morning. On reaching the road we tuned right, crossed Cotton End Rd near a mini roundabout before arriving at the Woolpack pub. Most of us entered the pub for well earned lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch at the Woolpack

It made a welcome change to visit a pub for lunch as since Covid these opportunities have been sadly lacking. After lunch we walked the quarter of a mile back to our cars parked in the large lay-by.

Track of walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction.

Saturday 12th October Graveley walk led by Brenda

3 walkers started from the High St in Graveley on this 7 mile walk. The forecast was for a dry morning with rain starting after lunch. We left the High St & walked past several potential building sites fenced off with portable fences. We joined the Hertfordshire Way which we followed past Ten Acre Plantation & Manor Farm before stopping for a coffee break just opposite Tilekiln Wood. After our break we passed Tilekiln Farm & then left the Hertfordshire Way at Warren's Green. We then followed other paths past Park Wood to Damask Green where we stopped for our lunch on a bench. After lunch we walked past the Cricketer's Arms before turning left by some newish houses & then entering a long field. On our right were some inquisitive bullocks, but they seemed more interested in munching grass rather than us. Here the drizzle started but we carried on. We then passed How Wood before a long descent back to Graveley where we passed the church before entering the High St. We crossed to our cars glad that the rain was not serious. Back at our cars we remembered that we had not taken any photos so Tony took a photo of his 2 lady companions.

Brenda & Beryl who walked along with Tony R

Track of the walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction.

Thursday 10th October Westoning walk leb by Beryl

 

14 members met at Westoning Parish Church and set off walking the first part of the Flit Valley Walk.   It was a pleasant morning and we set off in high spirits at a gentle pace to suit all the walkers,  round the field alongside a newly erected fence.  It appears that the farm which has been empty for a while is now being farmed again. 
After a pavement road walk we arrived at the recently rebuilt gates of Flitwick Manor Park.   We circled the park taking in the woodland path through the Arboretum and the meadows.  

The 14 walkers in Flitwick Manor Park

We returned on a path in the woods alongside the A5120 and 11 of us sat down for coffee at Nuyard Garden Centre.   The staff made us very welcome and rearranged the tables for us.   Then two more members who were unable to do the walk joined us for coffee.  So all in all we had a very sociable morning.

Saturday 5th October, Kimpton walk led by Lynn

Despite a beautiful morning there were only 2 walkers on this 7 mile walk which commenced at The Boot in Kimpton. We left The Boot & crossed the High Street to leave it at the school boundary. We walked behind the recreation ground & then parallel to the B651 before crossing it at the top of  the hill. The track then led into Prior's Wood where we found a strange metal object firmly planted into the ground. Did it come from an alien spaceship?

Lynn & Tony at the strange metal object

We continued through the woods.

Priors Wood

We then passed the new church in Ayot St Lawrence & shortly afterwards stopped for a coffee & banana break. Later we passed the old church & the village pub before leaving the road on the Hertfordshire Way. which we followed to Codicote Bottom. Here we crossed the River Mimran & followed it upstream to pass Kimpton Mill & eventually join the drive to The Hoo at Duck Trap Wood.  We followed the drive for a short while crossing the ornamental bridge over a non- existent river. We left the drive through a gate on the left to climb past many chestnut trees.  This led us to cross the Hitchin Road at Cuckolds Cross,  We skirted several fields before entering a small wood.

Exit from the small wood

After its exit we overlooked Kimpton where we could see a view of the church. 

Kimpton church

We then walked downhill to arrive at The Boot where we were grateful to find they were still serving food which we had ordered before setting out. Tony was pleasantly surprised to find they served a decent bitter rather than simply lager as seems the norm nowadays. A great walk on a lovely day.

Track of walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction.

Saturday 28th September - Chairman's Garden Party

The afternoon was bright & sunny but not very warm, especially when a cloud arrived, However we had a good turnout with 32 people + 2 grandchildren in both the garden & in the house. There were a great many cakes provided by members and much tea & coffee make by the wonderful committee ladies. I would like to thank everyone for their contributions,

It was great to see so many people obviously enjoying themselves after our floods.

Just a small portion of the cakes on offer

Linda, Keith  & Mary

Richard, Tony P, Bob, Neal & Celia

The kitchen ladies, Yvonne, Nita, Brenda, Beryl & Celia

Vivienne talking to Anna

Cynthia & Penny

Joan & a happy Nita

Ramblers in the mirror

Mary, Liz, Yvonne & Cathy

Cathy, Liz, Geoff & James

Thursday 19th September Whitwell - Hitch Wood 7 miles led by Tony P

This 7 mile walk started from the village recreation ground, where we made our way along the field margins and down into the village.
Crossing the road we carried onto and over the river Mimram, on our way up to the Bury.

Walking down the drive we climbed up through the an avenue of trees giving a lovely view of the house at Bury farm behind us.

Joining the track at the top of the tree avenue we continued onto East Hill farm, where a well earned coffee break was taken by the duck pond.
After some road walking, we joined the tracks leading us through the houses at Langley End, 

There following the track through, we crossed the road and were soon entering Hitch Wood and looking for a nice spot to have our picnic break in the dapple shade.

 

Suitably refreshed, carried on through the woods following the tracks past Pinfold & Foxhole woods, eventually joining with the track that would bring us out at the large house at Staganhoe.

Continuing through Chalkeys & Little Bury Wood we came to the Whitwell living theatre.
Passing through, we were nearly at the end of the walk, when we passed Emily's tea shop which luckily for us was open, so a bonus stop was taken for tea & cakes, and very enjoyable they were too.
Upon leaving the tea shop, we once again crossed over the river, then through the village, climbing back up the footpath through the houses and back to the cars.
For what was a lovely walk enjoyed by all, on a nice sunny day.

Track of walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction

 

Thursday 12th September 6.5 mile walk from Toddington to Tingrith & back

This walk was part of the BEDS AUTUMN FESTIVAL OF WALKS & it had 15 walkers. We started by leaving Toddington Village Hall car park & followed a footpath to Park Road which we crossed to enter Long Lane. Very soon we left the road &followed a footpath through fields that had been harvested & roughly ploughed. We walked along this footpath for just over 1.5 miles before crossing Long Lane. Just under half a mile more brought us to Tingrith with its red telephone box, now a "book storage". We crossed the High Street and had a coffee stop in the old bus shelter, sadly now no buses.

Coffee stop at the old bus shelter.

 After our stop we walked up Church Road & continued past the church to a kissing gate which led into a sheep field. Here we stopped for a group photo.

Group photo

We continued through field for about half a mile before crossing Tingrith Road to a new footpath leading alongside woodland.

The footpath alongside the woodland.

After about three quarters of a mile we crossed a farm track into another field of long grass. 

 

Field with long grass.

 We walked across this field to enter Daintry Wood climbing all the way. After this wood we walked through a couple of gates before stopping for lunch by a seat we had installed over 20 years ago.

Lunch stop with the threatening sky

After lunch we continued along the hedge line, crossing another farm track & passing a paddock with several friendly horses, through another gate into parkland by Toddington Park House. We crossed the drive to enter another newly ploughed field. We walked for about half a mile across this long field to arrive at Park Road, which we crossed onto another footpath which led into a housing estate in Toddington. After few more roads we were soon back at the car park just as rain commenced.  We thought the timing was great as we had all enjoyed a dry walk.