Saturday 25th January Great Linford walk led by Tony R

This walk was put on n an attempt to boost numbers on Saturday walks as the exact walk held last June had a good attendance & a winter repeat was requested. However despite this there were only 5 walkers who left Stonepit Field to walk down to the old Bletchley / Newport Pagnell railway now sadly closed but in use as the Swan's Way walking route. We walked along this well surfaced path for about a mile passing the old Bradwell station platform en route. When we came to Nightingale Crescent we turned left & went up to Bradwell Window where some photos were taken. 

Bradwell windmill

We left the windmill & crossed the road & then the Grand Union canal by the Millennium Bridge. On out left we saw the Grafton Street aqueduct which was, at one time, the latest aqueduct to be built in Great Britain. However we turned right & followed the canal for about another mile before turning off into Stanton Low Park, an area of open grassland. We followed a track to the ruin of St Peter's church where we stopped for a coffee break. 

We followed a track across the open grassland for about half a mile before crossing the site road & entering a greenlane with bushes either side. Some of these had obviously been affected by the previous few days wind. We then joined the canal again & followed it for another mile before climbing some steps onto a bridge crossing the canal where we took some more photos. 

Geoff, Sue, Tony & John

We then left the canal & followed a path signposted Great Linford until we reached Manor Drive which we crossed to enter Great Linford Manor Park. We walked across the grass to see the wooden sheep where again we took some photos. After seeing the sheep we went to see the giant horseshoes in an area called the Wilderness, which had been found by Ruth the previous year. Again some photos were taken. 

Tony R, Sue, Geoff, Janet & John by the giant horseshoe.

We continued through the wilderness stopping at the Linden tree which is claimed to be the oldest tree in Milton Keynes. We passed the Doric Seat & the Lime Leaf chair before arriving at seats overlooking the almshouses & ponds. Here we stopped for our picnic lunch.

After lunch we walked between the ponds, stopped briefly at the bench mark & the quarry before going under the old railway bridge & joining the canal towpath for a short distance before turning of into Stonepit Field. We passed the half sone circle before returning to our cars. A good interesting walk on a lovely sunny January day, sadly missed by most members.

Track of walk, walked in clockwise direction

Thursday 16th January Furzton Walk led by Penny & Beryl

12 walkers started this 3 mile walk from the free car park just off Watling Street. We walked towards Furzton Lake crossing a footbridge before turning left to skirt a housing estate of rather nice houses. We crossed another footbridge before turning right along Furzton Brook on our right. We crossed Dulverton Drive & carried on for a short while. before turning right to pass between some houses & a school to cross Dulverton Drive again. Here we came to a man-made tiered mound which 2 of us climbed to take a photo of the rest of the group.

Penny, Maureen, Nita, Denise, Diane, Anna, Hilda, Beryl, Tracy & Sandra.

Sue & Tony on top of the mound

We then walked along Loxbeare Drive to arrive at the lake where a footbridge seemed to be home to a group of swans.

We continued the walk passing more nice houses and then along the north side of Furzton Lake.  We made our way to the Hungry Horse pub where many members went inside for a coffee from the machine. However some sat outside on the benches drinking their own coffee. After coffee we all walked back alongside the lake to the car park having had an interesting winter walk.

Track of the walk, walked in clockwise direction.

Thursday 9th January Ampthill Park walk led by John W

This 5.2 mile walk started at the west car park in Ampthill Great Park.

We started with 18 walkers and walked westwards towards Millbrook. We managed to get through a bit of a flood at the exit of the park & walk along the field normally containing alpakas, however there were none visible. We skirted Millbrook, leaving by Russell Grove to join Millbrook Road which we followed for a short while before turning off on the track to Park Farm. After passing Park Farm we turned off the track & walked uphill to enter Laurel Wood. We then found ourselves on Bedford Street in Ampthill. Here several members left to make their own way back to their cars. However most of us crossed the road to join the track towards Houghton House. We encountered quite a few vehicles on this track & were glad to leave it & walk behind the farm. Here we stopped for a coffee break & a photo.

We then passed the reservoir walking behind Lodge Piece Farm. to join Gas House Lane. We left this & entered the cemetery. We climbed Church Hill before reaching Bedford Road again, which we crossed to re-enter the park. We followed the track past the lodge & above the sports field to reach the car park. A good walk for early January.

Track of walk, walked in clockwise direction.