Gt Barford walk along the river

We had a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon recently so we decided to take a drive over to Gt Barford and take a walk along the river.  We searched around the internet and found a walk:

great barford walk

We parked in the road just by the church in New Road, you will immediately see Barford's fifteenth-century bridge is a popular mooring.  We walked back towards the Anchor Inn, Great Barford crossed the road and walked along the river.    It starts with a cut lawn I guess maintained by the beautiful house just above.  We then followed the river along for a while following the footpath until we reached a bridge.  We crossed the river on to an island and then cross another small bridge and pass a lock-keeper s cottage on the left. The overgrown cottage is really interesting. We were interested to see an old cottage, that looks as though it was recently abandoned, but couldn't find out much about it on the internet. Would love to hear a bit more about the history.

It was a lovely peaceful walk.  And we even saw a goose creche, never noticed this before 2 geese look after all of the little'uns whilst the rest go for a graze!

We turned around and waked back to where we parked and went on the other side of the river to see the lock and weir.  But you can continue and cross the lock and eventually arrive at Willington Lock and then on to the Danish Camp and Bedford or just turn back and return to Great Barford.  



So here are a few pictures of the walk and a bit about Gt Barford that I picked up from the internet:

Great Barford is a village in Bedfordshire,  a few miles north-east of Bedford. It lies on the north bank of the River Great Ouse. Great Barford was mentioned in the Domesday Book as an important site, probably as a means of crossing the river that skirts the village.   Although the area of the original ford was dug up in 1973, the bridge has existed since at least the 15th century. The village is nowadays by-passed by the busy A421 road on the way between Bedford and St Neots, the by-pass opened in 2006 and has improved the quality of village life with much less traffic. The village has two contrasting areas, the more sprawling less attractive newer part that is situated to the north of the more picturesque older and original village, which lies beside the River and has a large variety of buildings some dating to the 17th century.  The older part of the village is known for its All Saints Church, with a 15th-century tower, and its similarly ancient bridge. The surroundings and historic buildings make it a favoured destination for canoeing, angling and picnics.  There is also a popular scout camp by the river in the village near the church, which offers 1.25 acres of camping field together with a slipway and landing stage with access to the River Great Ouse.

Facilities

The Anchor Inn is situated by the river Great Ouse at the picturesque village of Great Barford, with view of the river and the famous bridge with its 17 arches, first built in 1427.  The pub serves a selection of cask ales, lagers and beers and has a comprehensive wine list. It also has a restaurant that seats 40 guests and does bar meals.  The more informal dining area is in the main bar, that is very popular with a good choice of a snacks, main menu and daily specials boards. All food is prepared on the premises, from locally sourced produce with an aim to provide good, wholesome, traditional fare. There is another pub in the newer part of the village, the Golden Cross Pub & Chinese Restaurant is situated in the centre of the village at the cross roads of  High Street, Roxton Road, Bedford Road & Green End Road. it has an ample parking area, and is adjacent the main east-west X5 bus stop. Not just a Local Pub serving fine cask ales, lagers, wines and spirits, run by the owners in the same building is a first class Chinese Restaurant seating up to 60 people with a full menu take away service.  Moving north up the High street from the bridge, you pass many interesting buildings some of them listed, and will also find the village shop and post office.

Local Area

Starting from the bridge there is a public footpath which follows the banks of the river to Bedford. There are also other footpaths that pass through farmland and pastures to neighbouring villages.  Over the road from The Anchor is the village green, a beautiful spot to sit and watch the many boats that pass through Great Barford during the summer months.

St Mary's Church Maulden fabric sale

The village next to Ampthill is Maulden and the local church St Marys had a fabric sale on Saturday, it included all sorts of fabric, patterns, yarn and haberdashery that had been donated.

It was well organised and very popular, we walked there from Ampthill and arrived at around 10 and it was already busy.  Just didn't realise that so many people sew.

Should have got them all together and we could have started a sewing group!

So this was my little haul, 3 pieces on top are just offcuts, but enough to line a bag or make a tissue pouch for the market stall, and the other larger piece should be good for a few things - suggestions welcome.  And the cotton lace I couldn't resist.

They were only charging 50p or a £1 for most things, my friend bought a pattern and some fabric.

Then we had a drink and a piece of delicious homebaked cake.

So a pleasant walk, shopping and a cake - what more could you ask for!

There are a number of walks to the Church it is just off the Greensand Ridge



Must get back into using mapmywalk, forgot to switch it on until we were half way home!


map my walk

Iron Trunk Aquaduct - Grand Union Canal

We parked in a small car park in Old Wolverton, and walked along the tow path, it has quite a few seats along the way for us and was ideal as my husband was recovering from an illness.  The Aqueduct is about 15 mins maybe less from the car park.  I think it should be a fairly easy to continue to walk into Cosgrove, maybe an hour and half round trip? but we decided to turn around and then drive onto the The Barley Mow at Cosgrove.  There is a little tunnel to get under the canal once you are there so that you can get to the pub if you have walked, we popped down after our lunch and walked a little way along from that end.

There are canal boats moored along the canal and the weather was perfect so a very pleasant few hours out and not far from Ampthill, about 35 mins drive.

This aqueduct is amazing, quite scary looking over it, and a narrow path but well worth the visit.  The path from Old Wolverton goes through to Cosgrove.

Here are a selection of paths that people have written about in the area:i footpath links and more information here canal and river trust

In Old Wolverton there is a great place to have a rummage Grandads collection and there is also a pub just nearby that seemed very popular and busy in the garden.  Here are a few pictures:

The view from the aqueduct

boats along the canal

looking along the canal

Information boards - I hope that you can read them

Flitwick Moor

Flitwick Moor is a quiet place, and off the beaten track, it is only 5 minutes in the car from Ampthill.  I went when it was lovely and sunny, but it can be muddy in places, so take suitable for footwear.

Head down towards Maulden and then turn right at the village Hall.  Keep going until you reach a roundabout, go straight on, which is the Maulden Road.  After about 1 mile there are some farm buildings  (Folly Farm) on the left, opposite Massmold, turn down into the track.  There is a small car park, at the end.

There are information signs that tell you more about the area, you can see a picture of one above, I have put them on links below.  

The actual Moor is quite small and won't take long to follow the paths around, or you can go on a longer walk, I have put a link to the Two Moors leaflet which shows a walk around the area. 

We just followed the paths around the Moor which takes you out to the meadow, and then brings you back into the Moor once more. I had no idea about the local history and was fascinated to read that peat was extracted here up until 1967.



The land is iron rich and so the streams running through are coloured orange - just like the Worsley Canal in Manchester, if you know that area.  The place is indeed very boggy, and the reeds

Check out the Wildlife website for more information.
Wildlife trust

Flitwick moor leaflet

Here are some pictures of the information at the site

notice 1

notice 2

notice 3

notice 4

Center Parcs - Woburn Forest

The newest Center Parcs village has opened up just 2 miles from Ampthill and already receiving great reviews on trip adviser,  It is only moments in the car to pop into Ampthill, or by bike and a cycle way for some of it, cycle racks are on the town square.









Thursday is market day - just for the morning, and there are plenty of places to get food, either to eat in or take away.  Of course the Country Market stall will be selling homebaked cakes and quiches, so something for lunch.  We also have a supermarket (Waitrose), a newsagents and a chemists.

You just need to leave the park onto Steppingley Road, and turn left towards the roundabout, cross over before the roundabout to the cycle way on the other side of the road, and head straight towards the roundabout.  And then cross over using the access that has been provided, turn right and head along the cycle way, and this takes you into Ampthill, turning off to the left.  The park is on your left, and the centre of Ampthill just straight on.

I hope all this makes sense - you will see the road signs as well.

If you are on foot you can follow a footpath that is marked for Millbrook Church (but it is not suitable for bikes) on the left, you can go down there a little way and then turn right (not towards the church), and pass by the alpacas in a field (dead cute), and this will eventually bring you into the park.  The path is a little meandering, and then you just follow straight on, crossing a field that often has cattle within the park.  NB there are kissing gates,

Once you have crossed the field through to the other gate, start to head right and this will bring you back to the park car parks and the road, or of course you can enjoy the park, and wander any which way.  See the link on the side for information about the park, you will be coming from Millbrook.

Sharpenhoe Clappers

The Sharpenhoe Clappers is a short drive from Ampthill, and run by the National Trust.  There is a reasonable size free car park, and there are a lot of footpaths around there, not just on the Clappers.



Go when the day is really clear and you will be able to see for miles, if you have binoculars take them and see how far you can see, kids just love looking through them.


It is chalky like the rest of the Chiltern hills, apparently formed from fish bones. The ice age stopped to form the 'cliff' of the clappers. 







The woods are a great place to explore, but are steep in places.

There are a few benches dotted about, and a big grassed area, that you can sit on for a picnic if you take a blanket.  There is a footpath to the woods that you can wheel a buggy, and then explore the rest of the place on foot.  There are no toilets at the site.






NT says:
"Reputedly haunted, Sharpenhoe Clappers is a classic chalk escarpment and part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is crowned with traces of an Iron Age hill-fort and an impressive beech wood."




There are a few walks in the area, here is one that I have found, that has lots of useful information:
Walk like the Clappers

Note that the pub in Sharpenhoe has closed down.

Country Matters in Hexton is a short drive away, and they have tea rooms, toilet and local products for sale. (SG5 3JD Hexton)
facebook page
and there is also a pub right opposite.

Ampthill Open Gardens

For the last 4 years there has been an Ampthill Open Gardens event, and this year there is a another planned for Sunday 29 June 2014.

Each time there has been around 12 gardens open throughout the town, they have been in clusters, and with the exception of a couple you could walk to them all.  

Although some have driven between the clusters, and some have biked, but I have walked.

The gardens are varied, big, small, loads of planting, a mix of veg and plants, and even chickens, just something for everyone.  So far the weather has been good every year - so I am sure it will be good this year!











There is normally at least one garden that has refreshments including cakes, check on the map before you start your tour so that you get there at the right time.

I think the last few times there has been a couple.

Here is a random selection of some of the gardens that have been on show over the last few years.

more info on this link:
Open Gardens

So mark the date in your diary, well worth going.

Walk - map update

I have amended the map for this Walk so that you can now click through for some points of interest, I hope that you find it useful, have you been for a walk yet?  The bluebells are all finished now, but it is still a lovely wood to walk through.

Here is the interactive map to Houghton House

This LINK is a walk down through the woods and exit at the bottom of the woods, back up to the farm and then home.  It took 2 hours - but we did stop every now and again, and bought a newspaper in Martins on the way back!

We did see a red kite in the distance as well, well I think it is!

Walk to Houghton House and King's Wood

I have searched around and most of the published walks are for at least 2 hours, so thought I would put together this short walk, which I think should take you about an hour, and then another 20 minutes to look around if you choose.

Ampthill Market market is in the main car park behind NatWest bank, and we are the nearest to the bank, come and say hello.  We can hold onto your purchases until midday, so you can go and wander and not miss out on the best cakes :)  Or we normally have quiche in various sizes, and small cakes - so take it with you, along with something to sit on and enjoy a picnic on the lawns of Houghton House.

Here is a sketch of the route:
Sketch map and here is the route for printing

As there is no parking in the centre for a stay for longer than 2 hours, you will need to park in laybys in Woburn Road, or in the park car parks, or in a side street, please park thoughtfully.

This route is mainly on gravel track, but there are places that are mud tracks and these can be very muddy in wet weather, so be prepared, and part of it is up hill.  There are no seats anywhere on the main walk, nor any toilets, both are available in the centre of town.  There is a seat just outside Kings Wood.

view from Church

Start at St Andrews Church see below for directions.

Follow the track that is on the left of the church as you face it, just past the Church you will see a track forking to the left (this will be where you will return), and a track to your right. 

Take the track to the right and follow the path through the old graveyard, through the gate and down through the new burial ground until you reach the gate to the gravel farm track at the bottom.

Turn left this is Gas House Lane.  Keep on this track until you go over the cattle grid shortly after you will see sign that takes you diagonally across the field to your right.  

Sometimes there are cattle in this field, so take care
You will be passing the building (Lodge Piece Farm) that is at the end of the track, on your left.  Go through the metal kissing gate.

Keep following the mud track. It turns to the right once at the end of the Lodge Piece Farm, and then left along the edge of the reservoir.  Then you will reach a track, you will need to turn left and then you will see a gate almost immediately on your right that takes you into the farm yard.

You have a few options depending how much time you have:

• You can turn immediately right and wander up to Kings Wood, this is definitely worth doing if the Bluebells are out mid to end of April normally. 
• Or you can cross the farmyard to the left, and pick up the track on the other side turn right and walk down to Houghton House. 
• I would allow at least 20 minutes for each, to return back to the farmyard.
• Or if you just want to head back to Ampthill, and continue in a circle, you need to turn left on either track, they join up and take you back to the main road to Bedford (B530).

NB this is part of the Greensand Ridge Walk

Once you reach the road, you will go left, you will need to cross over the road to the footpath (this is a bit of a pain, and can be busy).  Walk down the hill just a short way past the first house on the left, and you should see an entrance to a footpath, cross the road and go through the gate and follow the path.

This is Holly Walk, and it will take you all the way back to the Church, it is probably about ½ a mile.  You can just follow the road down into Ampthill.
 
So that is the basic walk here is more information:

Houghton House

Houghton House
Owned by English Heritage.  It was built in 1615, and by 1794 it was partially dismantled.  There are so many pictures and loads of information on the internet, just do a quick search.  Check out their website and download a free pod cast.






King’s Wood

Kings Wood

King's Wood is an ancient broad leaved woodland, that has been planted since mediaeval times. The commonest trees are ash and oak, there are also sweet chestnut, turkey oak, and sycamore at the southern end: hornbeam, beech and oak can be found in the middle. There are some beautiful wildlife and plants: bluebells, yellow archanger, wood spurge, wood aneomes, goldilocks, lesser teasel and wood speedwell.  




It is a beautiful quiet place, as you enter the path splits into 2.  The left path will eventually take you down to Houghton Conquest, and if you turn right at the first chance you have it will eventually take you back to the gate.  This will probably take 20 minutes at least.  The path to the right follows the edge of the wood more closely and you can exit out into the fields.  I have taken a picture of the sign as you enter the wood, which has a map and some information.

Holly Walk

Holly Walk
Holly Walk is a banked footpath made in the early 1820s for Lord Holland as a short cut to the church from Park House.  Thatched cottages were built at either end, the Church end one having been rebuilt following a fire with a tiled roof.








This the area of the farm where the tracks meet:
google maps
NB There is a small car park halfway through this walk at Houghton House. 

Directions to the church
Woburn Road for the park
This is the road from the A507 from the North/west direction eg Milton Keynes, Ridgmont, signposted Ampthill.  There are 2 car parks that serve the park, and laybys along the road.  The second car park is nearer to the town.  

• Coming from Flitwick/Dunstable direction you will need to turn right into Woburn Road at the first mini roundabout 
• From Maulden it is the second mini roundabout right into Woburn Road.

St Andrews Church is off Church Street, which is the road to Maulden, on your left as you head towards Maulden.  From Woburn Road head down the hill towards the centre of town, turn left cross the road to the ‘market square’, this has benches and the town’s pump. 

NB I have found a few printed leaflets for walks starting in Ampthill and will add them to the blog and website, look for the links.

Walking in Ampthill

There are some lovely walks around Ampthill, you could park in the car parks at the park, have a walk around the park, or Coopers Hill, or up to Kingswood and see the bluebells, contact me if you want directions.

There are a number of links on the website:

Ampthill Country Market