Thursday 29th April -Toddington - Upper Sundon - Chalton - 8.3 miles- 6 walkers 

Walkers were Beryl, Kate, Ruth, Liz & Pete  led by Tony Price,

Leaving Toddington we followed the Icknield Way trail over to Harlington spinney, then made our way up to Upper Sundon

 Then through to the disused pits, where we headed onto Chalton for lunch

 

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Continuing on through Chalton then dropping down to Fancott for the route home

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Unfortunately the intended route was barred by a field of cows which recently injured a dog walker, so a decision was made to return via the footpath back to Toddington 

Track  of walk,  walked in clockwise direction

 Saturday 24th April - Pulloxhill Figure of 8 - 8 miles led by Beryl

 

Tony R, Sue, Torunn, Beryl, Sharon, Tony P & Wendy C by Capt Tom's letterbox

Tony P, Beryl, Torunn, Sharon, Sue & Wendy C

Track of walk, generally in anti-clockwise direction

 

 Thursday 22nd April - Sundon Hills to Sharpenhoe Clappers & back 7.3 miles 6 walkers led by Tony Roberts

This walk started at Sundon Hills country park car park on a bright & sunny morning whose early morning frost had abated. The walk as originally planned included a very steep short section, however it was decided to avoid this section. Therefore the walk ended by being, although easier, slightly longer.

We left the car park & walked eastwards through grassy fields, through several kissing gates before entering the Moleskin Woods. We turned right out of the woods to pass the 2 radio aerials which in former times had controlled ambulance radio. Their present function is unknown. We entered the village of Streatley & after crossing the road several times arrived  at the car park by the A6 roundabout. We left this to walk past the allotments & soon afterwards entered a wood where several large logs formed seats for our coffee stop. 

Tony P, Kate, Torunn, Christine & Geoff on the footpath at the back of Sharpenhoe

We started again along the permissive path roughly parallel to the A6 before arriving at the NT site of Sharpenhoe Clappers where we witnessed a coupe of hang gliders/ 

Hang glider after taking off from the Clappers

We walked to the end of this site before turning inland to look at the Robertson memorial in the woods. 

Christine, Torunn & Geoff looking at the Robertson memorial.

After viewing the memorial we left this site by walking through the car park which was full due to the excellent weather & crossed the road, up some steps, through the kissing gate where we saw a man looking after several drones. We then descended quite steeply to the bridleway along the base of Moleskin Hills. We followed this up steps to the seat above the Chalk pits where several of us removed layers of excess clothing before descending more steps into the Chalk pits themselves. Descending down more steps bought us again to the base of the hills & we followed the footpath via many steps, both up & down, to enter the grassy field near the car park where we arrived to complete the walk.

Track of walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction.

 Saturday 17th April Tingrith Walk 5 miles led by Brenda & Beryl

6 members enjoying a 5 mile walk from Tingrith church on a beautiful Spring day 

We stopped for a drink and Beryl spoiled us with refreshments

Beryl, Ann, Hilary, David BB & Nita at drink stop

 Thursday April 15th. 7 miles, Woburn to Bow Brickhill.
6 ramblers, led by Ruth

A lovely morning with sunny spells and cloudy intervals. The Woburn car park has reopened and we set off down the high-street where Ruth told the group about the three Woburn fires. 

 

We then passed the ruined Horsemoor Farm and quickly entered the maze of paths in the woods.  Thankfully, we found the church for coffee stop. 

 

The return journey followed the Woburn Golf Course and ended with a full view of the Woburn Abbey from the grassy drive. Black rainclouds were gathering - we got back to the car just in time!

 Saturday April 10^th. Shorter Walk  -  Maulden/Ampthill  4.5 miles led by Nita

 

 

 

Saturday April 10^th. Longer Walk  - Toddington to Upper Sundon Quarries,  
5 ramblers. 7 miles, led by Ruth

Dull and overcast but otherwise dry as we set out past Conger Hill and headed South, with the motorway service station in full view. This is an industrial themed walk!  

Lynn, Tony R, Brenda & Kate on the bridge over the Flit.

 We crossed the river Flit, past Woodcock and Hibsey Spinney, then through an un-rolled wheat field to cross the M1. It way busy! Next we crossed the railway line via a graffiti-decorated bridge and along an old quarry road towards Upper Sundon. There is lots of rubbish around there: perhaps we should have a litter-picking ramble one day. We then turned sharp right and descended steeply on some wooden steps into the scrub-land of the quarry. The Blackthorn blossom was fully out and the hawthorn leaves were opening in the sheltered areas. 

Ruth, Kate, Lynn, Brenda & Tony R

 We looked down on the quarry lakes. How did the burnt-out car manage to get there? Some men were down there, presumably fishing. Another area to explore one day!   

 

The Sundon Lake District

We then crossed electricity lines, the railway line and the M1 again and came around the back of Charlton, having coffee break at the picnic tables behind the star. We had nearly finished when a group of 6 ramblers appeared- obviously with our tables in sight! They turned out to be the Dunstable Bogtrotters and we had a bit of a chat. They had promised sun and alpacas on their programme and had neither. I too was disappointed that the Alpacas had gone from the field near the Chalton Village Hall. 

 

Tony R & Lynn chatting to Linda & Rosemary

 Shortly after we met a familiar pair: Linda and Rosemary completing their morning walk! Next industry was the sewage works and then the electricity sub-station. It had started to drizzle slightly and the wires were buzzing with static electricity.  Finally we passed the Sand Quarry and back past the ridge-and-furrow fields and Conger Lane.  Not the prettiest of walks, but interesting never the less. 

Track of walk, walked in clockwise direction.

 

Thursday April 8th. Tingrith to Segenhoe. 9 miles. 5 ramblers. Led by Ruth

The saying 'Rain before seven fine by eleven' was put to the test today. The first rain for a while, and it had to be this morning! I put my gaiters and overtrousers back in the rucksac, dressed warmly and set out with grave misgivings, considering a way of shortening the walk if necessary. The rain had stopped as we gathered outside Tingrith Church and before long the sun came out! We all stopped to shed a few layers and to put away the hats and gloves. 

Tony P, Sue, Tony R & Beryl beside the "Eversholt Waterfall"

We walked through Rad's End, and paused at the 'Eversholt Waterfall', where we had a group photo and puzzled over some flowers. Ruth thought it was Broomrape. Not too sure as my flower book says it flowers in June. 

The puzzling flowers

 

 

 Update - Ruth went back with the flower book and to take a better photo. It is Butterbur. How boring. I didn't realise the leaves appear after the flowers. 

We walked across a field to the Greensand's Ridgewalk, much to Tony's surprise as he was trying to second-guess the route. Through some woods and windproofs went back of as we crossed a field of wheat which bizarrely had daffodils scattered about! Someone thought they were remnants from a crop to support Macmillan. 

The daffodils

 We reached Segenhoe ruins at 11.30,  wandered into the derelict nave had a coffee break. 

 

Beryl in the nave

 

Tony R, Sue, Beryl, Tony P & Ruth outside Segenhoe church

 

 

 

 The return journey passed a trapped pheasant but was otherwise uneventful. We had lunch at 1pm at the Millenium Pond at Eversholt Church-End. 

Tony P, Beryl, Tony R & Sue on the boardwalk in Eversholt

Finally, we crossed Washers Wood and returned to the cars via Castle Farm. No rain at all!

Map showing the track of the walk.

 

Aspley Guise to Woburn, led by Bob and Celia.  
10  miles, 6 ramblers

Starting at the Aspley and Woburn Golf Club car park and well wrapped up against the biting wind, we set off at a brisk pace to Aspley heath, the steep upward climb slowing us down and resulting in removing a layer of clothing at the top. We then walked past Woburn Golf Club, where golfers were braving the wind now that outdoor sport is allowed. 

Celia, Beryl P, Geoff, Tony R & Bob W

After Hundred’s Farm we had a coffee break on some convenient logs then took a right along a path through Charle Wood, part of which had been cleared to extend the golf club. At Landon hill Plantation we saw families playing in and outdoor pioneer setting and stopped to ask what was going on. The site was being developed for outdoor education. 

Bob & Celia, Geoff & Ruth plus Beryl having lunch on the log

We skirted Woburn Deer Park and stopped at a large log to have our lunch by the large secluded lake. Fleeces went back on! A swan was busy building a huge nest, and a pair of widgeons (I think) were busy with courtship dances. We worried that the ranger would move us on, but we were close to the path and screened from the patrolling land-rover.

Swan building her nest in the reed bed

 There is no doubt that the Woburn VH playground would have been very exposed to the wind! With our hands chilled, we set off into the wind towards Aspley Guise and back to the car-park. 

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

 

Silsoe to Shillington & back 1st April 5 miles led by Jenny & Ged

 

This was the first group of 6 club walk of the year 2021.

Our walk on Thursday 1st April went really well. We were lucky with the weather too for a change, no hurricane or monsoon😅we were joined by Maureen and Malcolm, John Dixon and Beryl. It was lovely to see them we had so much to catch up on we didn't really think of taking photographs, sorry.

We started our walk at Wrest Park, walking to Shillington and on to Lower Gravenhurst. We called in at St Mary 's Church for a coffee break and were lucky enough to find it open!

Where we signed the visitors book on behalf of Toddington  ramblers x 6. Then back on to Wrest Park.