Thursday 28th August Clophill walk led by Debbie

I Just made it in time to lead the walk due to a van blocking my drive & in no rush to move, followed by a road closure !!  I was joined by a very good turnout of 20 members. Some parked around the green, but others parked nearby & walked to the green.

We walked along the High Street turning left up Mill Lane.  We looped round the lanes re-joining the High Street and turning off up Old Church Road where we passed the Eco Lodges before coming to the old Church ruins where we had our coffee break in the sunshine.  Some sitting on the boundary wall, some in the adjacent grassy area & some on the bench next to the church.

Members on the boundary wall

  

Members sitting in the adjacent grassy area

On the church bench

We continued up the lane through a track & field joining Great Lane then turned right into Old Kiln Lane, passing a farm before taking a footpath on our left. We crossed a grassy meadow through a small holding and  copse before joining The Slade.  
This brought us back onto Mill Lane joining the High Street at the bottom after 3.5 miles of walking.. 
Thank you all for joining me. Debbie  

Thursday 21st August Ampthill walk led by John & Janet

15 walkers met at the west car park in Ampthill on a dry,  overcast but warm morning for a slightly abridged version of Katherine’s walk. 
We set off downhill towards Millbrook where we crossed the road by the church and were soon climbing uphill through trees and ferns.
This path brought us out on the Woburn road where we made use of the crossing to navigate safely over onto the edges of Center Parcs holiday village. This is a pleasant path amongst trees and passes a piggery. 

Soon afterwards we stopped for a coffee break on very handy logs. 

We were soon on the way again towards Steppingley passing the church. We turned left down the fields rather than carrying on the official walk to avoid the housing estate. 

A suitable bridge made a great photo opportunity. 

 

From here we walked past the reservoir and crossed the busy road. This pleasant path led to a clearing where we stopped for lunch with a couple of benches and carved wood of frogs, tadpoles and frog spawn! The carvings gave extra, though somewhat slightly uncomfortable, seats! 

We then had to cross the train line up and down steps. The path led us to Coopers hill which was covered in heather. From here we passed the rugby ground and back into the park. 

Total of just over 7miles that everyone said they enjoyed.     Report by Janet 

Track of walk 

 

Thursday 14th August - Wilstead led by Tony P

Eight walkers met in the Methodist church car park for the start of a 6 mile walk around the Wilstead countryside.
Leaving the village, behind we joined with the track that would take us out towards Manor Farm.

Sue & Tony R chatting followed by John, Joy, Llyn, Geoff & Graeme.

Passing through fields of noisy sheep, we negotiated an insulated electric fence which was at low level across the footpath, before passing through the farm.

Now once again we are on our old friend the John Bunyan trail (he seems to be everywhere ?)

Along the trail we stopped for a deserved water break before climbing the incline up towards Northwood End Farm, where we came across this Grade 2 listed Granary, English Heritage ID 37625

It is a granary with high brick plinth to all sides, brick straddles with stone caps, timber frame with weather boarding to exterior, pyramidal clay tile roof, small square structure, small plank doors on the N & W elevations.

Geoff, John, Llyn, Tony P, Joy, Sue & Graeme in front of the granary

On through the farm we arrived in Haynes & along Plumbers Lane turning into Park Palings where we stopped for a well earned picnic break, overlooking the Bedfordshire countryside.

Suitably refreshed, we were once more on our way taking in views of Haynes Park, the spiritual place of Radha Soami Satsang Bead (science of the soul)

Continuing along until we came to Firtree Hill which offered us  more fantastic views of the Bedfordshire countryside, with the old airship hangers centre stage.

Geoff, Tony R, Llyn, John, Joy, Tony P & Sue 

 Walking alongside Wilstead wood we joined with the track we used to start the walk, we were now heading back to the car park for the end of a lovely walk on a nice warm sunny day enjoyed by all walkers.                 Thanks to Tony P for the photos & script

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

 

Saturday 2nd August 2025 – Richmond Park, London. 7 miles.

 

5 members of the Club – Tony R, Sue, Geoff, Maureen and Beryl were joined by a visitor, Maggie.

We travelled to London on the 9.29 /9.33 am train from Flitwick / Harlington. Denise, Beryl’s friend

who lives in Brentford, met us at Ealing Broadway Station (Elizabeth Line) and we boarded the 65 bus to

Richmond. We were a bit like excited school children on the bus – claiming the front upstairs seats and

delighting in views of magnificent houses, the River Thames and Kew Gardens including the Pagoda.

After a Banana/Coffee stop Denise guided us around the vast Park. It was difficult to believe that we

were in the great metropolis of London – so much open grassland and beautiful trees. There were

many felled trees in the Park and we made use of one where we stopped for our picnic lunch break.

After lunch we diverted a little from the planned route and enjoyed a stroll through Isabella Plantation

making use of the toilet facilities.

For a while we were lost and had to double back on ourselves.

On the way back we decided to leave the bus at Kew Bridge and walk along the River Thames path to

Strand on the Green where Denise directed us to a lovely riverside pub, The Bull, and we enjoyed a well

earned meal and watched the tide quickly rise on the river outside our window. (Tony R had left us

earlier because he needed to get back to be with Cynthia.)

So being well fed and feeling happy on the lovely sunny evening we boarded the 65 bus again and

wended our way back to Ealing Broadway Station (Denise lift us before the station as we drove by the

end of her road). Unfortunately, Maggie had a fall on the stairs going down to the platform. She was

obviously in great pain, but it was decided to continue to Bedford A & E . The station crews were very

helpful but also limited by where they were allowed to take the wheelchairs – each train line having to

keep their own chair. Sue, Maureen and Beryl finally managed to get Maggie to A & E but being a

Saturday night, with long queues, it was decided that she should be returned to her family in Silsoe who

would take her to the hospital the next morning. (Maggie had a spiral break of her left tibia.)

We all (including Maggie) agreed that it had been a great day out and that we would not allow the

accident to dampen our enthusiasm and enjoyment.

2025 Garden Party held on 7th August at the Chairman's house

This garden party was originally scheduled for a week early but was postponed due to the weather forecasters predicting storm conditions which never happened.
We had a very enjoyable afternoon with 37 attending. The weather turned up trumps, although there was a slight breeze it was warm but not too hot. The day was brightened by many of the ladies wearing their summer dresses, never seen on walks. Members brought a variety of delicious cakes & other items which were sampled by all present. Committee members worked hard in the kitchen making many pots of tea. Hilary walked around the garden taking photos which can be seen below.

Members enjoying themselves in the garden

Jenny, Tracey, Maureen, Brenda & Malcolm

John with the ladies

Mike, Richard, Keith & Tony R