Length: 19.6 km (12.2 miles). Toughness: 3/10
10:12 Peterborough service from Kings Cross (Finsbury Park 10:18), arriving Sandy at 10:58.
Trains back from Biggleswade to Kings X are hourly at xx:19. Buy a return to Sandy.
I haven't done this Bedfordshire walk myself but it's pleasingly described as a mix of grassy tracks and woodland trails; “no slogging through crops or over ploughed land”. There's just one gentle climb halfway round, so although it's not a short walk† it doesn't look at all strenuous.
The walk passes through “two lovely villages, both with excellent pubs”: Northill after 5 km and Old Warden after 12 km. That means they're not ideally placed for a regulation lunch stop but you could opt for a two-stop strategy; perhaps a starter in one and dessert in the other, each washed down with something reviving. Biggleswade has a plentiful supply of watering-holes but it's becoming quite rare to find a café that's still open at the end of a Sunday walk, so you'll probably have to hang out in one of its pubs if you've got a long wait for the hourly train.
† Before anyone asks the walk document doesn't list any short cuts, but if you had a map you could try to follow the North Bedfordshire Heritage Trail south from Northill via Ickwell, intersecting the main route near Shuttleworth Aerodrome; that would reduce the walk to 12.2 km (7.6 miles).
You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.264
3 comments:
Sandy to Biggle sounds great. I will go to that one!
n=12 on a day that was w+sunny-cloudy-dry with a cool breeze to moderate. Early on, we had a choice between a broad path and a narrow riverside one festooned with nettles. Guess which one we took. And me with my bare arms as well.
A little further on, a footpath was spotted that would have avoided the short stretch along the A1 (yes A1).
Eventually, Northill was reached. The Crown was already busy at 12 and we decided not to eat there. However, this didnt stop us drinking there. Wey-hey!
On and on we went, eventually reaching Old Warden. The church there is quite a sight. Even grumpy old Mr Tiger had to agree.The interior is stuffed with carvings - panels, pews, you name it. Nothing had been spared the chisel.
And so to the Hare and Hounds, where a man had a parrot on his shoulder. Called Henry. Here people had a late lunch . Seemed OK. Mr Tiger had a late cider.
Then, the only climb of the day (unless you count the one to the beer garden).
Approaching Biggleswade, the sky was getting greyer, but still no rain. The Surfin Cafe was still open when we passed 4:30 but was surrounded by a funfair. I think we all gave it a miss.
And so to the station, where we got a train.
Group Cohesion Factor 99% (A little separation approaching Biggleswade).
A fab day out. If only someone could move the station nearer the Hare and Hounds 'sigh'.
Weather was w=sunny-cloudy-dry
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