Wednesday Walk - Marston Vale: Stewartby to Ridgmont [New Walk]

Posted for the walk author who will be present

 

Length: 19.3 km (12.0 mi) 

Ascent/Descent: 238/194m 

Net Walking Time: 4 ¼ hours

Toughness : 3 out of 10

 

Both stations can be reached either from Euston via Bletchley, or from St Pancras via Bedford.

Take the 09.45 Corby service from St. Pancras (EMR platforms upstairs, BZ6 tickets will not be valid) and change at Bedford (10.25/10.47) onto the Bletchley train (the station has a coffee shop), reaching Stewartby at 11.00. 

Return trains are at xx.09 (e.g. 16.09) to Bedford/St. Pancras or xx.12 to Bletchley/Euston. 

Buy a Ridgmont Return.     

This is a first posting. The walk follows the South and West shores of Stewartby Lake before turning North to Lower Shelton and across farmland. Next you head West through the lovely woods of Marston Thrift to Cranfield. The route then largely follows a Sustrans cycle route heading South, but it makes for excellent and surprisingly remote walking to Holcot Wood. Finally head South-West across open countryside, largely following the John Bunyan Trail to Brogborough and Ridgmont station.

Lunch: The Swan/Gurkha Kitchen, 2 Court Road, Cranfield. 11.7 kms in to the walk. This specialises in Nepalese, Indian and Chinese cuisine, including some vegetarian dishes. Or the Cross Keys, 159 High Street, Cranfield. This adds 700 metres to the distance (largely on road).

Note that Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre (the tea stop) will not be open. The short cuts in the text were intended to make sure you got there before closing, so best to stick to the main route.

For walk directions, map, height profile and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.404