tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post8208217662613493946..comments2024-03-29T11:20:22.205+00:00Comments on SWC - This Week's Walks: Saturday Walk - Marston Vale, the Bedfordshire Greensand Way and Flitwick Moor: Lidlington to Flitwick Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11395064086819994526noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-51152750662917043652020-02-29T19:29:29.146+00:002020-02-29T19:29:29.146+00:00It was raining cats and dogs - when I got out of b...It was raining cats and dogs - when I got out of bed, but by the time we got to Lidlington, there were just the remains of an overcast sky, which soon broke to reveal lots of blue. And that's how it stayed, apart from a 20 minutes period of an intense hailshower, just before lunch in Ampthill. As per the previous comments, this was Day 3 of an inpromptu part-closure of the Marston Vale-Line, necessitating a bus replacement service between Ridgmont and Bedford. The reason: barriers at level crossings opening and closing randomly, without being triggered by coming or going trains!<br />2 had come up via Euston, 1 down from Northamptonshire to join at Bletchley, 1 across from Bedford, with the replacement buses from both directions arriving within minutes at Lidlington. So off we strode together and negotiated the steep and slippery paths along the undulating bits of the Greensand Ridge without a fall. The recent rain and driving wind meant fine far views from the ridge, especially in Ampthill Great Park, into the Marston Vale and - in other places - across to The Chilterns. The hailshower started as we entered Cooper's Hill Heathlands but by the time we had settled in and ordered our food at the fantastic White Hart (Hotel) pub, it was all blue skies again!<br />Back onto the ridge and across to Houghton House's scenic ruin, then through a fine bluebell wood and down to Maulden (where we saw our first lambs of the year) into the Flit Valley. The Flit was very full and muddy brown indeed (for a chalk stream), and the streams in Flitwick Moor itself a sight to behold. At the station for the 17.00 Thameslink train. <br />n=4 w=sunny-and-windy-with-one-hailshowerThomas Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01298846868417688062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-35320449599655835482020-02-29T09:48:44.803+00:002020-02-29T09:48:44.803+00:00Apparently there are mini buses, see you at Lidli...Apparently there are mini buses, see you at Lidlington.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-88391247852048931712020-02-29T08:38:28.302+00:002020-02-29T08:38:28.302+00:00Trains look tricky, last night the site said repla...Trains look tricky, last night the site said replacement buses, this morning just cancelled between Ridgmont and Bedford therefore not running as far as Lidlington. Any ideas? I was hoping to join the walk from Bedford. JudithAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-7091763584638013182020-02-23T12:59:16.897+00:002020-02-23T12:59:16.897+00:00If you think there is something oddly familiar abo...If you think there is something oddly familiar about the trains on the Marston Vale line from Bletchley to Bedford, you are right. They are re-purposed former District Line trains. Rather cute. Unlike on the Underground, you are free to walk through the door between carriages. And they have nice loos, if that coffee you had on Bletchley station has reached the point of no return.Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09314024151810191831noreply@blogger.com