My poor feet! There they were, looking forward to a nice soggy day wallowing in a cold mud spa, swaddled in wet socks …. and what happens….? Dry all day. Solid ground. Only the slightest occasional speck of the black stuff. Poor things were parched. Anyone would think it was summer. Sunny all day, flowers out, trees blooming, birds singing. What’s going on?

The directions worked well. There were 8 of us.

We stopped at the Hare and Hounds where most sat in the garden with drinks. 2 sat inside and ordered a meal that was a long time coming.. So long coming, they were still waiting when we were ready to go. We left them there (with their blessing)and moved on.

Having bigged up St Leonard’s church, the group were itching to look inside and see the carved snake. Guess, what readers, “closed for repairs”. How we sulked.

We didn’t stop at the Crown, deciding to wait till the Bell.

There’s only only hill to speak of on this walk, - the high bridge over the A1. But that’s enough. Then, the last stretch along the Ivel - pretty with swans nesting in the river and another lounging on a lawn.

We got to the Bell for 16:55 and, with a train due at 17:15, there was deemed not enough time for a visit. (Though the rate cider ‘evaporates’ these days, I reckon I could have given it a good go). Home we sped after a grand day out.

I counted 9 Mr A.N.Other counted 10 The day started cloudy finished sunny

Mr Tiger had recently discovered his phone could tell him what plants were called. First it was crimson clover. Then we passed hawthorn woods with a rich carpet of grass underneath. Brachypodium sylvaticum, if you must know.

We looked in the church in Northill but we didn’t stop in the Crown there. No, we went on to the next one. Nobody sulked. Not much, anyway. After all, it was “only” one and a half hours further.

We pressed on through big agricultural fields, woods, hedges with indistinct green flowers (spindle) covered with caterpillar webs* until the church at Upper Caldecote was reached. We admired the interior and the carved snake on the pews. Most had lunch in the churchyard. Then, at last, after passing innumerable posters encouraging us to report hare-coursing, we reached the Hare and Hounds. They’d stopped doing food by then (2 pm) but everyone had eaten anyway. More alarming, readers, they had RUN OUT OF CIDER!! Mr Tiger made do with a pint of Inkwell Stout which turned out to be rather nice.

In the next section, one or two fell behind and, perhaps mercifully, didn’t notice the faster ones add in a 3km detour to Jordan’s Mill. They got to Biggleswade just in time to see the Surfin Cafe close. They and two more waited for the 5:30. Then, surprise, surprise, walker number 11 (who had started the walk 30 minutes late) arrived.

The Jordan’s contingent got the 6:00 train.

*putting two and two together, spindle ermine moth

Sandy to Biggle sounds great. I will go to that one!

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 sunny cloudy dry

Mr Tiger , there doesn't seem to be an easy shortcut on this walk ? apart from the birdwatching v short one ...is that right please? thanks

Not that I know of. You could try doing one of the Biggleswade to Sandy walks in reverse but they’re not written up in that direction . And the longest is only 4.8 miles. If you’re good with maps you may be able to cut across from Northhill to near the end of the walk (Kingshill Farm) but I’ve not tried it.

Okay thanks Mr Tiger, think I'll give this one a miss

10 on a hot sunny day A largely pleasant walk (if you forget crossing the A1 bridge). We reached Northill a bit too soon for lunch. One dropped out here to visit a relly. Most pressed on but two investigated the Crown (purely for research, you understand). They still have a varied menu with vegan options. Neither of us ate but I can attest to the quality of the cider.

The directions over the next stretch work well for GPS users but I still have misgivings about the written directions, particularly in sections 12-13. I was nearly persuaded to go the wrong way. Again. Luckily, parts of this walk are seared into my memory from before and there was an abundance of GRW signs where it wasn’t.

No deer were seen but I saw a big fox, someone else saw “dark things moving about, probably hares”, and there were butterflies, dragonflies and other assorted bugs.

Most picknicked at the Abbey church, followed by snifters at the Hare and Hounds. One, who was hoping to eat there, arrived too late. Again, I can attest to the quality of the cider.

Section 18/19 desperately needs a sentence adding, advising that on the way to the tarmac road where you turn right, you cross an earlier tarmac road where you DON’T turn right. (That way leads to madness and despair – and a long walk down the B658 to regain the route).

I reached the station at 17:10 to find the 17:30 was cancelled. How I laughed.

Looking forward to this walk tomorrow, hope to see others there too.

Judith

A real gem of a walk. Having done the Flitwick Circular two weeks ago I was eager to do another walk in Bedfordshire and this walk didn't disappoint. In fact this walk was considerably better. Saw an array of animals, from a yellow bird we couldn't identify to munjac which we could. Early in the walk we were greeted with the lovely sound of skylarks announcing their intended territory and later on in the afternoon we saw redkites. Visually this walk is really beautiful, even the mobile telephone masts have been designed to look like trees! The buildings deserve a mention as well, with the beautiful interior carvings of Abbey Church of St. Leonard's to the attractive keepers Cottage. However, after diverting up an attractive path we were a bit disappointed with the wonderfully named Queen Annes Summerhouse. It looked like a chopped off 'water tower'. Noticed a pet cemetery behind it. One walker asked me to make a special mention of the great food at the Hare and Hounds. Main menu starts from £13 to £14. 3 Hopefully more people will come next time the walk is posted.

hi,

I have been on a number of these walks with friends before, but haven't joined the SWC group before. I was thinking of joining this walk on the 27th, but would be joining @ Finsbury Park instead of King's X

I was just wondering if anyone else was planning on doing this walk, so I can try and connect on the train

There will be walkers, no doubt.

Weather is looking a tad on the soggy side :/

Id really like to come too so am hoping the rain clears off a bit

the rain's supposed to peter out at the time we're supposed to start walking, i.e.: no excuses!

Hearts leapt with excitement on the train out as somewhere around Welwyn the ground started to have snow cover, apparently thick enough to survive the thaw for a few hours. But somewhere north of Stevenage the white magic disappeared again.

So the 8 walkers (incl. 2 exiles from the Capital Walkers) were left with just some shlush on the ground and more of the stuff still falling. The precipitation did peter out after an hour or so, so the weather can be best described as wet start then dry with a bracing wind . As the write-up promises, there are no stiles and only one arable field crossing, but plenty of woods, tree-lined tracks and water-filled gravel pits with birdlife and a few pretty villages and churches. We had some far views of snow-covered hill sides, and - late on - a snowy field in the middle of a wood.

Lunch we had at the second pub, The Hare and Hounds, and the reviews of the food ranged from 'average' to 2/10 (admittedly the pheasant stood no comparison with last Saturday's offering at The Old Swan, but 2/10 is probably a bit harsh). Anyway, we made it to Biggleswade in time to just miss the 16.20, so settled in for tea at the Surfin Cafe, to catch the 16.54 stopping service.

Only 2 for this walk, perhaps because of the very hot sunny day. A long walk with big skies and big fields. Having foundered on this walk before, it was handy that my walking companion was none other than the walk’s author, who kindly guided me most of the way. All I had to do was follow the white hat bobbing in the distance. A bit like GPS only with a real person. I had hoped he’d carry my bag as well but no, apparently that was stretching things too far (not his EXACT words, you understand).

Between us we managed to iron out the vague bit where I had got lost before. And get this – it wasn’t my fault. It WAS vague. But that’s all sorted now.

The village of Northill very pretty – we rested by the duckpond and watched a baby moorhen. Then on to Old Warden . The church there is astounding with ornately carved box pews, paintings, a balcony and other stuff. And a Norman tower. The pub was friendly. Neither of us ate but I partook of the cider, which was deemed to be good. Then, on to Biggleswade and the Surfing Café as recommended by the author.

We got the 16:20 train.

12 on this walk, including one who first walked with SWC in 1997 and was doing a walk for the first time in a few years. The weather was w= fine-and-generally-sunny-with-one-short-shower-in-the-afternoon.

This gentle amble looked lovely in the autumn light and has many fine trees, particularly oaks, which unfortunately were not showing much leaf colour and will now probably not do so until November. Three stopped for lunch in Northill and a couple stopped to visit the Church of St Mary Virgin. The rest of us continued on to Old Warden enjoying the mix of woodland trails and huge open vistas along bone dry paths.

Six of us had sandwiches at the Abbey Church of St Leonard which is well worth a visit as it has some fascinating wooden carvings including a serpent along the back of a seat, something I've never seen before. We stopped at the Hare and Hounds for a warming hot drink and one ate there. After lunch we climbed a hill into Warden Warren and took a permissive path through the wood for a look at the Landmark Trust property, Queen Annes Summerhouse where a couple were in residence.

We continued at a fair pace and reached Biggleswade station to catch the busy 16.19 back to London. (I had just enough time for a quick tea and cake at the Surfin Cafe.)

People were complimentary about the walk but there are a couple of places where the instructions need clarification and will have to be re-drafted. I hope no-one was inconvenienced by this.

an excellent day out in vibrant company.

Nature Watch: 50 varieties of tree at the Green in Biggleswade. Also spotted; a small muntjac and a common shrew.