Leagrave to Harlington Walk

The start to this walk in Central Bedfordshire with a long urban stretch may sound inauspicious, but most of that leads through meadows along the early beginnings of the River Lea. And the rewards are many and varied: far views from solitary North Chiltern hills, ancient woodlands, steep chalk escarpments, two of the largest Neolithic hill forts in the South East and an exceptionally fine and steep chalk down land: Barton Hills, as good as any other.
All this is linked by ancient track ways like the Icknield Way, by the Chiltern Way and with rolling grassy fields and fine views up to the escarpments in the afternoon. The finish is in the tranquil hill top village of Harlington.
Shortcuts reduce the effort substantially. One of them omits the Barton Hills downland and routes through the Sharpenhoe Clappers chalk escarpment instead, with fantastic views down into the plain.

Two – mutually exclusive – pre-lunch shortcuts reduce the length of the walk by 6.6 km and 55m ascent/descent, and by 6.5 km and 85m ascent/descent respectively.

• Shortcut I cuts out Barton Hills, arguably the best part of the walk, and leads through the NT-owned Sharpenhoe Clappers Hills and through the Sharpenhoe Hill Fort site instead (this walk is rated 2/10).
• Shortcut II halves the time spent in the Barton Hills (this walk is rated 2/10).

There are several Mon-Sat bus services from opposite the lunch stops in Barton-Le-Clay to Luton, terminating at Galaxy Centre, close to Luton train station, which is closer to London on the same train line.

Saturday Walkers’ Club: Take the train closest to 9.30 hours (assuming travel from St. Pancras).

The Raven of Hexton Village Street, Hexton, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 3JB (01582 881 209). The Raven is located 10.1 km (6.3 mi) into the full walk and is a traditional family-friendly pub-restaurant.
Various options in Barton-Le-Clay (about 17 km into the full walk), which serve as lunch stops if using Shortcut II, plus one pub in Streatley if using Shortcut I. For details see page 2 of the Walk Directions pdf.

The Millhouse Coffee Shop at The Olde Watermill Dickensian Village Barton Mill Lane, off Faldo Road, Barton-le-Clay, Bedford, MK45 4RF (0845 872 0507). The Olde Watermill is located 5.4 km/3.4 mi from the end of the walk.
The Carpenters Arms 12-14 Sundon Road, Harlington, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 6LS (01525 872 384). The Carpenters Arms is a low beamed traditional village pub first licensed in 1790.
The Old Sun 34 Sundon Road, Harlington, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 6LS (01525 877 330). The Old Sun is a traditional country pub.

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Sep-24 Thomas G