Leighton Buzzard Canalside Walk

A suspiciously flat route by necessity today I'm afraid. A total ascent of 187.62ft you could say it's as flat as a pancake! An over indulgent Badminton game midweek has left me with lets just call it a Gluteus Maximus injury. 

The weather was quite reasonable so once again shorts were the order of the day. 

Our starting point was an industrial estate in the heart of Leighton Buzzard. Not the most auspicious of starts. It didn't get much better as we had to navigate our way through a new housing estate and overgrown paths. 

Quarry Works

There really is very little of interest to report initially, hence the picture of the quarry above. We do reach the river though and things get even worse. The path is covered in even more stinging nettles than encountered earlier and they were bad enough. 

Swallows on the fence

Autumn Fields

 It was at this point I really was regretting the shorts option over long trousers. At least the countryside had started to open up a bit and some nice views of the river and fields. We passed through the village of Slapton where there was a nice looking pub ' The Carpenters Arms' unfortunately it was shut...

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We then dropped down (literally) onto the Grand Union Canal to follow the towpath most of the way back towards our starting point. 

Not a great deal of activity on the waterway aside from the odd narrow-boat. The weather has taken a turn for the worse,the wind has picked up and blowing in some light rain. My shins are prickling and itching too after the run in with the nettles. 

Former Church

We pass a wonderful house right on the canal near the bridge at Grove. A former Church now converted into a residence would be just perfect. 

View from the Bridge

 

A little further on we come to the 'Grove Lock' Public House (A Fullers owned pub). Happy to sit in the garden with 'Archie the dog. Unfortunately getting a couple of pints proved an impossible task. To be fair the Covid restrictions had been tightened yet again overnight. Causing more chaos and confusion as if there wasn't enough already. According to the staff on the door masks needed to be worn, the NHS tracing app had to be downloaded, the venues own app had to be downloaded to order drinks as no bar service.

You might not be totally surprised to hear that we didn't bother! Sometimes the juice just isn't worth the squeeze , or hops in this case. Makes you wonder what future there is for the licensed trade over the next six months. Particularly since the government has also announced that they all have to close promptly at 10 pm.

Some nice houses with gardens that back on to the canal. A few have put out benches and chairs to take full advantage. It's amazing the different types of narrow-boats  you do see though, a whole microcosm of life really. There is the big wide berthed variety , well maintained and usually a couple who adopted a different style of living. There is the weekend and holiday get away boat usually fairly minimalist. Often you see one that seems to be crammed full of every worldly possession and a bit more. The single person (usually a male) split up and can't afford a house. Maybe you will see the 'new age' boat people in a community, with unusual names like 'Clarissa the Thaumaturgist'. Everybody seems to gel quite nicely doing their own thing.
We leave the canal at Linslade at the starting point for the Greensands Ridge walk.Part of which I completed in Woburn a week or two ago. 

The Greensands Ridge is a long-distance walk of 40 miles (64 km) taking in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire.

   

 

 
 

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Braunston and Ashby St Ledgers Walk

Another sunny warm September walk, we really are being spoiled with the weather at the moment. Bit of a historical route lined up today.

However we start off on the canal , seem to have spent a lot of time by the water one way or another this last few months.   

 

We walk towards the Braunston Tunnel, just in time to see a Narrow-boat emerge. Braunston Tunnel is 2,042 yards (1,867 m) in length with no towpath.It was opened in 1796 and has three air shafts along the length. 

The plaque on the wall marks the opening of the tunnel. 

Bawdy boat name !

We continue canalside until we reach Braunston locks and then the Marina. The canalside pub 'The Admiral Nelson seems to be doing a good trade at least!

The marina lies at the crossroads of the Grand Union and Oxford canals, and indeed of the whole waterways.

Canal Airshaft

We cross over the bridge at the Marina and head towards the village of  Ashby St Ledgers (Jurassic Way).  Our first port of call is at The Olde Coach House Inn. A nice pint of Tribute Cornish Pale Ale goes down well.  Suitably refreshed we continue into the village. 

There are some beautiful thatched cottages in the village. I liked this quirky looking house in particular. It's clock tower was very striking (no pun intended) . The large horses heads on the gateposts are interesting too, maybe a veiled warning ? 

Mentioned in the Domesday book 'Ascebi' (ash tree settlement)The population of 173 (last census 2011) are keeping a low profile and it is eerily quiet. 

 

We keep walking straight through the village towards the church of St Leodegarius.  Looking to our left there really is some famous history to be seen! 

The Manor

It is said that the room above is where the Gunpowder plot was hatched. The Gunpowder Plot was a failed attempt to blow up England’s King James I (1566-1625) and the Parliament on November 5, 1605. The plot was organized by Robert Catesby (c.1572-1605) in an effort to end the persecution of Roman Catholics by the English government. Catesby and others hoped to replace the country’s Protestant government with Catholic leadership.

Church of St Leodegarius.

The manor was passed down the male family line to Robert Catesby.

The manor's central location was convenient to the houses of the Catesbys' many friends and relations, which supposedly made Ashby St Ledgers a type of 'Command Centre' during the planning of the Gunpowder plot.  In the room above the Gatehouse, with its privacy from the main house and clear view of the surrounding area, Robert Catesby, his servant Thomas Bates and the other conspirators are said to have planned a great deal of the Gunpowder Plot.

 

 

We leave the village passing the Old Dairy, the sign shows that it is still owned by the Crown. The Crown Estate purchased the Ashby St. Ledgers estate in October 2005. 

At the junction we take the path that is in the direction of Welton. It's a nice part of the walk across several fields although there is quite a steep uphill finish as you approach the village.

A nice little walk at just over 7 miles.

St Martins Church Welton

 

 

Woburn Walk

 

                            St Mary's Church Gargoyles

Today's walk I am told is going to be a little different ! We are off to a good start at least, ample free parking opposite St Mary's Church. Some friendly looking Gargoyles are smiling down on us from the church tower, on what is a pleasant sunny morning. We turn left along George Street leaving the lovely town centre behind us. 

 

 

The  route guide that we were using said that the walk was 8 miles. However a friend who completed it  recently came in at 11.7 miles. So we shall see ? We continue walking along the perimeter wall of what must be Woburn Abbey.We reach the entrance to the Deer Park at Ivy Lodge.   

We are now officially on the Woburn estate! As long as we stay the 'right' side of the yellow marker posts and don't deviate. Set within 3,000 acres of Deer Park, home to nine free roaming species of deer.The Red Deer and the Roe Deer are most prominent.include the Milu, or Pére David's Deer. Sika, Axis and Barasingha, and the rare and shy Rusa Deer. We might also see small Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer roaming freely.

I did venture onto the bridge that takes you towards the driveway. The Park was landscaped in the 19th century by Humphrey Repton, and stayed largely unchanged. The magnificent ancient trees and ornamental ponds make for a spectacular vista.Near basin pond is a tree known as 'Abbots Oak' said to be where Abbot Robert Hobbes was hanged. All part of the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII.

We exit the Park after passing a lover Tudor style building to our right. We meet six other walkers coming the opposite way. They know the route well and warn of how muddy the next part of the route becomes in the winter. But today it is fine and we make good progress through a mixture of woodland and open fields to the village of Eversholt.   The village name means 'wood of the Boar' be great to see one !

Blue plaque to Frank Wild

Eversholt Cricket Pitch

Eversholt is a pretty village with a Village Hall overlooking the cricket pitch. The village pub 'The Green Man' is just opening as we arrive. We stop for a break , a refreshing pint of Blackpit Ruby Ale 3.7% goes down well. Brewed on the North Bucks and South Northants border at Stowe. 

The pub is leased by former 'Bake off'' winner Candice Brown. 

 

The Domesday book of 1086 lists Hugh de Beauchamp as Lord of the Manor for Eversholt whose descendants owned property there until the 13th century when the land passed to Woburn Abbey.  

Entering the village I notice a blue plaque on the wall to Frank Wild 1873 - 1939. An English sailor and explorer.e participated in five expeditions to Antarctica during the Age of Antarctic Exploration. Originally from the North Ridings in Yorkshire his family moved to the area and was educated at Bedford. He was regarded as Shackleton's right hand man on the 'Endurance' that sailed to Antarctica in 1914. 

Leaving Eversholt we pick up the Woburn Road and go up a steep road in the direction of Froxfield. This takes us back into the Deer Park again. A few confused safari park drivers seem a bit lost and ask for directions.Taking a sharp right it's a case of following the marker posts again. We find a good place for our pic-nic. 

The path will again take us close to the perimeter fence of the park.

Safari Park in the distance

 

Right against the fence was a Black Bear ! Quite a way from the circling cars of the visitors. In the far distance there are Elephants. I try and get a closer look while avoiding the CCTV cameras scattered around.I'm so focused on the horizon I don't see the huge pair of antlers rising out of the ferns....

A huge Deer is just a few yards ahead , I don't want to upset it so back away very cautiously. 

Following the path we go over a cattle grid and exit the Deer Park . We turn left through a lovely wooded area . Lots of interesting Fungi around at this time of the year as we move into Autumn. 

We exit the woods to the entrance of the safari park. A couple of inquisitive Zebras come for a closer look.

To the left is the entrance to the Safari Park so walk towards it & then turn right down the road past an old red Telephone Box. I notice that it is now £26.99 fee for an adult. Seems expensive , however the upkeep of the park must be colossal. 

Seems today we are going to see a lot of it for free.

There are two huge lion statues marking the entrance.First opened in 1970 as a means to help improve the financial position of the estate & restore the Abbey, which had fallen into disrepair.

The Safari Park itself covers 360 acres (150 ha).The park lets animals roam freely while visitors drive through their enclosures.

The path runs between the road you drive around the Safari Park on and the elephant (Asian) enclosure. Further behind two white Rhinos show some interest in the passing cars. We see various other animals including Giraffes, Ostrich and Bactrian Camels.  We leave through a gate into a shady wooded area, but still the animals can be seen. To our left is an enclosure with Wallabies of various shapes , size and colour. This is also the 'Go Ape' area where the public can have a treetop adventure on zip wires. 

Sadly we are nearing the park exit and arrive at the huge gates. There is nobody around and the gates seem to be locked.....This is not looking good. 

Fortunately despite their size there is a knack to opening them and with no small amount of relief we cross the main road and turn first left up Horsepool Lane.From here on it is largely fields all the way back to Woburn.

It's still lovely and warm and sunny and we finish off our picnic. 

The excitement hasn't quite finished as we have a bit of a run in with a log cutting vehicle that blocked the path. The operator it seemed didn't believe in stopping for walkers .Clearly no health and safety ethics....

Finally the path turns left to Birchmoor Green.

We pass through a small hamlet of houses on our right . One of which had this old fashioned washing wringer outside. A bit of local history as it originate from 'Gibson Andrews' of  Woburn.

Sadly as we near the end of the lane there is the horrible sight of fly tipping. It seems so prevalent now more than ever and is a complete eyesore.

It is something that blights our beautiful  countryside and completely disgraceful. If I had a pound for all the tyres I've seen dumped this Summer I would be a rich  man.
 

At the main road we turn left back in to Woburn and the re-assuring sight of my old friends the Gargoyles.

At the junction we turn left back into Park Street & to the car park where we started from. It's been a fantastic walk and according to my timing device 9.66 miles. I look forward to doing this walk again maybe late Autumn or Winter , who knows ?

 

 

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