The John Bunyan Trail (1) Barton Le Clay & Hexton

Exciting times! The start of a new long distance path 'The John Bunyan Trail'. A 124 km/77 mile walk dedicated to the Puritan Evangelist and author of the book 'Pilgrim's Progress' that he wrote in prison in 1678. As always we will be doing the walk in circular routes. and therefore a lot longer than the 77 miles. The routes will pass through a number of attractive villages and scenic countryside, taking in many places of historic interest connected with Bunyan. He travelled the county preaching, that in Charles II time was illegal and he was arrested and jailed for 12 years. He remains a figure of considerable historical and religious and literary importance particularly in Bedford.I'm hoping to learn at lot more about this important historical figure as the walk progresses. There are links with the Greensand Ridge Walk, Icknield Way Path and North Bedfordshire Heritage Trail. 

 

Starting point today is the village of Barton Le Clay. We are 36 miles north of London, between Bedford and Luton. Given all the recent torrential rain and flooding the route has been carefully chosen. Low lying areas around the River Ouse have been avoided at all costs. Instead we are in the vicinity of a chalk download on the edge of the Chiltern Hills. We set off in a clockwise direction with the Barton Hills Nature Reserve away to our right.We will be circling around to the hills as we progress through the walk. The sun is shining brightly behind the hills, making photography a bit hazy. Conditions underfoot are very boggy, hopefully this is as bad as it will get?

To our left is flat open countryside , the type I would have expected from Bedfordshire. We are heading towards the village of Hexton which is actually in Hertfordshire. Hexton stands in well-wooded and hilly country adjacent to the Bedfordshire border. We pass the Raven Public House and lovely Olde Worlde Village Hall that doubled up as a country store. Behind huge stone walls lies Hexton Manor standing in extensive parkland. There are some very nice houses all along this particular toad I must say. 

Giant Puffball

The white football in the hedgerow is actually a Puffball Funghi. They can can grow to 20-50 centimeters wide and 20-50 cm high.You can eat them but I'm not risking it. The taste is described as described their taste as rich, earthy, and nutty. I shall leave it exactly where it is and move on towards the hills.  

Barton Hills Nature Reserve

The first sight that greets us on the Barton Hills are the Dartmoor Ponies. Normally as regular readers might know I give any horse like creature a very wide berth. These though are very docile and gentle and show very little interest  in us.I have to say the scenery is absolutely stunning with glorious views across Bedfordshire and a bit of Hertfordshire. It is said that these hills were the inspiration for Bunyan's 'Delectable Mountains.

Dartmoor Ponies

Down in the valley a pair of Kestrels are hunting their prey. The walking is very easy and as hoped the ground is well drained.

 Somewhere in the plantation over to our right is the site of 'Ravensburgh Castle'. It is said to be the biggest Iron Age hill fort in South East England. It is now heavily wooded and on private land.

Excavations during the 1960s showed that it was built about 400 BC and refortified around 50 BC.

Leaving the hills behind we make our way back towards Barton Le Clay. We pass the Church of St Nicholas, a listed building built in the 13th Century. It has been quite a short walk today compared to many we do. 

The total distance covered is 7.5 miles of very pleasant and enjoyable walking.