New Year wanderings

So the New Year has arrived and this is my first post. Without real hills on the doorstep we had to make do with a walk that didn't involve a 5 hour car drive! So armed with Toby a keen outdoors dog we started out walk at Ampthill Great Park. The weather today was pretty good, clear skies and bright and not much of a chill in the air. Ampthill is situated in central Bedfordshire and is a very historic town with lots of interesting Georgian fronted buildings. The Great Park is the remnants of an old mediaeval deer park that was later landscaped by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. Of interest is the Gothic Cross on the Greensand ridge which runs through the parkland. This was erected to commemorate Katherine of Aragon who was banished to the adjacent Ampthill Castle (sadly nothing remains above ground) while her marriage to Henry VIII was being annulled at Dunstable Priory a few miles down the road.

Katherine's Cross (Edwardian postcard)

Once out of the Park we crossed over the railway tunnel that takes trains from London to Bedford, Sheffield & Nottingham. There are two tunnels here and the second was constructed from the inside out as there had been too many casualties in the first tunnel due to collapses. As a result there was large air vents rising out of the tunnel roof, but sadly an ugly metal fence has been erected to stop people wandering along the wooded tunnel top.

Soon we were heading for Millbrook with its historic church. On the way we could see the historic Cardington Airship hangers  where the fateful R101 flew from and the less historic domed indoor ski centre at the Escape in Milton Keynes. Once out of the village we were passing around the periphery of the Millbrook Proving Ground where new cars are put through their paces and the BBC's Top Gear team demonstrate their 'skills' on a regular basis. The woodland walk provides the occasional view of the different tracks and  provides a pleasant slippery surface as the clay and degrading leaves combine.

After this we emerged into Lidlington through the old church yard and up the hill, passing The Green Man on the way.  The final section of the walk took us to Warren Wood, which is in the process of being turned into the latest Center Parcs holiday complex. The old paths through the wood have been closed and a new circular bridleway around the the edge of the wood created. We took the north side which hemmed us in between raised earth banks and the roar of the A507 traffic. It was pleasant enough but not as tranquil as the forest tracks of old. The ugly metal security fencing with accompanying threatening messages to keep non-paying guests out added to the disappointment on this section.

Finally emerging on the A507 we headed back into Ampthill and its pleasant surroundings at the end of our three hour stroll around this part of 'hilly' Bedfordshire. OK not that hilly really, but there are some steep bits to negotiate in places (well by southern standards anyway).

The rest of the month is looking promising, transport permitting she see some good walks in the Peak district, Lake District and finally in Snowdonia. Well that's the current plan for January and an opportunity to burn off the Christus Pudding and cake! Oh and I must remember to take the camera next time.