promoted extended by riding the rectory wood horse trail...
TRANSCRIPT
Forest Centre to Cranfield
Let us keep you informedPromoted
Route
9
Partners:Forest Volunteers, Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedford Borough Council, The British Horse Society and Marston P3 Group
Approximate distance 10 miles, BUT can be extended by riding the Rectory Wood horse trail or sections of the Bourne End, Wootton extension (points B1 - B9).
The main route takes you from the Country Park in Marston Moretaine and over the by-pass to the ancient woodlands of Marston Thrift and Hulcot and then onto Cranfield via bridleways which offer superb views and many canter opportunities.
This route includes limited quiet road work and one quiet but fast road crossing. The extension includes about ½ mile of roadwork, on a road that can be busy but is subject to a 30 mph speed limit, plus a busy country road to cross. Please wear hi-viz.
All of these paths permit horse riding. If you have any problems using these paths please contact the Central Bedfordshire Rights of Way Department on 0300 300 8085 and The British Horse Society on [email protected]
Forest Centre Facilities The Forest Centre has ample parking, toilets and a café bar and the Green Man in Lidlington is horse friendly.
LetsGo for details of other walks or rides throughout Bedfordshire please visit www.letsgo.org.uk
For further information on all parts of the Forest of Marston Vale, our activities, and the facilities of the Forest Centre please visit:
www.marstonvale.org
This leaflet was delivered by the Forest of Marston Vale Volunteers with assistance from The Marston Vale Trust working in partnership with Central Bedfordshire District Council, Bedford Borough Council & The British Horse Society and was funded by Natural England through the Paths for Communities Project.
Receive news about the Forest including what’s on (either by post or email) by signing up via our website or by calling the Forest Centre.
The Forest CentreStation Road Marston Moreteyne Bedfordshire, MK43 0PR
T. 01234 767037E. [email protected]
Rectory WoodBrown Hares © B Mason
Imag
e Cr
edit:
PJB
Pho
togr
aphy
1
2
3
5
4
6
Arriving at the Country Park head for the grass overflow car park straight ahead at the entrance roundabout. Take the horse
Forest Centre to Cranfield with Optional Loop via Bourne End, Wootton
Maps This promoted route is not waymarked and the leaflet map is basic so purchasing an ordnance survey map is recommended whenever venturing into the countryside. Explorer Maps 193 & 208 cover this ride.
trail either by turning right after the horse trail at the end of the car park or by turning left at the bridleway (BW) gate by the roundabout (if you wish to be further away from the wind turbine). Follow this trail around to the Forest Centre access road.
Follow the access road to the main road and then turn right towards Marston Moretaine village. Cross Station Road
with care and follow the signed National Cycle Route 51 (NCR51) round to the left. Follow NCR51 signs to the new bridge over the new A421 dual carriageway.
Once over bridge turn left through metal bridle gate to a 2nd metal bridle gate. Follow the BW to the end of this field
and into the next field. Then immediately turn right on to BW with hedge on your right.
Continue until you come to T junction. Turn right and through/around the gate onto the road and then take a left turn
into Marston Thrift car park.
At the far end of the car park is the entrance to the BW. Follow this path for 500 yards to a T junction. At T junction
you have a choice: a) To follow the basic route, follow the BW to the left b) For a variant with a grassy surface, turn right and then turn left into Rectory Wood, follow the horse trail (signed with horseshoes) round to the left, until you reach a dropped horse ‘hop’ gate on your left where you rejoin the basic route. c) You could also ride the whole of the circuit of Rectory Wood (about a mile) and rejoin the route either at this point or at the hop gate. d) Or take the Green route extension by turning right and then right again opposite Rectory Wood on to the BW alongside Marston Thrift at B1.
If you turn left, follow the BW and NCR51 signs along the edge of the former Brogborough landfill site and then uphill towards Holcot Wood. This path is also part of the NCR 51 so you may encounter cyclists coming downhill at speed. After 1½ miles you will come to a metal bridle-gate ahead. Continue to follow NCR51 signs. Watch out for rabbit holes on this section of track.
On reaching a BW crossroads at top edge of Holcot Wood, take the grass path on your right alongside the wood. Fol-
low this path for ¾ mile through a gap in the hedge, along a wide field headland, through another gap in the hedge on your right and towards Wood End Farm.
You could return to the Visitor Centre by following the directions from the car park in point 8, but you will be missing the best part of the route!
7Take the weighted wooden bridle gate on the left of the farm gate onto Court Road and into Cranfield for approximately ¾ mile.
8Turn right into Rectory Lane and follow the BW along the road to the right towards and past Rec-
tory Farm to the corner of Marston Thrift to point 5/B1. You can take the optional
Bridleway to Marston Thrift
Forest Centre to Cranfield with Optional Loop via Bourne End, Wootton
Please take your litter home: litter and left over food spoils the countryside and can be dangerous to wildlife.
Notes
9On the other side of the A421 bridge take the BW ahead through two consecutive metal bridle gates. When you reach a BW
T junction, turn left onto this BW and follow until you rejoin Wood End Lane. After about 100 yards, as the road bears left,
10follow the BW ahead for 50 yards to the old A421. Take care crossing the road - this is a very fast section of road, though
usually not busy. Cross the road and follow BW through a small woodland and then onto Wo-burn Road and into Marston Moretaine. There is a wide verge along this road. When you reach the pelican crossing turn right and return to the Forest Centre by following the route past the church that you took on the way out. As you enter the driveway to the Forest Centre, you will find the horse trail 200 yards ahead. This will return you to the car park.
Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you expect to be back. In the case of an accident
a group of three is safest – allowing one to stay with the injured party while the other goes for help (mobile coverage is not certain!)
Remember your hi-viz gear whatever the season or weather as these routes include stretches of road, some of which are busy with blind bends.
Wind Turbine: please see the Marston Vale website for advice about introducing your horse to our wind turbine!
Keep to the marked rights of way and do not tres-pass onto private land. In Bedfordshire, bridleways are generally marked with a blue arrow and byways with a red one. Please avoid damaging crops and leave any gates as you find them.
Ride with courtesy: slow down to pass other users of the bridleways, especially walkers. Do not canter unless you can see that the route ahead is clear. On roads, please acknowledge and thank drivers who slow down for you.
Ride with attention: Be prepared for the normal hazards that may be expected when hacking such as traffic, farm machinery, dogs, bicycles, rabbit holes etc. Please look ahead and adjust your speed accordingly.
route by carrying on to the left turn at the cor-ner of Marston Thrift (5/B1). Continue on the BW to the Marston Thrift car park, turn left and follow the NCR51 signs along Wood End Lane to the A421 bridge at point 3. Or turn right out of car park and return to A421 bridge on the grassy BWs you used on the way out.
ExtensionApproximate distance from leaving the Blue route is 8 miles with option to shorten to 4½ miles making a combined distance of 18 or 14½ miles.
If you return to the Forest Centre on the Blue Route without doing the loop from B5 to B10 the total distance amounts to 13 or 9½ miles.
Largely on grassy bridleways, this route offers some lovely canter opportunities and super views of the Marston Vale.
Follow Route 9 topoint 5/B1. © David Stubbs
Fore
st C
entre
to C
ranf
ield
Map
s Th
is p
rom
oted
rout
e is
not
way
mar
ked
and
the
leafl
et
map
is b
asic
so
purc
hasi
ng a
n or
dnan
ce s
urve
y m
ap is
st
rong
ly re
com
men
ded
whe
neve
r ven
turin
g in
to th
e co
untr
ysid
e. E
xplo
rer M
aps
193
& 2
08 c
over
this
ride
.
C C C
C
Rout
e 9
Fore
st C
entr
e to
Cra
nfiel
d
Opt
iona
l Loo
p vi
a Bo
urne
, End
Woo
tton
Cast
leM
ill F
arm
Rive
r G
reat
Ous
eTh
e G
rang
eEs
tate Co
ple
Will
ingt
on
Bedf
ord
All
Rig
hts
Rese
rved
. O
S da
ta u
sed
unde
r lic
ense
no.
100
0420
98.
Prio
ry
Coun
try
Park
Fenl
ake
Mea
dow
s
!
N
!
P
Card
ingt
on R
oad
Bedf
ord
Road
(A6
03)
Gol
ding
ton
Road
Bark
ers L
ane
Meadow Lane
Elst
ow B
rook
Elstow Brook
Elsto
w Bro
ok
Barkers Lane
Prio
ry
Mar
ina
A421
to M
ilton
Key
nes
P
P
Will
ingt
onLo
ck
Dove
cote
Will
ingt
on
Dani
sh C
amp
Visi
tor
Cent
re
Cycl
eway
Rou
te 5
1 to
San
dy
St.
Law
renc
eCh
urch
Oct
agon
Farm
Station Road
Balls Lane
Church En
d
Chur
ch R
oad
A603
to
Sand
y
To G
reat
Bar
ford
To G
reat
Ba
A421
to
St. N
eots
/ Ca
mbr
idge
Prio
ryBu
sine
ss
Park
Sew
age
Wor
ks
© Barrie Mason
© Barrie Mason
© Forestry Commission
© Derek Jones
© Countryside Agency
© Lafarge
© Diccon Hall
Cycl
eway
Rou
te 5
1
to B
edfo
rd
Cast
le M
illLo
ck
Card
ingt
onLo
ck
Card
ingt
on
Cano
e Sl
alom
Cour
se
!
Wha
t’s
ther
e no
w
Brid
lew
ay
Cycl
eway
Prop
osed
Row
ing
Lake
Foot
path
Foot
path
&
Cyc
lew
ay
Woo
ded
area
s
Lake
s, p
onds
& w
ater
cou
rses
Qua
rry
area
Exis
ting
BRVP
site
s
Bus
Stop
Bird
Wat
chin
g
Caut
ion,
qua
rry
traf
fic
Park
ing
Toile
ts
Info
rmat
ion
boar
d
P
Farm
land
, qu
arry
&
gra
ssla
nd a
reas
Bird
Hid
e
Boat
Tri
ps
Built
up
area
sH
orse
acc
ess
Saili
ng
Pub
500m
01k
m
Cano
eing
Infr
astr
uctu
re
Bedf
ord
Rive
r Va
lley
Park
w
ill b
e po
ssib
le b
ecau
se o
f th
e la
rge
volu
mes
of
aggr
egat
e th
at
have
and
will
be
extr
acte
d
will
cre
ate
the
exci
ting
for
the
Park
.
Prio
ry C
ount
ry P
ark,
ow
ned
by B
edfo
rd B
orou
gh C
ounc
il, is
lin
ked
to t
he n
ew c
ycle
way
s of
the
G
rang
e Es
tate
by
Rout
e 51
. Pr
iory
of
fers
bea
utif
ul w
alki
ng a
nd c
ycle
ro
utes
as
wel
l as
bird
hid
es,
fish
ing,
ca
noei
ng a
nd s
ailin
g. T
here
is a
mpl
e fr
ee c
ar p
arki
ng a
nd t
oile
ts c
lose
to
the
vis
itor
cen
tre
off
Bark
ers
Lane
.
Coun
try
Park
Enjo
y Pr
iory
w d n
You
can
be a
pa
rt o
f th
e dr
eam
…Yo
u ca
n be
a
part
of
the
drea
m…
Visi
tw
ww
.bed
ford
rive
rval
leyp
ark.
org
The
wat
ersp
orts
lake
, gr
ante
d pl
anni
ng p
erm
issi
on
in 2
006,
cou
ld p
rovi
de e
xcit
ing
oppo
rtun
itie
s fo
r ca
noei
ng a
nd
tria
thlo
n as
wel
l as
row
ing.
In
add
itio
n to
pad
dle
spor
ts
the
park
will
be
larg
e en
ough
fo
r sh
ooti
ng a
nd p
ossi
bly
off
road
mot
or s
port
.
Mor
e th
an 2
40 h
ecta
res
(600
acr
es)
of f
lood
plai
n fo
rest
will
be
crea
ted
in
the
Park
, a
rare
and
val
uabl
e ha
bita
t fo
r w
ildlif
e. T
he P
ark
will
pro
vide
one
of
the
larg
est
area
s of
woo
dlan
d, m
arsh
, po
ols
and
chan
nels
in E
ngla
nd;
a ha
ven
away
fr
om d
istu
rban
ce b
y pe
ople
. O
tter
s, w
ater
vo
les,
cou
ntle
ss in
vert
ebra
te s
peci
es a
s w
ell a
s sp
ecia
list
wet
land
pla
nts
will
be
nefi
t. M
eado
ws,
hed
ges
and
of c
ours
e th
e ri
ver
all a
dd u
p to
a r
ecip
e to
att
ract
fan
tast
ic w
ildlif
e.
Imag
ine
a pl
ace
to p
lay
and
rela
x, t
o lo
se y
ours
elf
in
woo
dlan
ds,
wan
der
thro
ugh
mea
dow
s an
d ar
ound
lake
s...
From
Bed
ford
to
Will
ingt
on,
Bedf
ord
Rive
r Va
lley
Park
will
cov
er m
ore
than
3
½ s
quar
e m
iles.
Exc
elle
nt c
ycle
tra
ils
alre
ady
give
acc
ess
to t
he h
eart
of
wha
t w
ill b
ecom
e th
e Pa
rk;
the
firs
t st
ep o
f a
long
jou
rney
to
crea
te
som
ethi
ng t
ruly
gre
at f
or B
edfo
rd.
The
Gra
nge
Esta
te
was
bou
ght
by t
he M
arst
on V
ale
Trus
t in
200
6. N
ew t
rails
for
wal
kers
, cy
clis
ts a
nd h
orse
rid
ers
wer
e bu
ilt in
20
08 &
200
9 cr
eati
ng a
won
derf
ul 3
½
mile
loop
fro
m R
oute
51
to t
he n
orth
of
Will
ingt
on v
illag
e. T
he 1
20 h
ecta
re (
300
acre
) G
rang
e Es
tate
will
see
the
cre
atio
n of
the
Par
k’s
firs
t pi
eces
of
floo
dpla
in
fore
st.
Will
ingt
on h
as a
pub
, Po
st
Off
ice,
Dan
ish
Cam
p an
d th
e be
auti
ful m
edie
val
Dove
cote
.
Gra
nge
Esta
teEx
plor
e th
e
'The
re a
re a
lrea
dy g
reat
sur
face
d tr
ails
for
wal
king
and
cyc
ling;
the
fut
ure
prom
ises
muc
h m
ore.
Bed
ford
Bor
ough
Co
unci
l’s ‘
Bedf
ord
Gre
en W
heel
’ w
ill p
rom
ote
traf
fic-
free
cyc
ling
and
wal
king
rou
tes
wit
hin
and
arou
nd B
edfo
rd.
Ove
r su
ch a
vas
t ar
ea it
3 m
iles
from
Bed
ford
tow
n ce
ntre
. Th
ere
will
be
pea
ce a
nd q
uiet
; pl
aces
for
wat
chin
g w
ildlif
e an
d op
port
unit
ies
just
to
rela
x.
A be
ach
and
lake
sw
imm
ing,
live
mus
ic
and
a vi
sito
r ce
ntre
are
all
real
pos
sibi
litie
s.
recr
eati
onIn
form
al
Spor
t
A w
ildlif
e ha
ven
Bedf
ord
Rive
r Va
lley
Park
’s h
uge
size
off
ers
oppo
rtun
itie
s to
cre
ate
faci
litie
s fo
r a
wid
e ra
nge
of le
isur
e ac
tivi
ties
for
peo
ple
as w
ell a
s im
port
ant
wild
life
habi
tats
. M
uch
need
s to
be
done
bef
ore
this
dre
am b
ecom
es a
re
alit
y; y
our
supp
ort
is v
ital
. Vi
sit
ww
w.b
edfo
rdri
verv
alle
ypar
k.or
g to
fin
d ou
t m
ore
and
to s
ee h
ow
you
coul
d ge
t in
volv
ed.
supp
ort
is v
ital
The
Futu
re -
you
rSa
nd &
Gra
vel
will
be
poss
ible
to
expe
rien
ce ‘
coun
trys
ide’
, ju
st
from
the
are
a. O
nce
wor
king
s a
re c
ompl
ete
rest
orat
ion
new
land
scap
es n
eede
d
!
Oct
agon
Woo
d
Cast
leM
ill F
arm
Rive
r G
reat
Ous
eTh
e G
rang
eEs
tate Co
ple
Will
ingt
on
Bedf
ord
All
Rig
hts
Rese
rved
. O
S da
ta u
sed
unde
r lic
ense
no.
100
0420
98.
Prio
ry
Coun
try
Park
Fenl
ake
Mea
dow
s
!
N
!
P
Card
ingt
on R
oad
Bedf
ord
Road
(A6
03)
Gol
ding
ton
Road
Bark
ers
Lane
Meadow Lane
Elst
ow B
rook
Elstow Brook
Elsto
w Bro
ok
Barkers Lane
Prio
ry
Mar
ina
A421
to M
ilton
Key
nes
P
P
Will
ingt
onLo
ck
Dov
ecot
eW
illin
gton
Dan
ish
Cam
p Vi
sito
r Ce
ntre
Cycl
eway
Rou
te 5
1 to
San
dy
St.
Law
renc
eCh
urch
Oct
agon
Farm
Station Road
Balls Lane
Church En
d
Chur
ch R
oad
A603
to
Sand
y
To G
reat
Bar
ford
To G
reat
Ba
A4
21 to
St. N
eots
/ Ca
mbr
idge
Prio
ryBu
sine
ss
Park
Sew
age
Wor
ks
© Barrie Mason
© Barrie Mason
© Forestry Commission
© Derek Jones
© Countryside Agency
© Lafarge
© Diccon Hall
Cycl
eway
Rou
te 5
1
to B
edfo
rd
Cast
le M
illLo
ck
Card
ingt
onLo
ck
Card
ingt
on
Cano
e Sl
alom
Cour
se
!
Wha
t’s
ther
e no
w
Brid
lew
ay
Cycl
eway
Prop
osed
Row
ing
Lake
Foot
path
Foot
path
&
Cyc
lew
ay
Woo
ded
area
s
Lake
s, p
onds
& w
ater
cou
rses
Qua
rry
area
Exis
ting
BRV
P si
tes
Bus
Stop
Bird
Wat
chin
g
Caut
ion,
qua
rry
traf
fic
Park
ing
Toile
ts
Info
rmat
ion
boar
d
P
Farm
land
, qu
arry
&
gra
ssla
nd a
reas
Bird
Hid
e
Boat
Tri
ps
Built
up
area
sH
orse
acc
ess
Saili
ng
Pub
500m
01k
m
Cano
eing
Infr
astr
uctu
re
Bedf
ord
Rive
r Va
lley
Park
w
ill b
e po
ssib
le b
ecau
se o
f th
e la
rge
volu
mes
of
aggr
egat
e th
at
have
and
will
be
extr
acte
d
will
cre
ate
the
exci
ting
for
the
Park
.
Prio
ry C
ount
ry P
ark,
ow
ned
by B
edfo
rd B
orou
gh C
ounc
il, is
lin
ked
to t
he n
ew c
ycle
way
s of
the
G
rang
e Es
tate
by
Rout
e 51
. Pr
iory
of
fers
bea
utif
ul w
alki
ng a
nd c
ycle
ro
utes
as
wel
l as
bird
hid
es,
fish
ing,
ca
noei
ng a
nd s
ailin
g. T
here
is a
mpl
e fr
ee c
ar p
arki
ng a
nd t
oile
ts c
lose
to
the
vis
itor
cen
tre
off
Bark
ers
Lane
.
Coun
try
Park
Enjo
y Pr
iory
w d n
You
can
be a
pa
rt o
f th
e dr
eam
…Yo
u ca
n be
a
part
of
the
drea
m…
Visi
tw
ww
.bed
ford
rive
rval
leyp
ark.
org
The
wat
ersp
orts
lake
, gr
ante
d pl
anni
ng p
erm
issi
on
in 2
006,
cou
ld p
rovi
de e
xcit
ing
oppo
rtun
itie
s fo
r ca
noei
ng a
nd
tria
thlo
n as
wel
l as
row
ing.
In
add
itio
n to
pad
dle
spor
ts
the
park
will
be
larg
e en
ough
fo
r sh
ooti
ng a
nd p
ossi
bly
off
road
mot
or s
port
.
Mor
e th
an 2
40 h
ecta
res
(600
acr
es)
of f
lood
plai
n fo
rest
will
be
crea
ted
in
the
Park
, a
rare
and
val
uabl
e ha
bita
t fo
r w
ildlif
e. T
he P
ark
will
pro
vide
one
of
the
larg
est
area
s of
woo
dlan
d, m
arsh
, po
ols
and
chan
nels
in E
ngla
nd;
a ha
ven
away
fr
om d
istu
rban
ce b
y pe
ople
. O
tter
s, w
ater
vo
les,
cou
ntle
ss in
vert
ebra
te s
peci
es a
s w
ell a
s sp
ecia
list
wet
land
pla
nts
will
be
nefi
t. M
eado
ws,
hed
ges
and
of c
ours
e th
e ri
ver
all a
dd u
p to
a r
ecip
e to
att
ract
fan
tast
ic w
ildlif
e.
Imag
ine
a pl
ace
to p
lay
and
rela
x, t
o lo
se y
ours
elf
in
woo
dlan
ds,
wan
der
thro
ugh
mea
dow
s an
d ar
ound
lake
s...
From
Bed
ford
to
Will
ingt
on,
Bedf
ord
Rive
r Va
lley
Park
will
cov
er m
ore
than
3
½ s
quar
e m
iles.
Exc
elle
nt c
ycle
tra
ils
alre
ady
give
acc
ess
to t
he h
eart
of
wha
t w
ill b
ecom
e th
e Pa
rk;
the
firs
t st
ep o
f a
long
jou
rney
to
crea
te
som
ethi
ng t
ruly
gre
at f
or B
edfo
rd.
The
Gra
nge
Esta
te
was
bou
ght
by t
he M
arst
on V
ale
Trus
t in
200
6. N
ew t
rails
for
wal
kers
, cy
clis
ts a
nd h
orse
rid
ers
wer
e bu
ilt in
20
08 &
200
9 cr
eati
ng a
won
derf
ul 3
½
mile
loop
fro
m R
oute
51
to t
he n
orth
of
Will
ingt
on v
illag
e. T
he 1
20 h
ecta
re (
300
acre
) G
rang
e Es
tate
will
see
the
cre
atio
n of
the
Par
k’s
firs
t pi
eces
of
floo
dpla
in
fore
st.
Will
ingt
on h
as a
pub
, Po
st
Off
ice,
Dan
ish
Cam
p an
d th
e be
auti
ful m
edie
val
Dov
ecot
e.
Gra
nge
Esta
teEx
plor
e th
e
'The
re a
re a
lrea
dy g
reat
sur
face
d tr
ails
for
wal
king
and
cyc
ling;
the
fut
ure
prom
ises
muc
h m
ore.
Bed
ford
Bor
ough
Co
unci
l’s ‘
Bedf
ord
Gre
en W
heel
’ w
ill p
rom
ote
traf
fic-
free
cyc
ling
and
wal
king
rou
tes
wit
hin
and
arou
nd B
edfo
rd.
Ove
r su
ch a
vas
t ar
ea it
3 m
iles
from
Bed
ford
tow
n ce
ntre
. Th
ere
will
be
pea
ce a
nd q
uiet
; pl
aces
for
wat
chin
g w
ildlif
e an
d op
port
unit
ies
just
to
rela
x.
A be
ach
and
lake
sw
imm
ing,
live
mus
ic
and
a vi
sito
r ce
ntre
are
all
real
pos
sibi
litie
s.
recr
eati
onIn
form
al
Spor
t
A w
ildlif
e ha
ven
Bedf
ord
Rive
r Va
lley
Park
’s h
uge
size
off
ers
oppo
rtun
itie
s to
cre
ate
faci
litie
s fo
r a
wid
e ra
nge
of le
isur
e ac
tivi
ties
for
peo
ple
as w
ell a
s im
port
ant
wild
life
habi
tats
. M
uch
need
s to
be
done
bef
ore
this
dre
am b
ecom
es a
re
alit
y; y
our
supp
ort
is v
ital
. Vi
sit
ww
w.b
edfo
rdri
verv
alle
ypar
k.or
g to
fin
d ou
t m
ore
and
to s
ee h
ow
you
coul
d ge
t in
volv
ed.
supp
ort
is v
ital
The
Futu
re -
you
rSa
nd &
Gra
vel
will
be
poss
ible
to
expe
rien
ce ‘
coun
trys
ide’
, ju
st
from
the
are
a. O
nce
wor
king
s a
re c
ompl
ete
rest
orat
ion
new
land
scap
es n
eede
d
!
Oct
agon
Woo
d
Cast
leM
ill F
arm
Rive
r G
reat
Ous
eTh
e G
rang
eEs
tate Co
ple
Will
ingt
on
Bedf
ord
All
Rig
hts
Rese
rved
. O
S da
ta u
sed
unde
r lic
ense
no.
100
0420
98.
Prio
ry
Coun
try
Park
Fenl
ake
Mea
dow
s
!
N
!
P
Card
ingt
on R
oad
Bedf
ord
Road
(A6
03)
Gol
ding
ton
Road
Bark
ers
Lane
Meadow Lane
Elst
ow B
rook
Elstow Brook
Elsto
w Bro
ok
Barkers Lane
Prio
ry
Mar
ina
A421
to M
ilton
Key
nes
P
P
Will
ingt
onLo
ck
Dov
ecot
eW
illin
gton
Dan
ish
Cam
p Vi
sito
r Ce
ntre
Cycl
eway
Rou
te 5
1 to
San
dy
St.
Law
renc
eCh
urch
Oct
agon
Farm
Station Road
Balls Lane
Church En
d
Chur
ch R
oad
A603
to
Sand
y
To G
reat
Bar
ford
To G
reat
Ba
A4
21 to
St. N
eots
/ Ca
mbr
idge
Prio
ryBu
sine
ss
Park
Sew
age
Wor
ks
© Barrie Mason
© Barrie Mason
© Forestry Commission
© Derek Jones
© Countryside Agency
© Lafarge
© Diccon Hall
Cycl
eway
Rou
te 5
1
to B
edfo
rd
Cast
le M
illLo
ck
Card
ingt
onLo
ck
Card
ingt
on
Cano
e Sl
alom
Cour
se
!
Wha
t’s
ther
e no
w
Brid
lew
ay
Cycl
eway
Prop
osed
Row
ing
Lake
Foot
path
Foot
path
&
Cyc
lew
ay
Woo
ded
area
s
Lake
s, p
onds
& w
ater
cou
rses
Qua
rry
area
Exis
ting
BRV
P si
tes
Bus
Stop
Bird
Wat
chin
g
Caut
ion,
qua
rry
traf
fic
Park
ing
Toile
ts
Info
rmat
ion
boar
d
P
Farm
land
, qu
arry
&
gra
ssla
nd a
reas
Bird
Hid
e
Boat
Tri
ps
Built
up
area
sH
orse
acc
ess
Saili
ng
Pub
500m
01k
m
Cano
eing
Infr
astr
uctu
re
Bedf
ord
Rive
r Va
lley
Park
w
ill b
e po
ssib
le b
ecau
se o
f th
e la
rge
volu
mes
of
aggr
egat
e th
at
have
and
will
be
extr
acte
d
will
cre
ate
the
exci
ting
for
the
Park
.
Prio
ry C
ount
ry P
ark,
ow
ned
by B
edfo
rd B
orou
gh C
ounc
il, is
lin
ked
to t
he n
ew c
ycle
way
s of
the
G
rang
e Es
tate
by
Rout
e 51
. Pr
iory
of
fers
bea
utif
ul w
alki
ng a
nd c
ycle
ro
utes
as
wel
l as
bird
hid
es,
fish
ing,
ca
noei
ng a
nd s
ailin
g. T
here
is a
mpl
e fr
ee c
ar p
arki
ng a
nd t
oile
ts c
lose
to
the
vis
itor
cen
tre
off
Bark
ers
Lane
.
Coun
try
Park
Enjo
y Pr
iory
w d n
You
can
be a
pa
rt o
f th
e dr
eam
…Yo
u ca
n be
a
part
of
the
drea
m…
Visi
tw
ww
.bed
ford
rive
rval
leyp
ark.
org
The
wat
ersp
orts
lake
, gr
ante
d pl
anni
ng p
erm
issi
on
in 2
006,
cou
ld p
rovi
de e
xcit
ing
oppo
rtun
itie
s fo
r ca
noei
ng a
nd
tria
thlo
n as
wel
l as
row
ing.
In
add
itio
n to
pad
dle
spor
ts
the
park
will
be
larg
e en
ough
fo
r sh
ooti
ng a
nd p
ossi
bly
off
road
mot
or s
port
.
Mor
e th
an 2
40 h
ecta
res
(600
acr
es)
of f
lood
plai
n fo
rest
will
be
crea
ted
in
the
Park
, a
rare
and
val
uabl
e ha
bita
t fo
r w
ildlif
e. T
he P
ark
will
pro
vide
one
of
the
larg
est
area
s of
woo
dlan
d, m
arsh
, po
ols
and
chan
nels
in E
ngla
nd;
a ha
ven
away
fr
om d
istu
rban
ce b
y pe
ople
. O
tter
s, w
ater
vo
les,
cou
ntle
ss in
vert
ebra
te s
peci
es a
s w
ell a
s sp
ecia
list
wet
land
pla
nts
will
be
nefi
t. M
eado
ws,
hed
ges
and
of c
ours
e th
e ri
ver
all a
dd u
p to
a r
ecip
e to
att
ract
fan
tast
ic w
ildlif
e.
Imag
ine
a pl
ace
to p
lay
and
rela
x, t
o lo
se y
ours
elf
in
woo
dlan
ds,
wan
der
thro
ugh
mea
dow
s an
d ar
ound
lake
s...
From
Bed
ford
to
Will
ingt
on,
Bedf
ord
Rive
r Va
lley
Park
will
cov
er m
ore
than
3
½ s
quar
e m
iles.
Exc
elle
nt c
ycle
tra
ils
alre
ady
give
acc
ess
to t
he h
eart
of
wha
t w
ill b
ecom
e th
e Pa
rk;
the
firs
t st
ep o
f a
long
jou
rney
to
crea
te
som
ethi
ng t
ruly
gre
at f
or B
edfo
rd.
The
Gra
nge
Esta
te
was
bou
ght
by t
he M
arst
on V
ale
Trus
t in
200
6. N
ew t
rails
for
wal
kers
, cy
clis
ts a
nd h
orse
rid
ers
wer
e bu
ilt in
20
08 &
200
9 cr
eati
ng a
won
derf
ul 3
½
mile
loop
fro
m R
oute
51
to t
he n
orth
of
Will
ingt
on v
illag
e. T
he 1
20 h
ecta
re (
300
acre
) G
rang
e Es
tate
will
see
the
cre
atio
n of
the
Par
k’s
firs
t pi
eces
of
floo
dpla
in
fore
st.
Will
ingt
on h
as a
pub
, Po
st
Off
ice,
Dan
ish
Cam
p an
d th
e be
auti
ful m
edie
val
Dov
ecot
e.
Gra
nge
Esta
teEx
plor
e th
e
'The
re a
re a
lrea
dy g
reat
sur
face
d tr
ails
for
wal
king
and
cyc
ling;
the
fut
ure
prom
ises
muc
h m
ore.
Bed
ford
Bor
ough
Co
unci
l’s ‘
Bedf
ord
Gre
en W
heel
’ w
ill p
rom
ote
traf
fic-
free
cyc
ling
and
wal
king
rou
tes
wit
hin
and
arou
nd B
edfo
rd.
Ove
r su
ch a
vas
t ar
ea it
3 m
iles
from
Bed
ford
tow
n ce
ntre
. Th
ere
will
be
pea
ce a
nd q
uiet
; pl
aces
for
wat
chin
g w
ildlif
e an
d op
port
unit
ies
just
to
rela
x.
A be
ach
and
lake
sw
imm
ing,
live
mus
ic
and
a vi
sito
r ce
ntre
are
all
real
pos
sibi
litie
s.
recr
eati
onIn
form
al
Spor
t
A w
ildlif
e ha
ven
Bedf
ord
Rive
r Va
lley
Park
’s h
uge
size
off
ers
oppo
rtun
itie
s to
cre
ate
faci
litie
s fo
r a
wid
e ra
nge
of le
isur
e ac
tivi
ties
for
peo
ple
as w
ell a
s im
port
ant
wild
life
habi
tats
. M
uch
need
s to
be
done
bef
ore
this
dre
am b
ecom
es a
re
alit
y; y
our
supp
ort
is v
ital
. Vi
sit
ww
w.b
edfo
rdri
verv
alle
ypar
k.or
g to
fin
d ou
t m
ore
and
to s
ee h
ow
you
coul
d ge
t in
volv
ed.
supp
ort
is v
ital
The
Futu
re -
you
rSa
nd &
Gra
vel
will
be
poss
ible
to
expe
rien
ce ‘
coun
trys
ide’
, ju
st
from
the
are
a. O
nce
wor
king
s a
re c
ompl
ete
rest
orat
ion
new
land
scap
es n
eede
d
!
Oct
agon
Woo
d
Park
ing
Toile
ts
Pub
Shop
Geo
cach
ing
Trai
n st
atio
n
C C
C
1
5 &
B1
74
210
C C
C
6
8
3
9
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
B7
B8
B9
OS
Ope
nDat
a Cr
own
Copy
right
Optional Loop via Bourne, End Wootton
Part of the route makes use of a permissive route, which may be withdrawn at any time. If you arrive at point B8 and find the permissive route blocked, turn left and then right at the next junction, then turning right with very great care onto the BW at brow of hill to point B9. These roads may be busy. Please advise us if this problem should arise. This route has some quite steep sections and crosses a couple of arable fields which may be difficult when recently ploughed.
B1Turn right at this bridleway (BW) T junction following sign to Cranfield and then right again over a horse stile onto a
grassy BW, with Marston Thrift wood on your right. Continue along BW with wood on your right to finger post. At finger post, take the left hand bridleway up the grassy hill. Follow BW for 1 mile to a T junction. Turn right along Clay Way and up to the junction with Bedford Road. (This road can be busy but has a 30 mph limit).
B2Turn right on to Bedford Road and through the village to junction with Crane Way. Cross Crane Way and on to BW
straight ahead. Follow the sandy path to Partridge Piece and go through gate and into grass field.
B3At bridleway junction take right hand BW diagonally across the field and through gate in far corner. Continue around the
next field with hedge on your right to a third gate. At the BW junction after that gate, turn left.
B4Follow BW, ignoring the BWs that join from the left, for about 1½ miles, enjoying a lovely headland to canter on. About 150
yards after you ride through a little spinney, turn left through a gap in hedge. Take care this turning is easy to miss and is not well signed. Cross arable field towards Bourne End Farm (see the mobile phone mast).
B5At the far side of this field, follow the BW to the right along the headland, with farm on left, and follow the waymarks across
two arable fields. Do not go through the farm-yard unless you wish to ride to leave the route. At the end of the second field, turn sharp right and pass through a gate. Follow headland round to left (keeping the hedge on your left) and ride down the hill to the junction with another BW and footpath. There is hard track ahead of you (which leads to Top Farm).
B6Turn right here and ride along field edge to a BW T junction at edge of woods. Turn right and follow this BW with wood on
your left, bearing left at the end of that wood. Continue towards Roxhill Manor Farm.
B7Just past a large newish barn on left, turn right along BW to corner of field with BW junction, pass into next field ahead (do
not turn right) and then turn left with hedge on your left. Follow BW about ½ mile to road (Marston Hill).
B8Cross road with care, and follow permissive BW (see note below) on headland round to left of this field and
around next field. At the top of the hill, turn left and then right through gap in hedge after about 50 yards (opposite ménage) to BW. Please do not go down the driveway to the right – this could jeopardize the permissive path agreement and you will miss a nice canter opportunity.
B9After passing through the hedge, turn right and follow this BW along the top of the ridge. After about ½ mile, the BW becomes
quite narrow and poached with woodland on your left and a barbed wire fence on your right, before opening up to a steep downhill section. Continue straight on until you return to point B1 and rejoin the main route to point 9. You now have the choice to return to the Forest Centre from middle of point 8 of the main Route 9 or to continue around the main Route from point 5. You could also explore the Rectory Wood horse trail opposite before either of these options (a circuit is about a mile).