Flitwick Circular walk

Tranquil Flit River, wooded fringes of Flitwick Moor, quiet villages, the De Grey Mausoleum, Wrest House and Gardens, the Greensand Ridge (views), and the heart of Flitwick Moor.

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sun, 26-Feb-23 Sunday Walk - Adventures in Bedfordshire - Flitwick Moor, Wrest Park, the Greensand Ridge: Flitwick Circular (Long or Short Walk) 12 plenty of sunshine
Sat, 05-Mar-22 Flitwick Circular 4 overcast light winds
Wed, 02-Oct-19 Wednesday Walk - Flitwick Circular (short version) 11 sunny with a chill
Sat, 23-Mar-19 Saturday Walk: Flitwick Circular 3 sunshine all day
Sun, 11-Mar-18 Sunday Walk Footloose and Fancy Free in Flitwick 12 sunny
Wed, 14-Dec-16 a Wednesday Walk - Flitwick Moor, the Greensand Ridge & Rolling Fields: Flitwick Circular (short) 15 very mild and sunny
Sat, 19-Mar-16 Saturday Third Walk – A varied walk in an unfashionable county 17 overcast and mostly dry
Sun, 22-Mar-15 a Flitwick Circular, with shortcut
Sun, 22-Mar-15 Flitwick Circular 8
Wed, 30-Jul-14 Flitwick Circular 8
Length: 24.1 km (15.1 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 207m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ¼ hours
Toughness: 4 out of 10

OR
Length: 17.3 km (10.7 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 87m
Net Walking Time: ca. 3 ¾ hours
Toughness: 1 out of 10
Take the Thameslink train from Three Bridges to Bedford, calling London Bridge 09.19, (Blackfriars and Farringdon), St. Pancras 09.35, West Hampstead Thameslink 09.43, arriving Flitwick 10.28.
Return trains: xx.15, xx.29, xx.45 and xx.59
This Central Bedfordshire walk just north of the easterly end of the Chilterns initially follows the tranquil Flit River along the shady wooded fringes of Flitwick Moor, one of the most important wetland sites in the south east of England, and then veers away from the river through a couple of quiet villages, en route passing the Grade I-listed De Grey Mausoleum in Flitton and the also Grade I-listed Wrest House and Gardens in Silsoe. This is followed by a longer stretch through rolling fields with views to the Greensand Ridge. After crossing the Flit near Clophill the walk leads up the Greensand Ridge, descending for lunch back into Clophill.

After lunch it’s back on to the ridge for a long stretch through and along Maulden Wood, at times with far views south to the Chiltern Hills. The highlight of the return route from Maulden to Flitwick is the passage through Flitton and Flitwick Moors, including a stretch along a narrow path through the very heart of Flitwick Moor.

Walk Options:
Shortcut, as above.
Lunch: The Stone Jug (14.6 km/9.0 mi, food served to 14.30) or The Flying Horse (15.2 km/9.5 mi, food all day) in Clophill [or 7.8 km/7.2 km respectively into the walk on the short walk].
Tea: Various options in Maulden (6 km from the end of the walk) and in Flitwick. For details see page 2 of the Walk Directions pdf.
For walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.231
  • 26-Feb-23

    10 off the train, with a further 2 already waiting outside the station, i.e.: 12 .

    No mud, plenty of sunshine , fine far views, gentle but interesting landscape, lowly but sufficient water levels in the Flit River, plenty of fine old buildings to look at, a gem of a village pub, fine company: that kind of sums it up.

    There was a shoot going on in the fields between Flitwick and its Moor, and we saw a whole copse's floor covered in snowdrops (by Cainhoe Manor), some turkeys in an allotment (just south of Maulden) and a few muntjac (in the final wood just before Flitwick).

    In Wardhedges, the group split 7 to 5 into short walk and long walk, with the short walkers eating at The Flying Horse, then migrating up to The Stone Jug (the much better beer pub but with only sausage rolls as food options), leaving 2 of their lot there and moving on. Us long walkers split into 3 joining the drinkers at The Stone Jug and 2 walking down to The Horse for nourishment. The Jug was very busy despite not serving food, with everyone but us clearly being regulars. Looks like the local car drivers go to the Horse, as it's on an A road junction, while the village folk (and some walkers) frequent The Jug. And what a nice traditional pub it is!

    The 3 of us then picked up the Horse folk, while the 2 drinkers continued along the Main Walk route, but 1 of the Horse folk then decided he had had well enough ascent for the day and rather walked back the shortcut route to then retrace the outbound route for an early bath. 4 thus marched on, back along the rest of the short route onto the long route, eventually catching the 2 drinkers at Maulden Church.

    On through Flitton and Flitwick Moors, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed, and 5 of us then spend half an hour in The Crown for drinks, while 1 went for the next train. Farewell Drinks to a lovely day out.

Sat, 05-Mar-22 : Flitwick Circular 4
DAC
DAC
SWC Walk 231 – Flitwick Circular
Length: 24.4km (15.2 miles)
Toughness 4 out of 10
A shorter pre-lunch shortcut option cuts 7.1 km (4.4 mi)
Catch the 9:36 train from London St. Pancras to Flitwick , arrives 10:39. Frequent return trains.
Two lunch pub options The Stone Jug and The Flying Horse* at Claphill.
*Will be closing from 7th March for one month for a makeover. T=swc.231
  • 28-Feb-22

    Intend going.

  • 06-Mar-22

    4 of us on this enjoyable day out - overcast light winds . One chose the short walk option; 3 of us lunched at The Flying Horse.

Flitwick Circular (short version)
T=swc.231

Length: 17.3 km (10.8 mi) 2 out of 10 (for a longer walk 24.4km, see trains below)

"This walk just north of the easterly end of the Chilterns follows the Flit River along the shady wooded fringes of Flitwick Moor, one of the most important wetland sites in the south east of England, and then through a couple of quiet villages, passing the Grade I-listed De Grey Mausoleum in Flitton. After lunch in Clophill it’s up on to the Greensand Ridge for a long stretch through and along Maulden Wood, with far views south to the Chiltern Hills. The highlight of the return route is the passage through Flitton and Flitwick Moors."

Trains: Get the 1005 Bedford train from London Bridge (St Pancras 1020) arriving Flitwick 1109. This is a Thameslink train from Brighton, so there are many joining points. Frequent return trains. To do the full walk, get the 0905 & hope to meet the group in Clophill.

Lunch: In Clophill, either at the The Flying Horse or The Stone Jug (a little off-route, at 7.8 km/4.8 mi).

Tea: Amongst others, The Swan next to the station




  • 02-Oct-19

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  • 02-Oct-19

    Most Thameslink services this morning have been cancelled due to damage to overhead lines in central London, but the 10:03 from East Croydon is scheduled to run, calling at London Bridge (10:21), Blackfriars (10:27) and St Pancras (10:36), arriving at Flitwick at 11:24.

  • 03-Oct-19

    An army of gremlins had been at work overnight on the Thameslink route, causing problems with the overhead elec wires on the Central London section, so most trains in the morning rush were cancelled, incl. the posted SWC train. 9 walkers disembarked from the first on-time departure after that, just 15 mins after the poster's intended train, though.

    This incl. 2 first-timers, frequent London-visitors from the US of A, who had previously ventured on our walks just by themselves with book in hand.

    Despite a leisurely Wednesday pace, the group split into parts and all walked the short version, as posted. We got to The Flying Horse around 1 o'clock, I think, where we met 2 others (incl. the walk poster) who had caught an earlier, much delayed train from St. Pancras. It was the first day of the autumn menu at the Horse, so service was a bit slow but it did nae matter, as the converted-barn-look main room is a very pleasant place to wait for your food.

    On up through woods to the Greensand Ridge, with fine views to the plain and beyond to the Chilterns. Some interesting buildings, lots of thatched cottages and Flitton and Flitwick Moors kept up the interest. I had - somewhat pessimistically - put on gaiters after the last few days' of heavy rain, but the forgiving (i.e. quick draining) Bedfordshire soil meant they looked 'as new' at the end of the walk. Even the couple of arable field crossings were non-events...

    Back in Flitwick in time for the 16.29.

    11 sunny with a chill

HollieB
HollieB
15.2 miles / 24.4 km

A varied walk in mid Beds, taking in quiet villages, woodlands and fields. Highlights include the De Grey Mausoleum, grand Wrest Park at Silsoe, and the mysterious Flitwick Moor (where the streams are orange...).

Trains: 9:35 London Bridge, 9:42 Blackfriars, 9:51 St Pancras. Arrival time at Flitwick is 10:39. Return trains at xx:00/xx:30.

Lunch: There are 3 places to chose from in Clophill: the recommended pub and the first one you will come to is The Stone Jug (01525 860 526) food served 12-2pm, The alternatives are The Flying Horse (01525 860 293) food served all day, The Green Man Italian Restaurant (01525 860 352).

Click here for full details and walk directions
T=swc.231
  • Anonymous
    18-Mar-19

    This looks interesting. I may do the pre-lunch shortcut, which cuts 7.1 km (4.4 mi) and 120m of ascent/descent and has a rating of 3/10.

  • 24-Mar-19

    3 on this walk. sunshine all day . A very pleasant walk in Bedfordshire. Lovely quiet villages and old churches and definitely a different feel to the walk as compared to the usual counties we walk in. I thought Wrest House (a stately home) was particularly attractive however I was horrified to see modern (100% functional 0% beauty) buildings had been erected all along one side of the beautiful house. I mentioned this to a fellow walker who thought I was being a bit precious/snobby. I doubted myself for a second or two until I saw yet another hideous building called Capability Brown House. Capability has designed numerous beautiful and elegant gardens all over England and I am thus sure would be turning in his grave if he new such a building had been named after him. Anyway, walker number two raced on to try and make it for lunch at the pub and I was left with the philistine! All in all though, the general variety of the walk made it a great day out. The philistine and I never did see the third walker again.

  • Anonymous
    24-Mar-19

    You can't leave us in limbo Brightspark - we demand to know who the philstine is

  • Anonymous
    24-Mar-19

    Is this what you were referring to ?

    Picture 53 seems to just about show the offending new construction over to the left

    https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-venues/wrest-park-house-gardens_4875.htm

    and this is Capabilities effort that I notice is vacant - no surprise there?

    https://www.vacantunits.com/listings/capabilityhouse_wrestpark/

Stargazer
Stargazer
SWC 231 – Flitwick Circular T=SWC.231

Distance: 15.2 Miles or 24.4 km for those more metrically minded (or a shorter option of 10.8 miles/17.3 km)

Difficulty: 5 out of 10

Train: Take the 9:49 AM Bedford bound Thameslink service from London St. Pancras, arriving at Flitwick at 10:42. Return trains from Flitwick are at 26 and 56 past the hour until 18:56; then, 19:29; 20:00; 20:30 and 21:08. Buy a day return to Flitwick. For those looking for a more relaxed start to the day, you could take a train an hour later and take the pre-lunch short cut which should have you arriving at the lunch village about the same time.

This is a varied walk through Bedfordshire, just north of the eastern edge of the Chilterns. Initially, it follows the Flit river along the edges of Flitwick moor before passing by some interesting Grade I listed buildings (De Grey Mausoleum and Wrest House). Eventually, it follows the Greensand Ridge and crosses Flitwick moor en route back to Flitwick. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

There are three suggested lunch venues in Clophill (9.5 miles/15.2 km into the walk)—the Flying Horse (01525 860 293), the Stone Jug (01525 860 526) and the Green Man Italian Restaurant (01525 860 352). Please do call ahead with numbers….

Tea and post walk refreshments can be had at the Crown or the Swan back in Flitwick.

Enjoy the walk!
  • Anonymous
    09-Mar-18

    Planning to do the main walk. Anyone else?

  • Anonymous
    10-Mar-18

    Me too

  • Anonymous
    13-Mar-18

    12 , sunny spells followed by cloud and intermittent drizzle. Two stopped at the mausoleum and never rejoined the group, six diverged after an hour onto the short cut leaving four hardier types to do the main walk. An interesting and varied walk with plenty of sights and fauna to enjoy although a bit too much mud. On arriving in Clophill we found the Stone Jug doesn't do food on Sundays, while the Flying Horse and Green Man were both fully booked out for Mothers Day and the corner shop was shut. We soldiered on bravely to the George in Malden, taking an unintentional detour on the way and three stayed for a very late lunch, while one pressed on to get an earlier train, and just two stayed on for the final pub stop back in Flitwick.

  • 14-Mar-18

    Just to supplement the above report, the main walk certainly includes a number of interesting features -- including the remains of a Norman castle and a very atmospheric church that we spent some time exploring. In terms of fauna, the highlights were also very varied....including some very young lambs, two male turkeys with full tail plumage and a muntjac deer on the outskirts of Flitwick.

This walk, originally planned for Dec 28, has been swapped with the original Dec 14 posting due to strike action.

SWC Walk 231a –Flitwick Circular (short walk)
Length: 17.3 km (10.8 mi) (longer walk possible, see below)
Ascent/Descent: 141 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours
Toughness: 2 out of 10
Take the 10.04 Bedford train from St. Pancras I’nal (lower level platforms) [West Hampstead Thameslink 10.11], arrives Flitwick 10.53. The train also calls at all the usual Thameslink stations from East Croydon (09.25) via Blackfriars (09.54) to Farringdon (09.59).
Return trains: up to 5 an hour (from 43 minutes journey time to St. Pancras).

For the full 24.4 km walk take the train an hour earlier, and meet the group at the lunch pub in Clophill, a rtn ticket for that train is £18,60, railcards don't apply.

This Central Bedfordshire walk just north of the easterly end of the Chilterns initially follows the tranquil Flit River along the shady wooded fringes of Flitwick Moor, one of the most important wetland sites in the south east of England, and then veers away from the river through a couple of quiet villages, en route passing the Grade I-listed De Grey Mausoleum in Flitton. This is followed by a stretch through rolling fields with views to the Greensand Ridge.
After lunch in Clophill it’s up on to the Greensand Ridge for a long stretch through and along Maulden Wood, at times with far views south to the Chiltern Hills. The highlight of the return route from Maulden to Flitwick is the passage through Flitton and Flitwick Moors, including a stretch along a narrow path through the very heart of Flitwick Moor.
Lunch is in Clophill, either at the The Flying Horse or the Green Man Italian Restaurant (both 7.2 km/4.5 mi) or at The Stone Jug (a little off-route, at 7.8 km/4.8 mi). For tea en-route (or late lunch) there is The White Hart in Maulden (12.3 km/7.7 mi, food to 14.30). For tea in Flitwick The Crown is recommended (700m from the station, but possibly closed for the afternoon when we get there), as is The Lounge Coffee Shop, just beyond the station (open to 17.30).
For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.
Next Week: SWC 5 Wadhurst Circular (via Bewl Water) 16.8 km 5/10 (longer version possible)
T=swc.231.a

  • 13-Dec-16

    aiming for the 9.00 train (arrives 9.42) to walk the full walk

  • Anonymous
    13-Dec-16

    Thinking of doing the full walk.

  • 14-Dec-16

    Planning to catch the 10-04 hrs train.

  • 15-Dec-16

    14 alighted from the posted train, to set out on the short version of today's walk, with the walk author one hour ahead doing the 15 mile "Full Monty" version, so that made 15 , including one first timer.

    Weather very mild and sunny with no rain. Some muddy paths beside the River Flit in the morning but nothing too bad, although in deep winter making progress in muddier conditions will be hard work. Our regular Wednesday walker and boatswain took us off piste later in the morning (too much chat and not enough concentration on the directions !!) but after some road walking we were soon back on route, across fields, and over the A6 road, into the village of Clophill and the Flying Horse pub, where the walk author was patiently

    waiting for us short walkers to join him for luncheon. Just 3 of us partook of the fare on offer, served by friendly staff (although drinks took a while to arrive). Most of our sandwich eaters headed off before the diners were ready, although 2 did stay back, so 5 of us set out together on the afternoon leg, still in mild and sunny conditions. The section on the Greensand Ridge through Maulden Wood, with trees now bare but with a thick floor covering of colourful leaves, was particularly nice, followed by two nature reserves and the re-appearance of the River Flit, before a final stretch over Flitwick Moor as the sun was setting. Tea or a pint for some in the Swan pub, next to the railway station, before we kept our appointment with the 17-00 hrs train back to London.

    A walk of pleasant variety in mild and sunny conditions, lovely nature reserves, a good water feature, and the usual excellent mid-week company, made it not too bad a day.

Extra Walk 231 – Flitwick Circular
Length: 24.4 km (15.2 miles), with shorter option (see below). Toughness: 5/10

09:34 Bedford train from St Pancras (or City Thameslink 09:27), arriving Flitwick at 10:23.

Short Walk / Late Start Option: 17.8 km (10.7 miles), 3/10. This has a much shorter morning so take the 10:48 Bedford train from St Pancras (or East Croydon 10:08, Blackfriars 10:38, etc), arriving Flitwick at 11:37.

Trains back are at 04, 20, 34 & 50 minutes past the hour to 19:20, then half-hourly. Before 19:00 the 20 & 50 past terminate at City Thameslink.

A flurry of new Bedfordshire walks made their débuts in 2014 but haven't had many SWC outings since. In fact this one hasn't even been posted on a Saturday yet, so here's your chance to see if it's been unjustly neglected. It looks like a nice mix of river valley, rolling fields and quiet villages on the way out (plus several interesting buildings), and the Greensand Ridge, Maulden Wood and Flitwick Moor on the way back.

To fit all this in the main walk is well up to its author's preferred length, but he's slipped up by inserting a substantial short cut in the first half of the walk. I've chosen a late train for this option with the idea that the late starters will seek out the preferred lunch pub on the main walk (the Stone Jug in Clophill, “popular with ramblers and dog-walkers”) and meet up with the main group. Food is only served to 2pm but both groups should be there by 1.30pm. At the end of the walk you might be too late for Flitwick's coffee shops but there are a couple of pubs near the station, one described as “the perfect place for a last drink before heading home”.

You'll need to print the directions from this pdf document. T=swc.231
  • Anonymous
    18-Mar-16

    Sounds very promising. Thanks for putting this on.

  • 18-Mar-16

    Going.

  • 19-Mar-16

    17 overcast and mostly dry

    7 walkers off the posted train for the full walk, one more descending the stairs to the platform to declare that there had been two other walkers off an earlier train, making it ten, and later 1 other overtaking the backmarkers, having missed the train through it departing from the Southbound platform at City Thameslink. The 2 early walkers were of the 'follow a line on a screen'-variety (one of them anyway), and took the wrong turn where the out- and back-route intersect, resulting in them walking the majority of the walk in reverse, to much hilarity (they will claim that it opens up Wrest Park as a tea venue, but that's just an attempt to camouflage their error, don't be deceived).

    At the lunch pub we met 5 short walkers, incl. the walk poster, meaning we had both SWC-'ghost walkers' on this walk: the one that often disappears w/o trace after lunch, and the one that often appears w/o former trace at lunch.

    Then there was the one sandwiching long walker that popped in to the pub to proclaim that 'Christine' had arrived and they would now move on independently. So if 'Christine' is a real person, that makes it 17. Else 16.

    As for the walk: some early drizzle was barely perceptible but real. Overcast for the rest of the day. Sun? None. Mud? None.

    The morning part admittedly has some indifferent parts (most of which are better in spring and summer) and plenty of tarmac (which is why it's the morning part, and not the afternoon), but everyone seemed in good spirit at lunch, which was cheap but tasty in a friendly family-run pub, The Stone Jug.

    The afternoon part is more interesting, first along and through Maulden Wood, with some Chiltern Views and then through Flitwick Moor, which seemed to entrance everyone, incl. the SWC resident fungi-expert, who gave us backmarkers some interesting insights into what we could see pathside.

    One more drink at The Crown. 18.20 train for the slowcoaches, 16.04 for the fastest ones, so I hear...

  • The Lady who took the right turn
    19-Mar-16

    Indeed the early birds caught tea and brownies and cut off, illegally I admit but then why change my lifelong habits, a boring triangle just before the glorious Wrest Park which was sadly closed due to a wedding. The hall and reception rooms are well worth visiting but the most splendid part is the glorious landscaped garden: full of sculpture and 'fake ruins', a deep bath etc. think Rome and you are almost there. And of course, don't ever forget the Cafe loaded with scrumptious cakes inclusive gluten free, which those who erroneously claim to have taken the right turn/route completely missed.

    Remember, fellow walkers, there is no such thing in the SWC, or in life, as a right or a wrong route: as long as you are in the right company, have plenty to banter about, lovely vistas, loads of fresh air, no mud or rain IT IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO. I for one had a splendid day.

  • Culture vulture with gps
    21-Mar-16

    I felt pleasantly surprised when I opened the travel supplement of The Guardian last Saturday which featured a large photo of one of the follies in the garden (to illustrate their offer of free English Heritage subscription if you join the Guardian). So one option would be to reverse the route, going clockwise instead, make it shorter by doing part of the shortcut and then going south-east via Silsoe to WP. You would need at least 1 to 1.5 hour to visit the 90 acres of wonderful gardens and house properly ( house 30 min is plenty and if not EH member expensive). Just an idea for the landscaped garden and follies lovers amongst the walkers.

    Look at english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wrest-park

    I also noted that the Sunday walkers at Tonbridge were rescued by following a line on a handheld device. It's great if you have some walks stored up on the gps failing which you will have a map showing the paths provided you have the OS map on it. An old fashioned map also does wonders in case of cancelled trains, provided it covers the area of your station. Walking instructions on their own become suddenly quite worthless.

    GPs: You can walk anytime, anywhere. What more could I desire!

  • 21-Mar-16

    Taking a "wrong" turn on a SWC walk is not a mistake; its an adventure. (The philosophy of Nicholas Albery, our founder.)

  • 21-Mar-16

    right turn, wrong turn and N. Albery apart...

    I'm not a big buyer of routing walks specifically to lead past stately homes, sculpture parks, NT/English Heritage properties etc. to enable visits, unless the best route leads past them anyway, for the simple reason that - in my experience - only a very few walkers are actually interested, unless there's a decent cafe involved and it's close to the finish (which WP wouldn't be): the only walk I can think of where more than a handful of people turned up and paid up (rather than walk past) was the first two times we posted a walk past the Henry Moore Sculpture Park... But correct me if I'm wrong.

    So - in this case - as the pub comes much too early if walked clockwise, and as the shortcut taken by the 2 on Saturday is actually a Private track, not a footpath, the walk will stay as is.

    Generally though, there's nothing stopping any of you from asking in the appropriate place (the 'Walk Requests' section of This Weeks' Walks) for a special routing of a walk to be posted as a garden/stately home/sculpture park/birdwatching/airshow/nostalgia train/folk festival/morris dancing etc. pp. outing, part map led or otherwise.

    I'm sure you'll find a walk poster happy to post it if there is deemed to be sufficient interest (me, for one).

  • The Lady who took the right turn
    22-Mar-16

    What a relief to be in the good company of the great Nicholas. I am a great protagonist of adventures; life would be very dull without them and I am lucky enough to go on another one tomorrow, walking and camping in the desert.