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.

Iron-Rich Stream, Flitwick Moor SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular
Iron-Rich Stream, Flitwick Moor

SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular

Mar-16 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Greensand Ridge from Wardhedges SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular
Greensand Ridge from Wardhedges

SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular

Mar-16 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Wrest House and Garden Wall SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular
Wrest House and Garden Wall

SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular

Mar-16 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Old St. Mary's Church, Clophill SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular
Old St. Mary's Church, Clophill

SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular

Mar-16 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Ailesbury Mausoleum & Crypt, Maulden SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular
Ailesbury Mausoleum & Crypt, Maulden

SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular

Mar-16 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Flitwick Moor SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular
Flitwick Moor

SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular

Mar-16 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Flitwick Mill House SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular
Flitwick Mill House

SWC Walk 231 Flitwick Circular

Mar-16 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Length 25.0 km (15.5 mi), with 194m ascent/descent. For a shorter walk see below Walk Options.
Toughness 4 out of 10, with 5 ½ hours walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 8 hours.
Walk Notes

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.

A much shorter walk option, with less ascent as well, and rated 1 out of 10, is described.
A very short out-and-back to the De Grey Mausoleum and Wrest Park is also possible, pubs in Silsoe and Flitton – or the Café in Wrest Park – would provide nourishment (12.3 km/7.7 mi).

Walk Options

A pre-lunch shortcut cuts 7.2 km (4.4 mi) and 120m of ascent/descent and has a rating of 1/10.
More than a handful of bus lines connect Clophill to either Flitwick, Bedford or Luton Stations.
Bus Lines 200 and FL1, 4, 5 and 10 connect Flitton (3.2 km into the walk) and Maulden (6.1 km from the end) to Flitwick (Mon-Sat).

Maps OS Explorer: 193 (Luton & Stevenage)
OS Landranger: 153 (Bedford & Huntingdon)
Travel Flitwick station, map reference TL 034 349, is 15 km north of Luton, 79m above sea level and in Central Bedfordshire. It is on the Brighton to Bedford-Thameslink line, stopping at East Croydon, London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, St. Pancras International and West Hampstead Thameslink. Journey times from St. Pancras to Flitwick (four trains per hour) are from 46 minutes Mon-Sat and from 50 minutes Sundays.

Saturday Walkers’ Club: Take the train closest to 9.30 hours (assuming travel from St. Pancras).

Lunch

Early options in Flitton and Silsoe. For details see page 2 of the Walk Directions pdf.
The Stone Jug 10 Back Street, Clophill, Bedfordshire, MK45 4BY (01525 860 526). The Stone Jug is located 14.6 km (9.0 mi) into the main walk and 7.8 km into the short walk. It is a 16th century building which became a public house in the early 1900's. Repeatedly voted North Bedfordshire Pub of the Year by CAMRA.
The Flying Horse 2 The Green, Clophill, Bedfordshire, MK45 4AD (01525 860 293). The Flying Horse is located 15.2 km (9.5 mi) into the full walk and 7.2 km into 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.

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By Train

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Back (not a train station)

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Start MK45 1AJ Map Directions

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National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Version

Feb-23 Thomas G

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Walk Directions

Full directions for this walk are in a PDF file (link above) which you can print, or download on to a Kindle, tablet, or smartphone.

This is just the introduction. This walk's detailed directions are in a PDF available from wwww.walkingclub.org.uk