Harlington to Flitwick walk

Sundon Hills, the Sharpenhoe Clappers, a Neolithic hill fort, hill top lunch pub in Pulloxhill, and Flitwick ancient woodland.

Valley in Sundon Hills SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick
Valley in Sundon Hills

SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick

Sep-15 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Sharpenhoe Hillfort Site from Sundon Hills (I) SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick
Sharpenhoe Hillfort Site from Sundon Hills (I)

SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick

Sep-15 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Path in Wood on Moleskin Hill (III) SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick
Path in Wood on Moleskin Hill (III)

SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick

Sep-15 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

walkicon swcwalks swcwalk230 21626673119

Sharpenhoe Clappers: the path to the Hillfort Site SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick
Sharpenhoe Clappers: the path to the Hillfort Site

SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick

Sep-15 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

walkicon swcwalks swcwalk230 21787355586

Towards Portobello Farm SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick
Towards Portobello Farm

SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick

Sep-15 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

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Sundon Rubbish Dump SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick
Sundon Rubbish Dump

SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick

Sep-15 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

swcwalks swcwalk230 21787602616

Sharpenhoe Clappers from Harlington SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick
Sharpenhoe Clappers from Harlington

SWC Walk 230 Harlington to Flitwick

Sep-15 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

swcwalks swcwalk230 21626846739

Length 24.5 km (15.2 mi), with 366/379m ascent/descent. For a shorter walk see below Walk Options.
Toughness 5 out of 10, with 5 hours 30 minutes walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 8 ¼ hours.
Walk Notes The central attraction of this North Chiltern walk in Central Bedfordshire are the Sundon Hills, steep rolling downlands affording fantastic views over the surrounding plain, out north to the Greensand Ridge, and east to the classic steep chalk escarpment of Sharpenhoe Clappers, which is passed through as well. At Sharpenhoe one of the largest Neolithic hill fort sites in the South East is walked through, with good views east to Barton Hills, followed by a steep descent into the plain below. Further fine views of Pegsdon Hills further east along the Chilterns follow from the route through rolling grassy fields to the quiet hill top lunch destination of Pulloxhill. The afternoon route is less energetic, but not without interest, and leads through the gently rolling plain to the finish through ancient Flitwick Wood into the centre of Flitwick.
Walk Options Two Shortcuts are possible, the one pre-lunch cuts 3.1 km and 58m of ascent/descent, the one post-lunch cuts 2.2 km and 25m of ascent/descent. Using either Shortcut reduces the rating to 4/10, using both gives a rating of 3/10.
An Alternate Ending at Harlington saves 7.3 km (4.5 mi) and 46m/59m of ascent/descent respectively and makes for a circular walk of 17.3 km (10.7 mi) length, again with a 3/10 rating.
Bus 200 (Biggleswade – Flitwick) stops at Pulloxhill, the lunch destination (Mon-Sat only, about every two hours, last bus early afternoon).
Bus 42 (Bedford – Dunstable) stops at Westoning, the late lunch destination, and connects to Flitwick or Harlington stations (Mon-Sat only, regularly, last bus on Sat: early afternoon).
Maps OS Explorer: 193 (Luton & Stevenage)
OS Landranger: 153 (Bedford & Huntingdon) and 166 (Luton & Hertford)
Travel Harlington station, map reference TL 034 303, is 11 km north of Luton and 92 m above sea level, Flitwick station, map reference TL 034 349, is 5 km north of Harlington and 79 m above sea level. Both are in Central Bedfordshire. Harlington and Flitwick stations are on the Thameslink line to Bedford, stopping at East Croydon, London Bridge (or Elephant & Castle), Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, St. Pancras International and West Hampstead Thameslink. Journey times from St. Pancras to Harlington are from 43 minutes Mon-Fri (four trains per hour), 44 minutes Sundays (half-hourly) and from 51 mins on Sundays. Flitwick is one stop further along the line and journey times from there are from 50 minutes Mon-Fri (4 trains per hour) and 49 to 56 minutes weekends (half-hourly). Buy a return ticket to Flitwick.

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

Lunch

The Cross Keys 13 High Street, Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire, MK45 5HB (01525 712 442). The Cross Keys is located 12.2 km (7.6 mi) into the full walk and is a traditional family-friendly pub-restaurant in a 15th century building set in 6 acres of ground, with a garden at the back.
The Chequers Park Road, Westoning, Bedfordshire, MK45 5LA (01525 712 967). The Chequers is located 16.5 km (10.2 mi) into the full walk and 13.4 km into it if taking Shortcut I.
The Bell Greenfield Road, Westoning, Bedfordshire, MK45 5JH (01525 630 233). The Bell is located 16.7 km (10.3 mi) into the main walk and 13.6 km into it if taking Shortcut I and it serves ‘a mix of Turkish and English food’.

Tea

Various options near to and at the end in Flitwick and in Harlington. For details see page 2 of the Walk Directions pdf.

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Start LU5 6LD Map Directions Return to the start:

Finish MK45 1AJ Map Directions Travel to the start:

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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

Jul-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