ISE VALLEY VAGABONDS
Marston Vale Millennium Country Park Trail BWF App No PT195
START & FINISH: The Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine, Bedford MK43 0PR
OS map 153 Grid Ref TL005417 Distance 10km
Fee £1.00 Patch £2.00
Route last updated on 29 October 2009
This route description is valid until 31 December 2010
This walk has been established by members of the Ise Valley Vagabonds Walking Club (BWF Club No 70) and is a qualifying event in the IVV award scheme. It can be walked at any time.
Notes
1 There are 3 types of path/trail/track in the Millennium Park:
a Footpaths for pedestrians only
b Mixed cycle/pedestrian trails
c Horse riding trailsWe would remind you that a range of refreshment and information services is available in the Forest Centre.
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All sections of the described trail are open to the public at all times.
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Keep dogs under close control.
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Remember that the Forest Centre car park is locked up at 18.00 hours on Mondays to Fridays and at 17.00 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Exit the Forest Centre and turn right, past the cycle hire building, towards the ‘Node’, the point where all trails meet. At the signpost at the ‘Node’, turn right onto cycle/pedestrian trail and ahead (parallel to you, on the right, is the horse trail). After just over 200 meters, by the yellow marker post, bear right crossing the horse trail to follow the grass public footpath. You will see that there is a ditch on your right. At the next yellow marker post, keep going in the direction indicated, to another yellow marker post which marks an intersection of trails. Here, turn left. You soon come to 2 more yellow marker posts. Cross the horse trail and cycle/pedestrian trail, through the gap in the fence and turn left onto tree-lined footpath. Keep ahead passing a kissing gate on your left and another yellow marker post. Go up the steps on the right to go up a rise overlooking the lake. This is the highest point in the Country Park and where you’ll get the best view of the whole site including Stewartby Lake. The carved oak bench here was created to reflect the wildlife in the area. Facing the lake, turn left. There is soon a footpath forking off to the right, a smaller one than the one you are currently on. Bear right on it towards the lake. Where there are path junctions, bear right to keep heading towards the lake. You will then pass another yellow marker post and a small steel-fenced compound beside the lake. Cross the wooden bridge over the stream and go through the kissing gate. Keep following the path meandering alongside the lake, then eventually go past a slight mound on the left, to the main cycle/pedestrian trail. Turn right along this track and follow ahead ignoring a footpath which exits the park to the left.
QUESTION 1. THE PATH WHICH LEAVES THE COUNTRY PARK IS CALLED JUBILEE WALK. IT IS ALSO A CYCLE WAY. WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF THIS CYCLE WAY?
Staying on the cycle/pedestrian trail, bear right in the direction of Stewartby. After 500 meters, there is another path off to the left. Ignore it and stay in the Country Park, but look at the signpost.
QUESTION 2. IF YOU WENT DIRECTLY BACK TO THE FOREST CENTRE, HOW FAR WOULD IT BE?
After another 500 meters, you come to small open area with a picnic table and signpost. Ignore another path off to the left which leaves the Country Park. Bear right to continue following the cycle/pedestrian trail for 500 meters ignoring yet another path off to the left as once again, it leaves the Country Park. Cross the wooden bridge over Elstow Brook. As you approach the corner of the lake there is a road to the left and another exit from the Country Park. Across the road is a bridge. It is an enclosed conveyor belt crossing the road.
QUESTION 3. WHAT IS THE HEADROOM UNDER THIS BRIDGE?
Staying in the park, follow the track as turns right, then left to cross the access road into the boat club. Keep ahead through the fence to keep following the main cycle/pedestrian trail as it bears to the right. Then go ahead with the private boat club on the right. Follow this track for 1km until you come to 2 paths off to the right. The first one only takes you to a nature reserve and viewpoint, 0.3km away. Turn right at the second path marked Forest Centre, 0.8km and in 30 meters, at the yellow marker post, turn left, cross the horse trail and take the right of the two grass paths, through the young trees. At the next yellow marker post turn right, then in just a few meters, at a 4-way marker post, turn left. Cross the wooden bridge and go ahead with hedge on the right. At the yellow marker post, cross the hard track and continue on the footpath beside the horse trail. This path bears left at yet another yellow marker post, then crosses the horse trail. At the main cycle/pedestrian trail, turn right. Ignore a small path off to the left.
QUESTION 4. JUST HERE THERE IS A BENCH CARVED OUT OF A TREE TRUNK. IT IS PAINTED GREEN AND BLUE DEPICTING FOREST AND WATER. HOW MANY BIRDS ARE PAINTED ON IT?
Keep following cycle/pedestrian trail as it turns to the right. Ignore the path which exits the park to the left. But just before this, look to the left. There is a small railway station.
QUESTION 5. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE RAILWAY STATION?
Stay in the Country Park and on the cycle/pedestrian trail for 2.1kms as it meanders around the edge of the wetlands. After 900 meters, at the houses, follow the main trail round to the right and join the Timberland Trail. Continue on the cycle/pedestrian trail, over the park access road and then to the right to return, in 700 meters, to the Forest Centre, the end of this walk.
We hope you have enjoyed the walk!
The Ise Valley Vagabonds have established other Permanent Trails at
Bedford (2), Chester, Daventry, Kempston, Kettering, Kings Lynn, London (2), Marston Moretaine (2), Oxford, Rugby, Stamford, Stratford upon Avon, Warwick and Wellingborough.
They are all qualifying events towards the IVV award scheme.
Further information about these walks, the IVV, the club and all its activities can be found by visiting our Web Site www.vagabonds.org.uk
THE ORGANISERS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ACCIDENTS, THEFT, AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE BY THE ORGANISERS TO MAKE THIS A SAFE, ENJOYABLE AND MEMORABLE EVENT.