A circular walk between Sandy and Everton

Description

(D/A) From the RPSB car park return to the B1042. Cross over and continue straight ahead into the Everton Estate. Where the path splits, under an ETL, fork right along a path running between varied plantations and open heathland. This lasts for about 1.5km before reaching a crossing track.

(1) Turn left and follow this old green lane to a point about 10 yards short of a gate out to a road. Here turn right on a track through a belt of trees. It is not all that obvious but by way of confirmation it quickly emerges at the start of a fenced path through paddocks. After the paddocks cross a track, go through a hedge gap and cross a second track. Immediately facing you is a lower portion of fence, currently broken to make it even lower, and beyond that a wide arable field. The footpath is apparently not restored after cultivation. If you have to pioneer the route, aim for a telegraph pole slightly to the left of a solitary house. Part way across you see a yellow tipped marker post slightly to the right of your course; veer right to get to this. (There is a bend in the official route but if the path is unrestored you can hardly be expected to get the turn spot on in the middle of a field.) From the post proceed straight ahead along a field break. Before this gets to the road it passes through a section of field still apparently used for market gardening, the traditional use of this land.

(2) At the road, cross over and turn left to walk into Everton.

(3) At the Thornton Arms PH the road swings left and here you pick up the Greensand Ridge Walk. The church is to the right but the walk swings left with the road and continues until you pass No 64.

(4) Then turn right down a bridleway with wide views over North Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire. After 180metres and a gate this becomes a footpath which descends through meadows, a second gate, and a hedge gap into the flat lands of Bedfordshire. Go straight on along a field edge to a T-junction.

(5) Turn left along this track, the line of a Roman road. After crossing a concrete drive (which leads to 18th Century Hazells Hall, former family home the Pyms including one-time Foreign Secretary Francis Pym) the track becomes grassier but still goes straight on. It finishes at a gate, after which you go straight on through a meadow to another gate. The path then bears slightly left over a second meadow as it rises gently to a lane.

(6) Here turn right and follow the lane uphill into woods. After passing a track going left, just past the brow of the hill look out for a Greensand Ridge Walk finger post.

(7) Here turn left and take the path going up at right angles to the lane. It more or less follows a mesh fence which is round Caesar's Camp earthworks. Where the path on this line becomes unclear, turn right down hill on a much wider path; the right choice is soon confirmed by a waymark post with a GRW logo. Where the Greensand Ridge Walk turns right (with a good view of Sandy church tower with its very short "Hertfordshire" spike) leave it by following the path which swings left. Follow this out to the B1042.

(8) Use the lights to cross and continue down the No Through Road called Stratford Road. Follow this quiet lane for about a mile. Continue to follow it when it becomes a bridle path until it is barred by a metal gate.

(9) Here turn left into the RPSB Nature Reserve. A sign points left to the car park 1000m. Follow this broad obvious track uphill through the heathland woods, until it becomes a tarmac drive to the RPSB HQ. Carry straight on to arrive back at the car park(D/A). (Paying for the RPSB car park gives you the opportunity to further explore the Reserve before returning; there is a map as you enter.)