Brogborough Gateway Trail

This information has been provided courtesy of Let's Go. Simply log onto their website for more information.

This description should be read in conjunction with the route map. A link to this map is given below.

Route Map (GIF, 30kb)

Introduction

Brogborough Hill Picnic Site is a place of major improvement works by the Forest team, with new plantings, landscaping and path laying. Parking facilities have been increased, with more picnic tables, creating a relaxed, family oriented site. From Brogborough Hill Picnic Site the view across the Vale is the best around. Well worth packing a picnic for!

Hulcot Wood and Reynold Wood lie in the southern area of the Forest of Marston Vale and are located on the west Bedfordshire clay ridge. The 242 acre site was acquired in 1992 by the Woodland Trust with help from the Countryside Commission, Bedfordshire County Council and Shanks and McEwan Ltd. 185 acres of this area was formally agricultural land and 57 acres existing mature woodland.

The walk is situated on the clay soil of the ridge and the paths can become very boggy during winter months. It is strongly advised that if the route is used during these months appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear are worn.

The walk is clearly waymarked with the special Forest of Marston Vale circular waymarking; blue on public bridleways, yellow on public footpaths, and white on permissive footpaths.

Please remember the Country Code. Most land within the Vale is private, without open public access, and provides the livelihood for many of our farmers. Care for the land in the Vale, and keep to the waymarked paths.

Start/Finish Point

Brogborough Picnic Site. The nearest station is Ridgmont. From the station, follow the Clay Way to the picnic site.

You can buy tickets to Ridgmont station on our website.

Access and General Information

Distance: 3.5 miles

Directions

1. From the picnic site take the sign posted path leading to the Woodland Trust Site, crossing a disused road on your way. Go through the gates past the information board and you will enter into a clearing. Walk straight ahead towards the far end of the clearing where there is a plaque commemorating the naming of the new wood.

2. From the plaque take the ride (path through a woodland) in front of you and walk to the bottom of the hill. Cross the footbridge in front of you and follow the ride straight ahead until you come to another clearing. (You can see Brogborough Manor Farm to your left).

3. Keep to the right of the clearing and follow the ride that leads to the junction half way down the hill (for those walkers taking the short walk turn right at the junction and skip to section 11). At this point turn left. When you come to the next junction turn right and follow the corridor of land for approximately 450m.

4. On reaching the meadow continue straight ahead for the waymark post which is approximately in line from where you have just walked. On reaching the waymark post take a left turn through the trees.

5. You will pass a waymark post and cross over a ride. At the next waymark post follow the ride which bends round to the right. This leads to the corner of Hulcot Wood. Although the area of tree planting to your left is not waymarked, you are welcome to explore this at your leisure before rejoining this route.

6. Go through the gate at the corner which leads into the wood and continue straight ahead past the pond for about 450m. When you reach the junction at the bottom of the hill turn left and walk straight ahead passing the clearing to the right. Continue walking down the hill and on reaching the bottom turn right and follow the ride in front of you.

7. At the bottom of the ride the path splits in two, take the path which goes straight ahead. The path bends round to the right. Follow the waymark posts until you come to a junction at which you should turn right and follow the ride up the hill towards the pond.

8. At this point take the path immediately to your left which skirts around the edge of the pond and up a steep hill. At the top of the hill turn left and before you reach the gate go through the gap on the right bringing you out at the top of the meadow.

9. From here walk straight down the hill keeping the hedge to your left until you come to a waymark post (just past the farm building in the next field) directing you across the meadow and up the hill.

10. When you reach the top of the hill take the ride to your left which will lead you back down the corridor of land to Reynold Wood. At the end of the corridor turn left and continue all the way to the bottom of the bill.

11. When you reach the forked path at the bottom of the hill take the first waymarked path to your right.

12. When you come to a bridge cross over and take the path to your left. Follow the ride round past the pond and up the hill.

13. At the cross-roads take the ride on your left which will bend round to the right and bring you to the clearing you started at. Go through the gates to your left and take the path leading back to the car park.

Weather Forecast

Below is the weather forecast for Ridgmont.

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