Fenny Stratford Leisure Rail Trail

This information has been provided courtesy of Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users Association.

Introduction

There are many opportunities for enjoyable walks from stations on the Bedford to Bletchley rail line. The walks associated to this leaflet (there are four: Fenny Stratford Circular Walk, Stewartby to Millbrook walk via Stewartby Lake, Bow Brickhill Circular Walk, Ridgmont 'Clay Way' Circular Walk) are suggestions, suitable for most ages, but not advisable with pushchairs. The length of the walks is generally between 1 and 2 hours, depending on stops made at places of interest. These walks all begin and end at stations on the Marston Vale rail line.

Start/Finish Point

This circular route starts from Fenny Stratford station. You can buy tickets to Fenny Stratford on our website.

Access and General Information

Length: 4.5 miles

Directions

Leave Fenny Stratford Station by the footpath at the Bedford end of the platform into Simpson Road. Turn right and continue to the road junction , with The Swan public house on the left. Turn left into Watling Street and cross the road taking steps down to the towpath of the Grand Union Canal, immediately after crossing the bridge over the canal. Once on the tow path turn right.

Continue along the towpath for about 1.5 miles, passing under the railway and under a number of road bridges. After passing under bridge number 92 a footpath leads to Simpson village. A little further along the towpath you come to The Plough public house.

Continue on the towpath to bridge 91 and turn right, and right again shortly after, following signs to Walton, down through Simpson village. Cross the road by the church and turn left into Simpson Road. Cross the River Ouzel and turn right through a small car park. Take the right hand path that bisects the car parking area. The windmill of The Caldecotte Arms hotel can be seen in the distance.

Continue towards the windmill and follow signs to Caldecotte Lake. This lake was excavated between 1981 and 1983 from farmland on either side of the River Ouzel, whose source is at the foot of the Dunstable Downs. The new lake takes its name from the medieval hamlet that was by the river.

Follow the footpath, bearing right past the sluice gates and then left.

(If you wish to pause at the Caldecotte Arms where there is a children's playground and pleasant views across the lake - a good place for a picnic - turn left again over a wooden bridge. To rejoin the walk from the Caldecotte Arms, retrace your steps over the wooden bridge, turn left and continue as below.).

Continue under the main road, walking alongside the river with the railway bridge ahead. Bear left over another bridge crossing the river and turn right, leaving the footpath, which continues to Bow Brickhill.

Cross a grassed area by the river, going first under a large road bridge and then under the Bedford to Bletchley rail line. The footpath is somewhat rougher at this point as it bears to the left. Go through the gate along Belvedere Lane to the junction with Watling Street. Belvedere Nurseries are to the right.

Turn right and continue along Watling Street to The Swan public house. Turn right into Simpson Road and the entrance to Fenny Stratford Station is on the left, just before you reach the level crossing

Weather Forecast

Below is the weather forecast for Fenny Stratford.

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