Name: Marston Vale Trail (10 miles/16 km - moderate, booking required)
Start: 2024-11-30T10:45:00Z
End: 2024-11-30T16:30:00Z

This walk is for up to 25 people, including the leader.

Starting from the Marston Vale Millennium Country Park Forest Centre we head south past a couple of lakes and the church of Marston Moretaine to pick up the Vale Trail. After crossing the railway at Lidlington we have a steep climb up past the remains of All Saints Church into attractive beech woodland for some last traces of autumn colours, and weave along the contours of the Greensand Ridge and John Bunyan Trail to Millbrook and then Ampthill Park.

To our north is the Millbrook vehicle testing facility where top-secret prototype models are evaluated and vehicle stunts for movies sometimes filmed. Trees and high fences prevent spy shots and peeking around 99% of the perimeter. Will we spot anything exciting through the 1% gaps?

Six miles in, at the east side of Ampthill Park we pause for lunch, then drop in on The Queen's Head for a drink before returning along the edge of Laurel Wood. It is a gentle downhill from here crossing two railway lines and passing four lakes as we re-enter the Country Park and return to the start for tea and medals.

**Dogs are welcome on a lead.**

For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.

**Booking your place**: Please book your place using the free Meetup website/app. Join the Stag Walkers Meetup group and click the 'Attend' button on the event page.

Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited.
If the walk is fully booked, click 'join waitlist' to get a place if one becomes available and please check back regularly in case you do get a place. The waitlist gives priority to single bookings so if you wish to bring a guest, we recommend booking separately.

Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.

**Walk Leader:** Thomas

**Start Point:** The Forest Centre, Station Rd, Marston Moretaine, Bedford MK43 0PR.

Meet outside the entrance to the Forest Centre. The best postcode for your satnav is MK43 0PR. However, due to recent changes in the road layout, this might lead you through a nearby housing estate, so be sure to follow the signage! The carpark is locked at 5pm. Parking costs £3. You can pay with cash, on the Pay By Phone website or app (Location: Marston Vale, Bedford Number: 800979).

Alternatively you could come by train to Millbrook or Stewartby station and walk through the Country Park to the startpoint - if opting to do this you must use your own initiative to navigate and factor in a 30 minute / 1.1 mile walk from either station, so your train would need to arrive by 10:15am.

**Start Time:** 10:45

**End Time:** 16:30

This is a circular walk.

The start time is when we aim to start walking and the finish time is an estimate.

Walks are graded Easy, Leisurely, Moderate or Strenuous in increasing order of difficulty. Please read the walk description to check it is within your abilities and contact the group if you are unsure.

**Please:**

* **DO NOT** book onto a walk unless you are pretty sure you will be able to make it.
* **UPDATE YOUR RSVP**. We understand ‘life happens’ so if you need to change your RSVP please do this at least 24 hours before the walk and before booking closes to enable someone else to take your place.
* **DON’T NO-SHOW** on the day unless it is absolutely unavoidable (we do understand ‘life happens’) because it prevents others from enjoying a walk if it is fully booked.
* **\*TAKE NOTE** that if you no-show three times, without extenuating circumstances, we will decline further bookings from you for a period of six weeks.\*
* **DO** car-share or use public transport if possible. To offer a lift or ask for one from a fellow walker, please use the Meetup event page.
* **BRING** a packed lunch/snacks and drinks, appropriate clothing for the conditions and optionally a basic first aid kit.
* **FOLLOW** NHS guidelines and do not attend the walk if you are unwell.

We are a Ramblers group, non-members are welcome to try us out for three free walks before joining Ramblers as a full member.

As a charity we ask that non-members consider making a voluntary donation to Ramblers until they purchase membership. We suggest £3-4 per walk. You can donate in person or online.

The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577. Registered office: First Floor, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE.

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Marston Vale Trail (10 miles/16 km - moderate, booking required)

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Marston Vale Trail (10 miles/16 km - moderate, booking required)

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