Bassingbourn-cum-Kneesworth to Biggleswade and Return
Cambridgeshire / Bedfordshire
Distance 38km Climb 150m
Saturday 6 February 2021
I had a mini adventure on my way to the start of my walk from Bassingbourn-cum-Kneesworth today. Muddy paths, snowdrops and the footprints of small deer. Which when I have looked on the computer show they may be from Reeves Muntjacs deer but I am only guessing.
It started to rain as soon as I started walking, I was walking westward along The High Street.
On the way down High Street I passed some interesting looking buildings. This is just one of them.
At the end of High Street I turned right onto North End, passed the War Memorial.
There was also a thatched building with what looks like straw peacocks on the top ridge.
Passing the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul.
I took the next left up Mill Lane passing The Belle.
At the top of Mill Lane, from my map I saw that I was after the second footpath on my right. The only thing I thought, was that it was a little further round the curve in the road. In fact it is less than 10 meters from the first. Another map shows this footpath is still called Mill Lane.
It was still raining and getting a little heavier but the sky looked clear and nice just wisps of rain cloud, hopefully it will soon pass.
The Mill Lane footpath turns right then the footpath turns left, following a ditch and hedge on my right hand side, in a westerly direction. At the end of the ditch and hedge the marked footpath continues westerly across open fields. A very muddy slippery path and I was glad I had my walking poles.
Footbridges took me over ditches between fields. I had to keep knocking the build up of mud off my walking poles, as they were getting heavy. The rain had stopped as I approached New Cut, a ditch, but I could still see rain falling in a large puddle to my front but not on me.
I could see Abington Pigotts over the next footbridge, the muddy path crossed a field, I had thought it was turnip but I am not sure. I could see that this was a popular walk due to the number of footprints in the mud.
Reaching Abington Pigotts after knocking mud of my feet and walking poles I turned left along High Street, passed the library telephone box, and the Pig and Abbott. It was good to be walking on solid ground not slippery wet mud.
At the end of High Street I continued south westerly onto a footpath, passed on the right hand side of a large white house. There were loads of snowdrops in amongst the trees on the right hand side.
The footpath starts with a large puddle then turns into wet slippery mud, moving up beside a wood the map shows this as Bibles Grove.
At the top of Bibles Grove I stopped for a drink of hot chocolate and a small snack as I checked my map and decided which way I would go next.
After my break I continued south west for a few meters where the footpath joined a more substantial track, it was still wet and muddy in places but not slippery. A few more meters and I followed the track right, north west up towards Mill Hill.
At Mill Hill there is an interesting looking mound. Loads of animal burrows. I turned left to pass the mound, back to a muddy slippery footpath. Following the footpath right beside a hedge, it heads downhill slightly.
Beside a small clump of trees the footpath I was after was on the far side of a small hedge, which turns left heading westward again.
Leaving the hedge the footpath drops slightly as it heads through a flooded area towards a footbridge.
Over the footbridge and the footpath starts to rise across another field. At the top there is a piece of hardstanding. After stepping over the chain, I knocked and stamped mud off my boots and walking poles before turning left onto North Brook End, a road.
Less than a hundred meters I turned right down a footpath towards Tween Towns Wood.
At the bottom of the bank is a sign showing Tween Towns Wood is part of the Woodland Trusts, millennium project to create 200 new community woods across England and Wales.
I turned right along a very muddy path for a few meters then turned left across a footbridge.
Over the bridge I saw one of the painted stones and my first glimpse of Guilden Morden. As I continued west beside a tree lined Morden Hall.
Reaching Trap Road, again after knocking mud off my boots and walking poles, I turned right. Then left down Church Street.
Passing St Mary's, I continued down Church Street. I saw some interesting looking buildings some very large and not so large.
At the end of Church Street I turned right onto Pound Green. I was looking for a footpath sign to take me to my left. I could see on my map it was before the school. Then I saw it a small sign, almost hidden in a tree, I nearly missed it. Directing me in front of these cottages.
This path led between a couple of hedges. Then into an open area, I was a little unsure which way to go next as the footpath sign has gone but the post is still there. It is diagonally across the junction.
Over a small footbridge and back to a muddy slippery path to the right, beside the edge of a property. Which soon become tall trees. At a track junction a footpath sign point back to the village but no indication as to the way forward. I knew from my map it was south west across an open field of stubble, but there were no signs.
Walking up and down a little I could see signs on the ground where people had previously walked so set off across the field.
The problem I had was when I reached the top of the field. I now know I had come too far. At the top I turned right and walked passed this sign thinking it was for another path. At the end of the hedge I realised I should have taking this path and so returned.
Over the field I was distracted by the footpath signs and crossed this bridge and ditch.
I knew from my map with crossing the ditch I had come too far west, further than I had intended but this could still be saved. There was a ploughed field on the other side of the ditch no footpath across however I could see that people had walked by the edge so turned right and followed the west side of the ditch. Not seeing any more signs I continued along by the ditch and found myself in the area marked on the map as Moats near Mobb's Hole. I now know I should not have crossed this ditch but walked the east side.
On writing this up I realise I was walking the Cambridgeshire - Hertfordshire boundary.
Continuing by the ditch I reached a point where the ditch crossed the footpath I had been looking for. This took me into another ploughed field with no sign of footpath across so I again walked the edge reaching Northfield Road, where after stamping off mud I turned right.
Crossing Whitegate Bridge I had another short rest a drink of hot chocolate and a snack. I walked back down the road to take this photo. As I am writing my blog now I am aware I had just crossed into Bedfordshire.
After my break and map check I continued westward along Northfield Road for a few hundred meters. At Lodge Farm Poultry I followed the footpath sign south west.
I passed some large poultry buildings on my right hand side these are not shown on my map. After the buildings the footpath enters another field, this is good walking and turns right, north west. At a little kink in the track I passed this picnic area.
Around the corner all I could see to my left was water amongst the trees.
Crossing a bridge made of old trainline sleepers the path starts to climb slightly. Although muddy in places the track was good walking.
At the top of the bank I turned left onto Cambridge Road and walked into Dunton.
I knew the footpath I was now looking for was across the road to St Mary Magdalene's Church.
The footpath runs between a couple of houses, after a few meters an open field appears on my left. At the top there is a footpath crossroads. For some reason I turned left, perhaps it was because the path was dry. I should have continued straight, onto the wet muddy path. It wasn't long before I turned round and was heading down the wet muddy path towards Middlesex Farm.
Passed the farm and the footpath joins a tarmac road that runs from the sewage works to Sutton Lane.
I turned right for a few meters then took a high step to continue west across a field along the footpath.
A new footbridge along the footpath took me over a ditch beside a small lake near Newton Grove Farm.
Walking to the left of the farm along a wet grass path the sun was coming out and it was getting warmer. I had to take off my woolly hat!
I checked my map and estimated I would in Biggleswade in about 30 minutes. This would all change within the next few minutes.
As muddy field, after muddy field slowed my progress.
I was getting so warm with the exertion and heat.
This field wasn't so bad. By now I looked a proper clip mud up and down both legs.
I crossed into Jubilee Wood, which was just as slippery as the other paths I had walked today.
I continued around Jubilee Wood. Found myself on Baden-Powell Way, followed signs for Town Centre which took me passed the Stratton Upper School on Eagle Farm Road.
Coming out onto the A6001 London Road I followed it to the Market Square. There was a lot of roadworks on the A6001
Self conscious of my appearance I walked straight along High Street. Stopping at a seat out of sight at St Andrews Churchyard. Where I had a short rest, cheese and onion sandwiches a drink of pop and a snickers. After a quick look around the Churchyard I set off on my return journey.
I will have to come back another day.
I was walking almost the same route back. Except when I turned off the London Road onto Eagle Farm Road, instead of walking passed the school I turned down a footpath to my right.
This crossed a football field. Across a couple of roads and I was on the footpath between allotments and into Jubilee Wood.
It was turning a little darker and I could see rain clouds were forming. I couldn't complain the weather had been better than forecast. Still I was not going to hang about.
Walking as fast as I could I crossed the muddy fields. This was tiring walking.
As I was leaving Dunton on the Cambridge Road it started raining and was getting heavier as I heading down the footpath. Hood up and keep plodding. I think there might have been good views from up here had the weather been better.
Passed Lodge Farm Poultry the weather eased a little. Crossing Whitegate Bridge I saw the footpath sign across the ploughed field so decided to have a look. Some people had walked across, I could see their footprints, not many mind so I thought why not I would have a go. It was exhausting hard going, I was wishing I had just walked around the edge. Never mind I did it.
I crossed the footbridge were I had re-joined this walk earlier after walking beside the ditch. Over the footbridge I turned right and although still following the ditch by the edge of the field now I was on the eastern side and it was better going than my walk out.
I soon came to the footbridge I should not have crossed earlier in the day, the eastern side of the ditch was a lot better walking.
Turning left I crossed the field and passed through the hedge into the stubble field. Now instead of turning right and following my route out I continued straight ahead. Walking this way I saw the path on my right I should have taken on my out. Following this I was soon on my path back into Guilden Morden.
Once on Pound Green I followed a footpath sign that took me up the side and behind the Congregational Church.
This brought me out onto Church Street, where I saw the old Post Office had a GR Post Box. I cannot say I have seen many of these.
Turning down Trap Road it started to rain again, this time it was heavy and with no sign of stopping so I put my hood up again and plodded on. Slipping sliding along muddy paths.
At the top of Tween Towns Wood on North Brook End I took a photo but you just cannot see anything. It was just pouring down. So I haven't included it here.
Over North Brook End I stepped over the chain and continued my way back. As I approached Mill Hill it stopped raining, briefly. I could see behind me to the west a lovely line of colours as the sun was going down.
This mound on Mill Hill looks as though it has been dug out, not sure what it had been.
Continuing down into Abington Pigotts I wished the Pig and Abbot was allowed to open.
Leaving Abington Pigotts it started to rain as I crossed the muddy fields and again it was another heavy downpour.
Walking was heavy going with the mud, not to worry not too far now.
I was soon on Mill Lane and wishing The Belle was able to open, never mind.
A right turn onto North End passed St Peter and St Paul.
A left along High Street. Although the rain had eased a little it was still raining.
It had been a good day to get out and do some walking but it had been hard work in places especially with the mud. I could imagine in the dry months this being a lovely walk with some nice views. Today I had covered 38km Climb 150m.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of writing.
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