Page 48 - Phonebox Magazine June 2010

A further ramble,
Stoke Goldington
A CLOCKWISE CIRCULAR walk of circa 4.75 miles, approximately
2 1/2 hours, easy undulating landscape with excellent views across to Olney, Hanslope and Salcey Forest, quite a few tall but safe stiles.
Park at the southern end of the High Street, if it’s open and not being used the village hall car park is handy, please check.
There are no refreshments en route but pubs in the village, dogs best on leads as there may be sheep and cattle in the fields as you walk.
1. Walk down the High Street towards Newport Pagnell and turn right into Town End Crescent, keep to the right and immediately turn right into a foot path, in 50 yards turn left up a path at the back of some garages with the fence now on your right. Keep on now up through the field passing a partially rebuilt barn on your right to the top of the field.
2. At the top of the field turn right keeping the fence on your left you now pass through 7 fields with magnificent views to either side. Ignore the crossing of paths where the Swan’s Way and Midshires Way join from your left but keep going until there is a small bridge to your left through the hedge into another field the other side of the fence. You will now be able to see the M1.
3. Keeping the hedge on your right walk to the bottom of the field bear, left and then through the hedge and turn right. At the end of the 3rd field the Swan’s Way and Midshires Way go to the left towards Forest Farm (and eventually to Salcey Forest) we turn right and immediately left for 8 yards or so along a narrow path and climb over a stile on our right.
4. Head towards a large tree and a thicket, this puts you on to a farm track where you turn left heading towards Stokelodge Farm, here you turn right over a stile into the farm property keeping to the right of this field and over another stile and turn left. Just past the farms buildings now on your left but before the small pond look for a sign that indicates to the right on a track between the trees to a small stile over the wire fence.
5. Once over the stile cross the track and then through the hedge and across the field, the path now goes over 2 more fields and then towards a small thicket of trees with a pond in, keep to the right of this and through a new iron gate. From here head diagonally across the field right, up to a stile to the left of Stokepark Wood. Keep the woods on your right through the field to another stile.
6. Over the stile and turn left on this lane towards Stoke Goldington church, follow the road round the church to the left and then turn right into the footpath at the top of Dag Lane, follow this until it joins the High Street turn right and back to your car or refreshments in the village.
This is a great walk on crisp frosty mornings when the clear skies make the most of the views.
Please remember to close all gates after you and to take any litter home.
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