Hidden Britain BUNYAN-DONKEY ART: Hidden Britain BUNYAN/DONKEY ART.qxd 06/10/2010 16:40 Page 1

John Bunyan Triangle Walk, E. Turn right along the road and on reaching Valbrook Farm look for a Local History footpath fingerpost on the left, go In the 17th century Keysoe was a centre of religious through the adjacent gap in the hedge nonconformity and that part of the walk from (D) to (E) follows and follow this footpath, gently uphill to the route traditionally taken by the early Dissenters on the way the church. Go through the churchyard to Willow Spinney, where they held open-air religious meetings, and look for the William Dickens plaque at that time illegal. The spinney lies on the parish boundary, so on the tower and a magnificent old yew if pursued by the Keysoe constables, the worshipers could avoid tree. Go through the front gate and turn NORTH WOLDS arrest by simply stepping over into the neighbouring parish of right on the road. In approximately 240 yards take the Riseley. Park Wood, full of bluebells in the spring, was formally bridleway on the right to reach the Keysoe to Riseley road. Cross much more extensive and it is known that John Bunyan held carefully and take the footpath signed on the opposite side. open-air meetings here. The ancient moat system at Park Farm once surrounded the old manor of Berrystead. It was at this F. This footpath bears gradually away from the highway and farmhouse that John Bunyan is reputed to have been arrested through a gap in a hedge to reach the entrance to Park Farm. with some of his followers, prior to his imprisonment. The 14th century spire of St Mary’s Church can be seen on the G. Bear right into the farm entrance, pass around the traffic skyline. In 1718, William Dickens, a mason, fell from this spire, barrier and walk forward to reach a way-mark post and a Gateway to and miraculously survived the fall. The story of this incident is kissing gate into a pasture on the left. Walk diagonally across related on a plaque on the west wall of the tower. The full walk the field to reach another kissing gate in the far right hand includes a visit to the church. corner. the Wolds The Walk H. Continue on with a hedge on the right to reach Park Wood, The walk is approximately 4¼ miles but there are a number of then, continue with the wood on the right side to pass over JOHN BUNYAN TRIANGLE WALK short cuts that can easily be made reducing the distance to a ½, Keysoe Brook to reach Riseley Road and the starting point of 1½ or 3¼ miles. The walks are on well signed footpaths and the walks. & DONKEY WALK, KEYSOE bridleways alongside woods and fields with good views over the surrounding countryside. We are indebted to Mr William Ward for permitting the short cut (1½ mile walk) by Keysoe Park Farm as the section around the farm is a permissive path and not a For full details of walks and rides throughout public right of way. Bedfordshire, visit www.letsgo.org.uk Start The starting point of the walks is approximately 2 miles along Public Transport the Riseley Road from the B660 at Keysoe Brook End. Cars can be parked on the roadside verge at Keysoe Park Wood. There are bus services from , Bus No .153 Ordnance map reference TL 053620. Bedford Bus enquiries: Tel: 01234 718005 Directions Traveline Timetable Info: Tel: 08712 002233 A. The start of the walk is to the left of the locked gate into the wood, through a gap in the bushes and across a sleeper bridge. Walk on a broad green sward to the top corner of the wood, Accommodation here turn right across a ditch and through the hedge. There are a number of bed & breakfasts in the area. B. Turn left and follow the field edge to a gap in the hedge on Please contact: Bedford Tourist Information Centre the left where paths cross. Tel: 01234 221712.

C. Continue alongside the hedge at the top of the field to a bridleway junction in the field corner. Bear right with the hedge We are indebted to the C still on the left for a short distance crossing a bridge to another following for their support: C R bridleway junction. B

D. Turn right and follow the bridleway with a hedge on the right. After crossing a cinder track go forward across an arable field heading for a large oak tree. Enter a track enclosed by trees and bushes and cross a bridge over Keysoe Brook to reach Riseley Road. Continued overleaf. Walkers undertake the routes marked at their own risk. While each one has been walked, unexpected hazards do occur.

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Donkey Walk, Keysoe Local History Willow Spinney N Donkey Lane and nearby Mill Lane are ancient trackways John Bunyan linking the windmills at and Keysoe and are part of D an extensive, system of similar tracks now familiar to us as Triangle Walk bridleways and byways. Bolnhurst Mill was demolished in 1920 4¼ miles and Keysoe Mill, the last working windmill in Bedfordshire To collapsed during a storm in January 1946.

The Walk The walk is a little under 3 miles. It starts and returns along Donkey Lane and elsewhere follows field edges. Donkey Lane 153 is a tree lined green track where, in places, the branches meet Valbrook overhead. The lane is now classified as a byway. The walk is Farm E generally well marked and there are no stiles. In the spring C the woodland near the pumping station is bright with Keysoe bluebells and primroses and in Donkey Lane amidst the bluebells look for early purple orchids. Park From Farm F Bolnhurst & B B Start 6 6 Access to the walk is off Keysoe Row East, 7 miles NE of 0 Keysoe Park H (153 Bus route) Bedford off the B660. The starting point is Donkey Lane, Wood ¾ mile from the cross roads along Keysoe Row East, adjacent to a farm entrance and just before a sharp bend in the road. To Riseley G Ordnance map reference TL 091618.

Directions A. Walk along Donkey Lane and turn A right through the first gap on to a Mill Lane signed footpath. Go forward along the To Little Donkey Walk Staughton edge of two fields then through a gap A in the hedge, and continue in the 2¾ miles same direction to reach a junction of t s footpaths. a E w o R B. Turn left here and walk along the field edge with a hedge e To Keysoe o s on the right. Pass over a footbridge at the next boundary y e hedge and walk on passing woodland on the right to reach a K B Donkey pumping station enclosure. Lane

C. At the pumping station the field boundary curves to the right. Follow this round and go forward a few more paces then look for the infant Duloe Brook on the left. Turn here 153 and walk forward keeping Duloe Brook on the left side. B N 6 6 E D. Bear right at the end of the field for a short distance, go 0

( 1 through two kissing gates only a few paces apart and over a 5 3

footbridge. Continue to walk beside the brook crossing two B u more footbridges. After passing a clump of bushes around a s Duloe

r large stag headed oak tree look for a footbridge, sometimes o Brook u Pumping t hard to spot in the long grass. Cross this into Donkey Lane. e C ) Station D E. Turn left here and ignoring bridleways branching off to the right, follow Donkey Lane back to the highway at Keysoe Row East. From Bolnhurst © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Bedford Borough Council. 100049028 2010

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