| There are two walks
suggested by "Let's Go!",a project that was conceived
and delivered by the Forest of Marston Vale. Financial support has
been generously supplied by the Bedfordshire Rural Transport Partnership
Wider Welcome Programme in association with the Countryside Agency
and Bedfordshire County Council.
The two walks around Harrold are:
A one and a half mile walk, starting and finishing
at the cemetery gate opposite the entrance to Harrold Country Park.
A three mile walk, starting and finishing at the
cemetery gate opposite the entrance to Harrold Country Park.
Both of these walks, together with 57 other walks
in Bedfordshire can be found by clicking on:-
Guided walks are arranged during the year
in and around the Harrold-Odell Country Park - for details click
on to The Country
Park web pages on this web-site.
FOOTPATHS IN HARROLD
(An article by Robert Tickle published in The Bridge Magazine; October/November
2006)
You have probably noticed that Harrold has
a number of footpaths. Probably the most used is the path running
parallel to the High Street from the High Street with opening to
Dove Lane and ending in Odell Road opposite the Country Park. Others
act as links such as three linking Orchard Lane and Brook Lane.
Harrold Parish Council is responsible for the footpaths in the village.
This does not include those in the Country Park, which are the responsibilities
of the County Council.
I have been keen to explore some of these paths.
In the heat of July, I took respite from the ardour of public examination
marking to explore the paths to Odell, taking two dogs which I had
staying with me on the trek. You can access this route from two
openings in Brook Lane. These two paths converge at a signpost pointing
back, to Dove Lane and to Odell. Turn right to Odell and follow
the way marked path towards Odell. The path takes you along the
fenced perimeter of the lake that lies to the north of the High
Street. You then follow the line of a brook to your left and you
then reach open fields behind the houses in Little Odell. This is
a most attractive walk that takes about forty-five minutes for the
round trip. The path has been very well maintained for which we
are grateful.
If you walk to the end of Orchard Lane and Wood
Road, there is a path that runs along the brook, past the allotments
and ends along the side of a farmed field. Keeping to the path you
reach Harrold Wood by which time you are in the County of Northamptonshire.
You can turn right to end up in the Odell Road or carry straight
on to reach Bozeat. From the wood there are good views across the
countryside.
I have often wondered what was the original purpose
of the links between Orchard Lane and Brook Lane. Mt own theory
is that they date from the days of the lace and leather cottage
industries in the village and that they were used to convey materials
between the cottages. Perhaps someone can shed more light on this.
If you have any comments on the paths please
let your Parish Councillors who have responsibility for the paths
know.
Robert Tickle
Contacts: Tricia Storer 720694 Robert Tickle 721417
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