Eight Polyramblers gathered outside Luton Airport Parkway station for a 7.5 mile circular walk. It was 11am on a very frosty but sunny January morning (Earlier, when I set out from home, my phone showed a temperature of -3C!).
We all set off across the station car park and approach, negotiating roundabouts onto a B road signposted to Wheathampstead. Then we climbed through a narrow piece of woodland up onto a higher level A road, proceding 100 yds along its footway until we saw a footpath sign to the right leading up some steps into a field on higher ground. The path at the top of the steps followed near the perimeter fence of Luton Airport for about a mile on our left. There was a view of the new Dart shuttle train and much sound of arriving and departing (mostly EasyJet) aircraft. After traversing a few open fields the path turned half right and away from the airport. Soon we reached a row of cottages beside the ruins of Someries Castle. All that remains of this 15th century manor house is the gatehouse and chapel, it is one of the earliest brick structures in England. We spent a little time exploring the ruins in the bright sunshine. We then continued SE along a straight track which soon became a lane taking us into Peter’s Green for lunch.
Most of the party went inside The Bright Star public house, the remainder using seating on the green to eat their own food. Inside the pub was a roaring wood burning stove, and we were served with very welcome vegetable soup. And greeted by a very friendly hound who took an interest in sniffing my rucksack, as it had sausage rolls inside!!
After lunch and a photostop on the green we took a path SW across fields, somewhat muddy in places, leading us down into the Upper Lea Valley at East Hyde. Crossing the road along the valley bottom, we took a lane from the other side over the river then a right turn onto a northbound track, being the trackbed of the once Luton, Dunstable and Welwyn Junction Railway. This soon passed under today’s busy Midland Main Line, carrying frequent express and Thameslink trains. The track continued along the valley, beside sewage works on the right, then eventually passed the woods and parkland of Luton Hoo to the left. We came across two metal statues, one of Eric Morecambe, and the other representing Capability Brown who both have associations with the local area. The track soon led us back to the roundabouts and the approach to Luton Airport Parkway station.
It was now 4 o’clock and getting dusky and colder. Here three polyramblers decided to take a short diversion for refreshment at Costa Coffee before the journey home, the rest headed straight into the station for their train back to London.
Geoffrey
Photos by Gillian, Pam, Chris and Geoffrey
