Riseley Walks Sporting Targets (Knotting Lane) Circular Walk via Oakley Hunt Kennels

Other walks Find out about more of Bedfordshire’s walking and riding routes as well as nature reserves and country parks by visiting www.letsgo.org.uk

No. 13

Countryside Code

- Be safe, plan ahead and follow any signs- Leave gates and property as you find them- Protect plants and animals and take your litter home- Keep dogs under close control- Consider other people- Keep to the rights of way

www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk

A varied walk across open countryside and through woodland with views across the North Bedfordshire Wolds. Take the Sharnbrook - Riseley Road turning into Knotting Lane following the sign to Sporting Targets.

About

Sporting Targets:Activities Centre run by local family with clay shooting, archery and air rifles, refreshments available. www.sportingtargets.co.uk

Harings Farm: *Local Farm managing most of the land you will cross on this walk.

Worley’s Wood:Mainly coniferous wood. Used by the USAF during WW2 from their base at Melchbourne House.

Melchbourne Park: *Recorded in the Domesday Book, the house and park were ‘modernised’ in 18th century. House now divided into flats.

Oakley Hunt Kennels: *(No 6 on map)Kennels and associated buildings.

Set Aside: (No 8 on map)Area of shrubs and trees providing wildlife refuge.

(*All dogs on a lead please)

Information:

Riseley is 10 miles north of Bedford. Bus service No.28 Bedford to Kimbolton. www.bedford.gov.uk/transport_and_streets

Parking is available at Sporting Targets but please contact on 01234 708893 www.sportingtargets.co.uk Inform reception on arrival. Refreshments available.

Leaving Sporting Targets turn left along the road then take the BW45 and head north towards Harings Farm. At the top turn left.

The path diverts aroundHarings Farm buildings through the trees on your right (clearly marked).

Follow track right into Worley’s Wood passing brick buildings on your left.

A concrete path takes you through the wood to a narrow exit into open farmland with views to Melchbourne Park.

Turn left and follow BWM13 downhill to the stream and pond. Cross the stream with the pond on your left and then turn left and proceed along BWM13 with the hedge on your right until you can see Oakley Hunt Kennels.

Here you can head up to the road on FPM17, turn left and then pick up BWM1 signed on track just after the Kennels; or follow the clearly marked and gated path through the kennels and field to BWM1.

BWM1 continues to your right before you reach Penn Wood on your left. (Green finger sign). Take the path into the field keeping the hedge on your right skirting around a small spinney before descending towards the Sporting Targets ranges.

Note: The path crosses the hedge line on the descent and is then enclosed between the hedge (now on your left) and set aside to the right. At the bottom there is a 5 - path intersection. Turn left onto BWM9 and continue with stream to your right.You will rejoin Knotting Lane by going through or around a small spinney and Sporting Targets wil be in front of you.

Riseley CP

Melchbourne and Yielden CP

Knotting and Souldrop CP

Produced by Bedford Borough Council. Based on Ordnance Survey mapping © Crown copyright. All rights reserved: OS Licence No. 100049028. 2017. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings.

H

1:15,000

7

SportingTargets

Circular Waks Æ

1

BW45

BWA21

2

3

4 MelchbournePark5

6

8

BWM1

BWM1

BWM9

BWM13

BWM13FPM17

Key

The WalkPublic FootpathPublic Bridleway Woodland

Directions

Paris

h Bo

unda

y

RISELEY WALKSSporting Targets Circular Walk via Oakley Hunt KennelsApprox 3 Miles / 4.5 km Time: 1 hour 15mins approx

1 Leaving Sporting Targets turn left alongthe road then take the BW45 and headnorth towards Harings Farm. At the top turn left.

2 The path diverts aroundHarings Farmbuildings through the trees on yourright (clearly marked).

Follow track right into Worley's Wood passing brick buildings on your left.

3

4 A concrete path takes you through the wood to a narrow exit into openfarmland with views to MelchbournePark.

5 Turn left and follow BWM13 downhill tothe stream and pond. Cross the stream with the pond on your left and then turnleft and proceed along BWM13 with thehedge on your right until you can see Oakley Hunt Kennels.

6 Here you can head up to the road onFPM17, turn left and then pick up BWM1 signed on track just after the Kennels; or follow the clearly marked and gated path through the kennels and field to BWM1.

7 BWM1 continues to your right beforeyou reach Penn Wood on your left.(Green finger sign). Take the path intothe field keeping the hedge on your rightskirting around a small spinney beforedescending towards the SportingTargets ranges.

8 Note: The path crosses the hedge lineon the descent and is then enclosedbetween the hedge (now on your left)and set aside to the right. At the bottomthere is a 5 - path intersection. Turn left onto BWM9 and continue with streamto your right.You will rejoin KnottingLane by going through or arounda small spinney and Sporting Targetswil be in front of you.

0 0.25 0.50.125 Kilometers

No. 13 Riseley Walks Sporting Targets Circular Walk via Oakley Hunt KennelsApprox 3 Miles / 4.5 km Time: 1 hour 15mins approx

Produced by Bedford Borough Council. Based on Ordnance Survey mapping © Crown copyright. All rights reserved: OS Licence No. 100049028. 2017. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. 1:15,000

2

2

7

8

33

4

4

5

5 1

1

6

The walk

Bridleway

Footpath

Woodland Directions

Key

ENV181_17 design@bedford.gov.uk

6

7

8