Cranfield and Marston Thrift (13km) Print

Cranfield and Marston Thrift Waypoint 1
Cranfield and Marston Thrift, Ride 7 in the Bedfordshire on Horseback series. Approx 13km (8 miles) can be shortened to 8km (5 mile) and linked to Marston Vale and Lidlington for a longer route. Ride described clockwise but can be ridden either way. Parking is available at in a council car park at Wood End (GR 974412) off the A421, suitable for trailers and small boxes but larger boxes may find it difficlut to manoeuvre. Start from the car park and take the sandy National Cycle Route 51 and bridleway (BW) out of the far end of the small carpark.

Cranfield and Marston Thrift Waypoint 2
Follow this track to a junction at the edge of the Marston Thrift wood. Turn right here over stream, with woodland on your right, and then immediatley right again over a horse stile.

Cranfield and Marston Thrift Waypoint 3
Continue straight on until you reach a wooden finger post on your right hand side. Take the left turn signed (Cranfield 1.25 miles) up to the grassy hill. At the top of the hill, turn left and then sharp right, keeping the wooden seat on your left hand side. After approximately 80m, take the BW signed to the left hand side of the hedge. Follow this BW for about 1.5km to a junction, turn right along Clay Way and through the metal gate on to Holywell Road and up to the junction with Bedford Road which can be busy but has a 30 mph limit.

Cranfield and Marston Thrift Waypoint 4
If you wish to visit The Cross Keys pub very horse friendly and serves food daily; ideally call in advance 01234 750213, turn left here - its about 500m on the right. Otherwise, turn right and follow through the village to junction with Crane Way on your left. Cross Crane Way and directly infront of you between the houses is a BW (signed). Follow this sandy path to Partridge Piece and go through the horse friendly gate into the field.

Cranfield and Marston Thrift Waypoint 5
Go straight on to Moat Farm and through gate between the farmhouse and the brick barn. Ride straight on through the next bridlegate in front of you. Carry straight on, ignoring the BW to your left. At the BW junction approximately 80m after gate, turn left, keeping the hedge on your right hand side. Ride towards Longcroft Spinney, which you can see ahead of you on the right. Alternative Route: instead of turning left towards the spinney, turn right and follow bridleway to point 10 below. This shortens the ride by about 5km (3 miles).

Cranfield and Marston Thrift Waypoint 6
Continue to follow BW straight on, ignoring BWs to left, round corner to waymark sign in hedge on your left. Turn right here and cross arable field to Bourne End Farm which has a mobile phone mast.

Cranfield and Marston Thrift Waypoint 7
Just before the farm buildings take the BW to the right along the headland, following the waymarks across two arable fields.

Cranfield and Marston Thrift Waypoint 8
In the far Corner right hand side of the second field, pass through a gap in the hedge, just past the waymark sign. Turn sharp right, then left (keeping the hedge on your left hand side) and ride down the hill towards the junction with another BW. There will be a metal gate in front of you which leads to Top Farm and another on your left.

Cranfield and Marston Thrift Waypoint 9
Turn right here and ride along field edge ditch on your left to another BW junction at edge of woods. Turn left and follow track past Ashbrook cottage and on round to Roxhill Manor Farm. This is a large and busy farmyard so take care. Pass straight through the farmyard and turn right on farm track. After about 50m, at BW crossroads signed, turn left.

Cranfield and Marston Thrift Waypoint 10
Follow this BW to corner of field with BW junction, turn left here over ditch culvert. Follow BW about 1km to road.

Cranfield and Marston Thrift Waypoint 11
At the road, cross with care, and turn left, inside the hedgeline, for a very short distance. Turn right on Countryside Stewardship BW access (to 30/09/2011), with ditch on left. Follow BW towards large tree trunk. Once past tree trunk, turn left and then right up the hill. When you reach the top of the hill (at the corner of the post and rail fence), cross straight over the driveway (please do not go down driveway) through a gap in hedge in front of you, then turn right onto BW.

Cranfield and Marston Thrift Waypoint 12
Follow this BW along the top of the ridge (lovely views and opportunity for cantering). The BW becomes quite narrow and poached with woodland on your left and a barbed wire fence on your right, before opening up to a steep downhill section. Continue straight on untill you reach point 3 above and retrace your route back to the car park.