Upper Dean and Yelden (21km) Print

Upper Dean and Yelden Waypoint 1
Upper Dean and Yeldon, Ride 1 in the Bedfordshire on Horseback series. Approximately 21km (13 mile). Ride described clockwise, as this provides best canter opportunities but can be ridden either way. No gates on the whole route but there are two options to shorten or split the ride. This route is mostly on field headlands and farm tracks with several grassy canters. There is about 3km (two mile) of roadwork on the full route, rather more if the route is split into two rides, on generally quiet lanes as described. Starting from High Street Farm, turn right or from The Three Compasses pub (just to west) turn left, through Upper Dean on the road, past Dalton Hall and playing fields on the left to start of Byway on right (signed).

Upper Dean and Yelden Waypoint 2
Follow this Byway (Closed to vehicles October to May) for approx 2km, entering woods after about 1.5km. The Byway bears to right and comes to a junction. Follow this Byway around to the right for another 1.5km past Swineshead Wood. The grassy track becomes a lane and emerges at the road by Swineshead Church.

Upper Dean and Yelden Waypoint 3
Turn right on the road, for about 275m. Turn left into Green Lane and follow this lane, which becomes a Bridleway (BW), for about 365m. As the lane bears right into a driveway, continue straight on towards field gate and turn left between hedge and field fence. The BW emerges over a bridge into a field, continue straight up ahead with hedge on left along headlane, bearing right up hill to road by Grange Farm.

Upper Dean and Yelden Waypoint 4
Turn right on to road and continue for about 220m to BW on left signed. Follow this BW for 1km down track and straight across grassy meadow with wood to your right. In the far corner of this field the BW passes through a gap in the trees signed onto a concrete track through the woods.

Upper Dean and Yelden Waypoint 5
Follow this track to T junction with wider track. Turn right here (signed) and follow track until it emerges from wood.

Upper Dean and Yelden Waypoint 6
Turn left here with wood on your left and follow grassy track for approx 1.3km. As the track approaches Worley\'s Wood and bears to the right, look out for gate on left with BW sign and gap to side of gate.

Upper Dean and Yelden Waypoint 7
Turn left here and follow the track through woods for 1km. Shortly after BW emerges from woods, take BW (signed) to right and follow this for about 1.2km to road.

Upper Dean and Yelden Waypoint 8
Turn left onto road for 275m and turn right onto Three Shires Way BW (signed) Follow this BW for 2km (taking care to take the grassy track through copse on right of farm track after about 1km mile signed). Pass two mobile phone masts at top of hill and continue straight on, ignoring signed BWs to left. Eventually BW turns into headland with hedge on left, continue for about 1.5km to road.

Upper Dean and Yelden Waypoint 9
Turn left on road and descend past ancient motte and bailey to edge of Yelden. (You may continue about 380 meters into village to The Chequer pub, which offers food and is horse friendly). Closed Monday and Tuesday lunchtime. The Three Shire Way is signed to right follow this for 1km to BW signed on right.

Upper Dean and Yelden Waypoint 10
Take this BW uphill and round to left to diagonally opposite corner of field. At this corner, the BW turns right through gap in hedge (signed). Do not continue on round field downhill.

Upper Dean and Yelden Waypoint 11
BW soon joins a farm track, turn left and follow the track for a total of approx 1.3km, with two right turns along its route, to houses next to track at Dean Lodge.

Upper Dean and Yelden Waypoint 12
Follow BW signs to turn left down drive. Follow down drive to road, turn left on road to The Three Compasses continue another 500m if you parked at High Street Farm, which is about 175m after the road bends to left.