Beds Walk Fest: Harlington & Sharpenhoe Clappers (7 miles / 11km - Moderate, Booking Required)

This walk is for up to 30 people, including the leader.

Hosted by Stag Walkers as part of Bedfordshire Festival of Autumn Walks.

Join us for a circular walk through some wonderfully varied Bedfordshire countryside, including farmland, woodland and chalk hillsides, with some steep ups and downs.

We’ll begin in Harlington, a picturesque village with an attractive historic centre, meeting by the village green. We’ll pass the 14th-century St Mary’s Parish Church before heading out into the surrounding countryside.

Field paths and farm tracks will take us across open farmland towards the small village of Sharpenhoe. There will be a few sections of road walking which we will take as safely as possible. Then, in the middle section comes the walk’s main challenge: a fairly steep but not especially long climb up the wooded chalk escarpment onto Sharpenhoe Clappers. From the Clappers, there are wide views across the Bedfordshire countryside.

We’ll continue through the hills before stopping for a packed lunch at the picnic benches near Sundon Hills car park. After lunch, we’ll follow wooded paths through Sundon Hills Country Park, descending through the old chalk workings there emerging into open farmland alongside streams and blackberry bushes.

The final part of the route snakes between fields towards the new housing on Harlington’s southern edge, eventually bringing us back into the village.

Anyone who fancies sticking around afterwards can join us for a drink at either the Old Sun or the Carpenters Arms—two lovely village pubs just a short walk from our finishing point.

Please bring a packed lunch, water and suitable walking footwear. There are some steps and uneven paths, and the route may be muddy after rain.

This is one of more than 50 walks making up the Bedfordshire Festival of Autumn Walks, hosted by Bedfordshire Ramblers Groups and friends from 5 to 13 September. To see the full Walks Programme visit http://www.bedswalkfest.co.uk/

Dogs are welcome on a lead. 

For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.

Booking your place: Please book your place using the free Meetup website/app. Join the Stag Walkers Meetup group and click the 'Attend' button on the event page.

Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited.

If the walk is fully booked, please click 'join waitlist' then please check back regularly as you will likely get a place. The waitlist gives priority to single bookings so if you wish to bring a guest, we recommend booking separately.

Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.