Marlut one

Verified Slow Way

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I walked this from Luton to Markyate, on a grey day, with a little occasional drizzle. There had been more precipitation in the preceding week.

After leaving Luton's urban concrete jungle (photo #1) you soon find yourself going up a steep service road/walking "Lawn Path" (photo #2) which then opens up into Stockwood Park (photo #3). You cross the M1 on a bridge (photo #4), and then there is some narrow pavement walking into Woodside. It's narrow, but not unsafe.

From Woodside, the path goes along a dirt path and then opens up alongside fields, again up a hill (photo #5). There were a few kites about (photo #6). It's a little muddy here (photo #7), but it wasn't too bad. The walk through the Limekiln Plantation was lovely, with good dirt paths (photo #8).

There is however quite a few gunshots, while you pass a shooting range. It's quite noisy at times.

Just before Markyate, the route goes onto a fairly narrow lane with a fair amount of traffic (photo #9), before heading south-east, and then onto a footpath. I did not take that direction, and per a suggestion on an earlier review, I went due west to link up with The Ridings. That was a nice path through a field, although a little steep (photo #10). I'll add that as a new route though, as it's distinctly better.

You cross London Road with a fancy bridge (photo #11), and then you'll find yourself at the finish in the little town.

I walked from Markyate to Luton.
Noisy!
Out of Markyate and over a noisy road and along a pavement and the sound of chainsaws. Into the fields and an alarming encounter with four dogs barking ferociously (the same ones Gill mentions). My ears are now ringing and as I pass by a clay pigeon shooting range it gets worse. Some guns seem very close by and very loud. It will be another 4km until I've crossed the M1 before I can no longer hear gunshots. The two stroke engines of the scramble bikes did out-do the guns for some minutes. The M1 hums constantly and the low planes taking off from Luton airport roar overhead. In Luton high street an evangelist armed with a speaker system and a small fairground did nothing to sooth my eardrums. I did hear some birdsong in the carpark outside Luton station.

I walked on a Saturday and I think I was unlucky to encounter so much 'recreational activity'. Visually the walk is lovely with open fields and old beech woodland. The walk into Luton is made pleasant by the use of a cut through and a park. The blocked gate Gill encountered is still there, I untied the string, passed through, and tied it back up again.
Not for wheels, gates and rough ground.
Three stars without earplugs, four stars with earplugs.

I decided to run the walk and started from Luton Station and ran to Markyate. The route was fairly easy to follow and once you get to Stockwood Park there is plenty of greenery to enjoy. The paths are well kept so I was able to run with ease and fortunately it has been dry recently so there was no mud. I didn't understand why there was an extra three sides of a square towards the end, where instead of continuing straight down Hicks Road, there was a left turn into Windmill Lane, I then walked straight past the right turn onto the footpath which has a way marker set back but no finger post so is easy to miss as you pass the entrance to a large house. And to be honest I wish I had continued down Hicks Road, because as I walked along this pathway there were two very ferocious dogs in the field on the left, and while there was wire mesh fencing to contain them, they didn't stop barking and trying to jump the fence the whole time so that I was reduced to walking timidly until I got to the end. And then just to add another challenge, some helpful farmer had decided to lean a gate across the pathway. I was able to climb over, but if this is a permanent fixture it may prove more challenging for some walkers.
That said it was an enjoyable run and I am planning to walk it with some friends soon. Markyate is pretty and it's worth continuing along the high street past the firestation until you get to the rather splendid Pruden's Bakery for a well earned post-run or post-walk treat.

Photographs: 1 Luton Station, 2 Luton Town Hall, 3 The Plough at Woodside, 4 Woodside, 5 Lower Woodside, 6, 7, 8 & 9 Woodside to Half Moon Lane, 10 dogs and obstructive gate on the pathway from Windmill Lane, 11 view of Markyate, 12 & 13 Markyate High Street.

This is a great route from the centre of Luton to Markyate. It is mostly off-road so wellies or boots are recommended. You can pick up the route at Farley Hill, Woodside or Slip End. Both the climb out of Luton and the decent into Markyate are quite steep so a degree of fitness is required.

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