Referred to as Sandie in the Domesday Book, taken from the Old English meaning a sand island, Sandy is dominated by an outcrop known locally as the Sand Hills, and formed part of the early English kingdom of Mercia. By 1290 it was split into three smaller estates – Sandy Manor under the Beauchamp’s and two under local monasteries.

Roman SandyThere is evidence of a settlement in the Sandy area from at least the middle Iron Age suggesting that early Sandy would have been a self-sufficient farming settlement using the plentiful water supply as a resource. Excavations have revealed remains of a roundhouse and pottery has been recovered in the cemetery and allotments area.

The town gained importance when the Romans arrived in 43 DA and grew up around a Mansio (mansion) on the Roman road that ran from Baldock in Hertfordshire to Godmanchester in Cambridgeshire and developed to meet the needs of the Roman Imperial Post system. This was a network of messengers and later of relay posts, where the same messenger could change horses and continue the journey. The collapse of the Roman Empire and withdrawal of the Romans from Britain in 410 AD would have initiated the return of Sandy to its agricultural roots.

A large number of Roman remains have been found in Sandy, and it seems likely that it was once a thriving Roman settlement. Some of the remains are on display at Sandy Town Council Offices.

The PinnacleThe Pinnacle is owned by the Pym family and is leased to

Sandy Town Council. The outcrop of the Greensand Ridge that was formed about 125 million years ago is 300 feet above sea level and provides excellent views over the Ivel Valley. ‘Caesar’s Camp’ near the Pinnacle is the site of a British hill fort of Pre-Roman origin.

RAF TempsfordTempsford Airfield was built in 1941 and during World War II was used as a base for Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.) agents. The airfield was closed to the RAF in 1947, and is still intact. The field barn beside the bridleway, once formed part of Gibraltar Farm and remains as a memorial to those agents who took part in many dangerous operations in occupied Europe, while assisting the various Resistance movements. Equipment for these operations was issued in the barn and racks for supplies and equipment can still be seen.

White Wood This is an ancient woodland of about 60 acres and records indicate that a wood has been on this site from at least 1297. Most of the trees are pine but there are some fine specimens of native trees. The lime trees are thought to be about 200 years old when the wood was extensively replanted but some of the oaks date back 300 years. Evidence shows that it was managed as a plantation from the early 1800s with a variety of exotic trees that were probably planted when Woodbury Hall was first built.

Woodbury Hall This was one of a number of important country houses built in the early 18th century along the top of the Greensand Ridge, which runs through Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. Among

them Tetworth Hall and Hazells Hall close by, and further to the west, Ickwell Bury, Ampthill Park and Woburn Abbey. The hall was damaged by fire in the 1940s but has since been rebuilt in brick to a design by Sir Basil Spence.

Tetworth HallThe hall was built of red brick in approximately 1710 for John Pedley. Valley Farm, a medieval farmhouse at the foot of the hill below Tetworth Hall is believed to have been built in about 1650 on the site of huge stone circles in part of Canons Manor. A significant moat system lies around it, fed by nearby springs.

St Mary’s Church The major feature of the village of Everton, the present building dates from the 12th century with 14th century additions to the tower and porch. The 11th century Domesday Book records a church on the site. Until the boundary changes in 1974, much of the present Everton parish, including the church, was in the former county of Huntingdonshire.

The Lodge – RSPB Nature Reserve The is the National Headquarters of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Lodge Nature Reserve which is open to the public, was originally opened in 1961. From its splendid Italian Gardens to its extensive Woodland, Heath and Acid Grassland, there is a great deal for all the family to enjoy - it is well worth a visit.

Explore the countryside between the market town of Sandy and the village of Everton, following part of the Greensand Ridge Walk along the way

lifestyles

Walk

1 Circular walksSandy and EvertonMain walk: 10 miles/15.5km Shortcut 1: 7.2 miles/11.5km Shortcut 2: 8.2 miles/13km Time: 5 hours to complete whole route

Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Central Bedfordshire Council. Licence No 100049029 (2013)

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Walk1 Sandy and Everton 2 Old Warden3 Silsoe - Shillington4 Ampthill - Maulden5 Ampthill - Millbrook 6 Woburn - Eversholt

7 Rushmere and Stockgrove8 Cranfield9 Totternhoe10 Dunstable Downs11 Whipsnade Greensand Ridge walk

@BedsCountryside

CBCountryside

Walk

1 Circular walksSandy and EvertonMain walk: 10 miles/15.5km Shortcut 1: 7.2 miles/11.5km Shortcut 2: 8.2 miles/13km Time: 5 hours to complete whole route

Healthy walkingWhy not get out and get healthy? There is no better way to start than by taking a walk. Just 30 minutes a day can improve health and well-being, reduce the risk of heart disease, help to prevent diabetes, improve muscle strength even reduce anxiety and depression. So make today the day you start to enjoy Bedfordshire and good health. For information on healthy walking log on to www.walkingforhealth.org.uk

AttractionsThe route comes out opposite the RSPB headquarters and the grounds are open for the public to visit. 01767 680541.Roman Sandy Story is based in the Sandy Town Council offices 100m from the car park. 01767 681491.

Refreshments, parking and toiletsThere is a free car park on Sandy High Street, which also has a post office, bakery, several shops and pubs and a public convenience The Thornton Arms public house at Everton welcomes walkers and even has a Ramblers Menu and has kindly agreed to allow parking for walkers who take refreshments there. Large groups should book ahead on 01767 681149. For details of accommodation please contact the Tourist Informaton Centre 01767 682728.

Public transport For information contact Traveline 0871 200 22 33 or www.travelsmartuk.com There is a train station in Sandy, which runs between London King’s Cross and Peterborough.

Ordnance Survey mapsThe route is covered on Ordnance Survey Explorer map 208 available from local bookshops and some petrol stations.

Did you enjoy the walk? This is one of a series of circular walk leaflets produced by Central Bedfordshire Council. If you wish to request a leaflet, give us some feedback or report any problems encountered, please contact us on 0300 3008305 or e-mail us on recreational.routes@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Tips for enjoying your walkParts of the walk can become muddy especially after heavy rain, so strong waterproof footwear is recommended. Take care where conditions are rough and do let someone know where you are going. Please be aware that much of the walk is unsuitable for wheelchairs and difficult for pushchairs.

Other walksTo discover more walks in Central Bedfordshire visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/countryside or www.letsgo.org.uk

Or why not explore the Greensand Ridge by following the fabulous Greensand Ridge Walk, a walk that passes through many of the area’s most valuable landscapes and historic towns www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/greensand

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1 From the Car Park turn left and follow the High Street for 180m. Turn left into St. Swithun’s Way and right into Cherrycroft. After 25m turn left and follow the alleyway over the railway bridge on to the Pinnacle Recreation Ground. Continue straight across the meadow into the woodland and follow the waymarked path to the left until you reach Sand Lane.

2 Turn right and follow Sand Lane for 500m. Turn left to follow the Greensand Ridge Walk through meadows and along field edge paths and farm tracks. Continue to follow the bridleway for 2.5km/1.5 miles until reaching Tempsford Road.

Shortcut Option 1: Pass Fernbury Farm Barns and after 70m turn right to follow the field edge path. Continue straight ahead across the meadows and up the hill into Everton. On reaching Sandy Road turn left towards the Thornton Arms (7)

3 Cross the road with care and continue straight ahead along the bridleway for approx one kilometre, follow the track then join the old runway past Gibraltar Farm.

Shortcut Option 2: Opposite Gibraltar Farm, turn right and follow the waymarked footpath up the hill into Everton. On reaching Church Road turn right towards The Thornton Arms (7)

4 Leave the Roman Road by taking the track to the right towards Joan’s Wood. Follow the field edge paths to zig zag past Joan’s Wood and Hare’s Home Wood and on towards Woodbury Sinks.

5 On reaching a field gate, leave the concrete track and bear left to climb the hill to pass Woodbury Sinks on your left. Continue straight ahead along a track for 200m.

6 At the metal kissing gate turn right and follow the waymarked path through the Woodbury Estate passing though a second kissing gate and over a cattle grid at Story Farm. Continue straight ahead along the track and into the centre of Everton, passing St Mary’s Church.

7 At the Thornton Arms public house turn left and follow Potton Road, for 1 kilometre. Take great care when walking along the road where there is no pavement.

8 At Ashmore Farm turn right and follow the Byway to Deepdale passing through a small woodland.

9 At the tarmac road turn right along the track and pass the Sandy transmitter on your left. After around 800m, turn left to follow the Long Riding bridleway to Potton Road.

10 With care, cross Potton Road and enter The Lodge. This is the national headquarters of the RSPB and a nature reserve. Immediately inside the entrance gates, turn right along the waymarked ‘Fir’s Trail’, following the trail towards Sandy. On reaching Potton Road, turn left and follow the pavement back into Sandy and the start of the walk. As NO dogs are allowed in the RSPB reserve, an alternative route for dog walkers is to follow the roadside pavement from the entrance to The Lodge all the way into Sandy.

Walk

1 Circular walksSandy and EvertonWalk: 9.6 miles/15.5km Time: 5 hours with 2 shortcuts

Countryside code l Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signsl Leave gates and property as you find them

l Protect plants and animals, and take your litter homel Consider other people.

Always keep you dog in sight and train it to come back when called.

Never let your dog chase wildlife or grazing animals – it could get

injured too.

Unless you’re already friends, keep you dog away from other people

and either dogs – not everyone loves your dog as much as you do!

Always clean up after your dog.

Look out for horses, cyclists and runners – for everybody’s safety its

best to put your dog on a lead as they come by.

Follow all local signs about grazing animals.

Please follow these tips to keep you and your dog safe: