A few weekends ago, I decided to go out for a bike ride to
the area north of MK, because I'd never been there before. The plan
was to head to Olney then back along a circular route.
Newport Pagnell
Despite the stupid name, Newport Pagnell is actually an
'original' place rather than part of the new town. It
is famous chiefly for its motorway service station.
M1 overpass, from a footpath that used to be a railway
line to Newport Pagnell (it now has none).
1/90 at f1.8, 30mm, ISO800
The other thing which is supposedly famous about Newport Pagnell
(but which in fact nobody outside the area has ever heard of) is
its iron bridge. I think this is it.
1/90 at f8, 30mm, ISO200
And here it is again. (I didn't crop this picture, it's as framed
in camera. Yes, it did take several tries.)
1/90 at f6.7, 30mm, ISO200
Sherington
I headed out of Newport Pagnell along minor roads towards a village
called Sherington.
Along the way I encountered this most excellent... er... installation.
It's something to do with gas.
1/180 at f11, 30mm, ISO100
Sherington has lots of pretty, twee features, and this quality garage.
I took this picture balancing on one of those annoying low wooden fences
with the diamond-shaped profile, and discovered the virtue of using my
bike saddle for support. Neat.
1/90 at f11, 30mm, ISO100
Upper portion of small building by side of road. I just liked the wood
textures.
1/350 at f8, 30mm, ISO100
Sherington church, seen through its lych-gate.
1/350 at f8, 30mm, ISO100
Clifton Reynes
From Sherington I ended up having to take the main A-road for a short
distance, which was a bit scary; I then arrived in another village called Emberton. Emberton
has a large pointless tower in the middle of a road junction, and a
church; I went to have a look at the church but they seemed to be
mid-wedding, complete with actual horse and carriage waiting outside.
Consequently I crossed back over the main road onto a minor
route towards a really tiny village called Clifton Reynes.
View from that road toward Olney Church, which has a very tall
steeple.
1/500 at f13, 30mm, ISO400
A pond and some gravel.
1/4000 at f1.4, 30mm, ISO200
A T-junction where you chose between heading into the village,
or off toward another one. (It also had old-fashioned signs,
which are pretty.)
1/350 at f9.5, 30mm, ISO200
The village itself didn't have terribly much of interest (or terribly
much of anything at all, in fact). I continued downhill along a footpath
toward bridges over the River Great Ouse.
A couple of tiny arched side-bridges allowed a stream through, but
one was completely dry. Consequently I was unable to resist
crawling under it. I think I rather surprised a couple of old people
taking a walk when they saw me emerge. They'd been looking at my bike,
which had apparently been left unattended; but I was actually only a
metre away, downward.
1/125 at f2, 30mm, ISO200
Olney
My path led into Olney by the water-mill (which is very pretty, and
which I haven't posted a photo of).
But here is some algae on a pool of the river downstream! Doesn't
that make up for it.
1/180 at f9.5, 30mm, ISO200
Once you pass by the mill and into that end of the town, the church
is right there.
It is big and pointy.
1/250 at f13, 30mm, ISO200
Stained glass from outside.
1/125 at f8, 30mm, ISO200
The centre of Olney (which is a small town, or at least a very
large village) is a little further on.
Cars for sale outside an ex-church hall.
1/180 at f11, 30mm, ISO200
Blue gate, red Post Office van, photographer taking life in hands
by stepping into middle of busy road during gaps in traffic to take
several attempts at this picture. :)
1/90 at f9.5, 30mm, ISO200
Awning over some establishment, a little the worse for wear.
1/250 at f6.7, 30mm, ISO200
Weston Underwood
I headed back from Olney via a western route, which led me -
appropriately - to a bizarre little village called Weston
Underwood.
Clock House, which was actually the picture on the front of the O.S.
map! That was totally unplanned, I was surprised to recognise it.
They took the picture when it was rather sunnier and there wasn't
a skip outside, though.
1/125 at f11, 30mm, ISO200
A long wall by the side of the road hid some large estate.
With a staff entrance...
1/500 at f1.4, 30mm, ISO200
...neat bird statues around the gatepost of the main entrance...
1/4000 at f1.4, 30mm, ISO200
...and a semicircle of stone steps leading up to said entrance.
1/90 at f8, 30mm, ISO200
The village had other unusual features, including huge stone
gateposts either side of the road (but no gate). Almost everything there
looked pretty old, including some buildings that had been converted
into very expensive housing.
X marks the pavement.
1/60 at f8, 30mm, ISO200
Dilapidated farm buildings.
1/180 at f6.7, 30mm, ISO200
Gayhurst
There's a place-name on the map, but really not much of a village there
at all. The only buildings of note were actually half a mile up a
side-road/driveway, which led to 'Gayhurst House', some kind of stately
home or other. It was marked private, but you could go into the
church, which was quite distinctive.
The altar, complete with Ten Commandments and lots of candles. And
fancy plastered ceiling, and ironwork. Whatever this place was, they
weren't short of money.
1/60 at f1.4, 30mm, ISO200
At the base of the altar table.
1/90 at f1.4, 30mm, ISO200
Looking up.
1/60 at f1.4, 30mm, ISO200
Little Linford to MK
After that it was back onto the 'main' road, then on a bridge
across the motorway to Little Linford.
Part of Hall Farm.
1/350 at f8, 30mm, ISO200
The road onward led between some lakes (probably gravel pits); it
would have crossed the motorway again and headed into Newport Pagnell
but I took a footpath south instead, through woodland beside the last
of the lakes.
In the woods.
1/90 at f1.4, 30mm, ISO200
Across the lake.
1/125 at f11, 30mm, ISO200
A tree-trunk.
1/90 at f1.4, 30mm, ISO800
And that was it! I crossed Wolverton Road into Milton Keynes proper
and joined the canal a little further on, cycling some way along that
before I had to leave it for the rather dull redways beside the V11,
and home.
