Shefford Navigator’s Way (8 miles / 13km - Leisurely, Booking Required)

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

Hosted by Stag Walkers for the Shefford Community Festival. A walk along the Navigator’s Way, a trail which follows a former canal, the River Ivel Navigation, from Shefford to the villages of Clifton and Stanford. The route is mainly flat and mostly through farmland, with some sections of road walking.

Our walk begins in the small market town of Shefford. From the Town Meadow Car Park we’ll head to the confluence of the Rivers Hit and Flit, where the canal was built in the 1820s linking Shefford to the River Ivel. This allowed goods to be brought by barge to and from the North Sea via King’s Lynn and the River Great Ouse. The canal fell into decline with the coming of the railways and the abandoned channel is now part-hidden by trees and bushes, with some sections filled in.

We’ll follow the watercourse eastwards, passing a view of the old Shefford Mill to the north. After crossing over the channel as it runs between arable fields, our route leaves the Navigation and turns along the road to Clifton. We’ll pass along the edge of the village then across some wide open fields, before turning west to meet the canal again at the former Stanford Lock.

In Stanford we’ll have an early packed lunch stop at a large playing field in the centre of this tiny village (please bring something to sit on if you wish, as there are just a few benches). Then, after a section of road walking, we’ll take a detour to Southill for a quick drink stop at The White Horse pub. On this part of the route we might see some aircraft flying from nearby Shuttleworth.

After our refreshments, we’ll turn south and head back towards Shefford, finding ourselves at the top of Cockshoot Hill, which has a great view over the town and surrounding countryside. On re-entering Shefford, we’ll cross the River Flit and pass the former terminus of the Ivel Navigation, where a block of flats named The Wharf indicates the old wharf where goods were unloaded. We’ll then follow the River Flit to rejoin the River Hit, and pass over a footbridge where a swing bridge once allowed access for the barges.

After finishing the Navigator’s Way and walking back to our start point, there is the option of a post-walk drink at traditional real ale pub The Brewery Tap, a couple of minutes’ walk from the car park.

Please note this walk is not suitable for dogs.

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, click 'join waitlist' to get a place if one becomes available and 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.