Luton: A walk to a thatched pub and the river

The number 10 bus stops in Bristol Road close to the junction with Solway Road North.

There is unrestricted parking in Solway Road North.

[1] Come out of the Saints Community Centre gates onto Solway Road North and cross the road carefully. Turn left and walk towards Bristol Road. At the end of the road turn right and cross the road carefully. The road is quite busy and is a bus route. Keep going to the right towards Bishopscote Road, passing the turning for Trent Road on your right,

[2] At the end of Bristol Road turn left into Bishopscote Road by the roundabout. There are some shops on this junction. Take care as cars sometimes park on the pavement. This is particularly difficult on Thursdays when bins are also on the pavement. Cross over Tintagel Close and continue to the junction with Trinity Road.

[3] Cross this busy road carefully at the traffic lights, crossing towards the petrol station. Take the road that carries on ahead called Nunnery Lane. Follow it to the junction with Britannia Avenue. You will see a thatched building opposite you. This is The Old Moat House, a carvery pub. Cross over towards the pub and take a look inside, or sit out in the pretty garden.

[4] From the Old Moat House, turn right to continue in the same direction along Nunnery Lane, passing allotments on your right.

[5] Nunnery Lane now joins Bancroft Road at the end of the allotments. Cross over Bancroft Road with care, at the pedestrian crossing. Take the path opposite you that runs along the side of the River Lea. There is a seat very soon, where you can take a break and enjoy the view.You will see some houses to your left. These are in Fenwick Close.  Follow the path for a short way until you see a road on your left, which meets   Fenwick Close  by a group of 7 trees.  This is Aldhous Close.

[6] Turn left and walk along Aldhous Close, admiring the well kept gardens, until you reach Black Swan Lane.

[7] Cross over Black Swan Lane, with care, and turn right, crossing  Brackendale Grove and walking along Kingsley Road towards Trinity Road.

[8] Turn left onto Trinity Road by the Sunny Convenience Store and walk towards the traffic light junction with Blundell Road. The pavement is quite uneven in places. Care is needed.

[9] Turning right, cross Trinity Road at the lights with care. Follow Blundell Road until you have crossed St Josephs Close. Cross Blundell Road at the traffic island with care, then turn left towards Bristol road, which is almost opposite St Josephs Close.

[10] Turn right into Bristol Road and follow it the first turning on the right - Solway Road North.

[11] Turn right into Solway Road North and return to the Saints Community Centre on your right.

A. The Old Moat House was built in 1336.The moat, which still exists, took its water from the River Lea. In 1491 the owner forfeited his estate because of his fidelity to King Henry VII. There is an account of the buildings history on the wall inside and an inscription in the wall about the enormous size of hailstones that fell here in 1666, the year of the Great fire of London. The carvery meals are very cheap. Even if you don’t have a meal, you can have an ice cream for £2 and fill it up yourself as many times as you like, for no extra charge!

B. These allotments are called Moat Farm and Riddy Lane Allotments. They are run by the Limbury Leisure Gardens Association. They are well cared for and appear to be very productive. Allotments go back in history about 600 years and their number increased with the enclosure laws. In 1887 it became law for local authorities to provide allotments, if there was a demand for them. The usual size for an allotment is 10 rods. This is an ancient measure equal to 253 sq metres.

C. The River Lea has been important since roman times. It flows through Hertford and Enfield, past the Olympic Stadium to join the River Thames. At this point though, it is near its source and as little more than a stream.