2011 Rally Page Two...

Cardington's airship sheds shrouded in early morning mist

Just some of the directions for our Saturday tour - although not necessarilly in the correct order!

Rural Bedfordshire is in the heart of England, a long way to the coast in whatever direction you care to travel and because of its central location, a good place for a rally venue. The weekend is planned to be a relaxed and fun occasion with non critical departure and arrival times, leaving plenty of spare time for sight-seeing or simply nattering with fellow enthusiasts.

Friday 10th : With rallyists journeying from all over the country (and beyond) Friday evening's pub meet located just a couple of miles from Old Warden provides a relaxed opportunity to meet up with friends old and new over a drink and perhaps a meal. The Inn serves excellent food and real ales. It also has a large car park and an al fresco drinking/eating area should weather permit. Pub website: www.whitehorsesouthill.co.uk

Saturday 11th: The main rally tour will start and conclude at Old Warden Airfield. We have been allocated an airfield assembly area where rally packs can be handed out to crews and final checks made to the cars before departing on the 45 mile morning leg of the tour. Opportunities for stops have been provided and a picturesque venue has been chosen for the luncheon halt. The shorter, 35 mile afternoon section of the tour provides further opportunities for discovering some of Bedfordshire's hidden gems before a return to the airfield for our late afternoon cream tea.
Ample time has then been allowed for cars and crews to then return to their Hotels and B&B's before returning once more to enjoy the Rally Dinner which commences around 7:00PM. The airfield restaurant and verandah is the venue for our party which, again weather permitting, should allow us to view the evenings flying activity from the comfort of our dining tables.

Sunday 12th: Trevor and Sylvia Wilkinson have provided another delightful tour route for Sunday morning (the traditional run to the coast hardly being a feasible option this year!). Taking in the impressive National Trust maintained Tudor Dovecote at Willington and the barn on the disused S.O.E. airfield at Tempsford as well as providing other potential stopping points of interest, Sunday morning is really no more than a leisurely amble along some quite back roads and bye-ways. Towards the end of the tour the route takes us past four pubs, any one of which can be selected as a lunchtime stopping point.

A Sunday afternoon roaming the exhibits and displays on the airfield are the only remaining planned activities for the weekend. For those interested in vintage aircraft, take in the Shuttleworth Collection and make a point of seeing Scott and Campbell Black's De-havilland DH88 Comet Racer, winner of the 1934 London to Melbourne Air Race. The airfield also hosts a famous horticulteral exhibition in the form of the 1820 constructed Swiss Garden. Designed by Lord Ongley it will be at its best during mid-June. The site also hosts a renowned Birds of Prey Centre run by the English School of Falconary for those with an avian interest.

As Sunday afternoon wears on rallyists will be free to leave and make their homeward journeys having (hopefully) enjoyed a memorable weekend.

NB Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 153 provides the coverage required - although both tour routes will be available with easy to follow plain English directions printed on A4 sheets of paper.

Rambler January 2011