Woburn Sands to Ridgmont walk

1 Woburn Sands to Longslade Lane (3.8 kms)

1. From Platform 2 (for trains from Bletchley) at Woburn Sands, exit the station and turn right on Station Road to cross the line by the level crossing in 30 metres (if arriving from Bedford on Platform 1, simply turn right from the exit). In 50 metres pass Station Tavern on your right and in 60 metres turn right on Summerlin Drive. In 120 metres, before Drayhorse Crescent, take the surfaced path on the left across a grassy area.
2. When the path veers right in 45 metres, cut left across the grass to two ugly blue benches and in 40 metres turn right on another surfaced path, with a pond on your left. Go through a wooden gate towards a play area in 80 metres and fork right. In 35 metres go through the first wooden gate on the right (the gate ahead would be more convenient but it appears to be adult proof), then turn left on tarmac (Fletton Dell). In 40 metres turn right on Greensand View (not named here), passing Sturdy Lane on the left in 30 metres, Clay Gardens on the right in 20 metres, Badgers Holt on the left in 40 metres and Regency Mews on the right in 15 metres. In 50 metres continue past the end of the road through a hedge, then turn left in 10 metres on a path with trees to both sides, parallel with a residential road on the left and with fields beyond on the right. In 100 metres continue past an unmarked cross paths, with hedgerows on both sides.
3. In 200 metres cross the busy Bow Brickhill Road with allotments opposite. Turn left passing Tidbury Close in 50 metres. In 140 metres turn right on The Leys, signed for Aspley Guise and Woburn. (!) In 200 metres, where the road curves left by the last house on the right, turn right on the gravel Woodland Way. In 20 metres turn left through a metal kissing gate to Edgewick Farm. There is a useful map of the site on display, which is worth a look as it clearly shows the alternative routes across the site (not marked on the OS map).
4. Edgewick Park is lovely. It can also be devilishly confusing to find your way across, requiring the patience of Job and the logic of Rubik. The site consists of three fields, Considine’s, Hogsty and Ringer’s (the first and last are named after former farmers; the land passed to the town council in 2002 for use as a leisure amenity). It is possible to exit each field either to the left or to the right. The directions for the main route which follow immediately below are based on the assumption that you will be able to proceed unimpeded across all three fields. However, it is often the case that sheep are in situ in one or more of the fields, in which case some of the gates may be padlocked and you will need to refer to the following two paragraphs.
5. FOR THE MAIN ROUTE then, from the kissing gate and map note that there are two grass paths visible ahead; ignore the (unmarked) path which runs parallel with the road and take the right hand path across Considine’s Field, initially heading towards a gate which is just visible in the woods ahead (note this gate, as you may have to go this way). In 40 metres the path divides. The left hand path (due South at first) leads to the woods but you take the right hand option which heads towards a field gate (210 degrees). All being well, go through the field gate in 90 metres, then the path veers further right in Hogsty Field (240 degrees). In 220 metres go through a wooden field gate to the next field and veer half left (210 degrees) in Ringer’s Field, not straight on or to the right. In 35 metres you have a wooden fence briefly on your right and continue downhill across grass. In 60 metres ignore a wooden kissing gate on your left and go through a metal kissing gate ahead, then turn right. In 30 metres go through a second metal kissing gate, leaving Edgewick Farm by an information board. Breathe a sigh of relief, ignore the next two paragraphs and continue below.
6. IF YOU FIND THAT THE GATE IN TO CONSIDINE'S FIELD from Woodland Way is locked (by the information board), your best option is to continue along Woodland Way which eventually becomes a path. Ignore the first gate on your left, which leads to a picnic area. Immediately after this, you may be able to enter Hogsty field by a gate on the left and then follow the main directions above to Ringer’s field. If this gate too is locked***, go through a wooden gate ahead, gently uphill, then (hopefully) through another gate on the left directly in to Ringer’s field and follow the fence on your left, then pick up the main route at the gate from Hogsty field. IF ALL GATES ARE LOCKED, continue on the path running to the right of all three fields (which is the Milton Keynes Boundary Walk) and rejoin the main route at * below.
7. If however you are able to enter Considine’s field, but then YOU FIND THAT THE GATE TO HOGSTY FIELD IS PADLOCKED, your best option is to follow the field boundary round to the left and take the metal kissing gate, then turn right on a wide path (210 degrees). You pass a memorial seat, ignore a metal kissing gate to Hogsty field on your right**, go round a wooden field gate and a metal kissing gate, passing a pond on your right and over two sections of boardwalk, to reach an information board on the right. Lastly, if you are able to cross the first two fields but then YOU FIND THAT THE GATE IN TO RINGER'S FIELD IS PADLOCKED, you can either exit the field by a gate at the left (bottom) side of the field and then turn right on the alternative directions immediately above at** OR exit by a gate at the right (top) side of the field and turn left at *** above. Either way, the gate is about two thirds of the way across Hogsty field.
8. From the second information board, continue on a dirt path, ignoring the ditch to your left. In 20 metres go through a gap to the right of a stile with yellow arrows. In 15 metres take the right hand option at a wooden post with two yellow arrows, up in to woods (300°). In 100 metres turn left at a yellow arrow* and in 10 metres cross a Mountain Bike Trail. In 15 metres fork to the right, now following the Milton Keynes Boundary Walk (marked by an oak leaf logo), gently uphill. In 160 metres you reach a four-way junction by a bench on the right, where you cross a little to the right then resume in the previous direction, initially downhill (230°) on a wide track at the next Milton Keynes Boundary Walk sign (sadly the last one). The ditches and mounds to your left are all that remains of Danesborough hill fort, thought to have been built by anti-Roman tribesmen (and they probably were all men).
9. Cross a path in 400 metres with wooden bike barriers on the right and (!) in 100 metres, just before a post with several arrows (but nothing for the Milton Keynes Boundary Walk), turn left and gently uphill. In 50 metres cross a Mountain Bike Trail and continue with a wire fence and golf course on your right (160°). In 280 metres ignore a bridleway to your left and continue gently downhill. In 300 metres ignore a path to the left.
10. In 300 metres pass an Aspley Woods information board on your left (possibly empty) and turn right through a sandy car park ahead. In 45 metres turn left on Longslade Lane, opposite a sign for Woburn Golf Club.

2 Longslade Lane to Leighton Street (3.4 kms)

1. In 150 metres turn right at a green public footpath sign. Take the path which runs uphill, just inside the woods (Bell’s Copse), parallel with the field boundary. In 250 metres turn left at a yellow marker post (joining Walk 1-17), on a wide surfaced path with more golfers to your right.
2. In 25 metres you pass another yellow post. In 220 metres the path bears to the right, with a practice driving range over to your left and golf links to your right, your direction now 145°. Go past a yellow post in 100 metres and another in 100 metres. Turn right at the next yellow post in 120 metres (leaving Walk 1-17, which turns left along Charle Wood) on a path taking you on to the golf course. Take the right hand of the two parallel paths. In 80 metres the next yellow post points you in to woods on a narrow path. In 40 metres turn right and downhill on a wider path. In 40 metres a post points you to the left, leaving the obvious path. In 40 metres you pass a yellow post for Woburn Walk. You pass further yellow posts in 25 metres and 40 metres.
3. In 70 metres pass a wooden gate and turn right on a road, by a sign indicating that you are leaving Central Bedfordshire. Cross the road and in 30 metres continue through a small parking area. In 40 metres a yellow circular walk sign directs you through a gap to the left of a field gate. In 40 metres the path turns left at a black public footpath sign on a tree. Head South on a twisting path with private land on your right (though what remains of a fence would not keep intruders out for long).
4. In 350 metres keep to the right of another black public footpath sign on a tree, just after a marked cross-paths. The path is hard to follow in autumn; keep just to the right of a ditch. You may see deer here (possibly asking the way to Woburn). In 250 metres turn left just before a post with many logos, to follow the well-marked Greensand Ridge Walk (GRW) its waymark being a silhouette of a muntjac. Ignore a fire break off to the left.
5. In 380 metres leave the woods by a yellow post with GRW logo (ignoring a left fork) and continue with trees and fields to both sides, on a possibly muddy downhill path. In 500 metres you pass Job’s Farm on the left (more mock than Tudor) and continue on an unsurfaced road. In 260 metres you pass a duck pond on the left and reach woods on the right. In 260 metres turn left at a GRW sign, parallel with Leighton Street. In 100 metres cross another road to the left (signed to Little Brickhill) and continue on the pavement of Leighton Street (towards Woburn).

3 Leighton Street to Woburn Abbey (2.9 kms)

1. In 350 metres cross the road and take the public footpath to the right, just before a road sign welcoming you to Woburn. Go round a gate and turn left, parallel with the road at first on a wide track. In 220 metres go through a metal kissing gate with a GRW logo. Signs point you to the left but there is no obvious path on the grass and it is easier to continue ahead, towards Woburn Abbey which dominates the view after you pass over the brow of the hill. In 250 metres at a cross paths turn left, towards the woods. In 30 metres go through a metal kissing gate at a 3-armed signpost and turn right in the woods at a GRW sign.
2. In 300 metres turn left at a T-junction, with a metal kissing gate away on the right. In 5 metres turn right with a wooden fence and buildings to your left. In 60 metres you come out on a drive, with Woburn Fire Station on your left. In 50 metres cross London Road (B5704) to the pavement opposite and turn right (Fratelli’s Italian restaurant is visible to your left here, Triumph Garage housing Stop 'n' Stuff is to the right, with other lunch options in Woburn including the Black Horse, Longs Hotel and the Bell Inn).
3. In 300 metres turn left opposite Speedwell Cottages and to the left of Ivy Lodge. In 20 metres go through a tall black gate and continue on a narrow path with a tall (deer proof) wire fence on your left and a metal fence on the right. In 400 metres go through a tall gate in to the deer park and continue slightly left, on the middle of three paths. Just when you were feeling starved of yellow posts, you follow a line of them across open grass, still on the GRW (70°). You are now following the alternative route briefly summarised in Walk 1/17. Woburn Abbey and Basin Bridge are ahead to your right and deer are everywhere. In 500 metres pass between Stew Pond and Basin Pond.
4. In 90 metres you cross a private approach drive to the Abbey. In 260 metres you join another drive and in 100 metres reach a car park with a GRW sign pointing straight ahead.

4 Woburn Abbey to Church End (Eversholt) (2.1 kms)

1. In 180 metres go past a vehicle barrier and continue on a long straight drive (due East). In 320 metres you merge with a tarmac drive to your left, then continue across grass to the left, following more yellow posts (100°) and making towards a wood of tall evergreens.
2. In 300 metres leave the deer park by tall gates, which may test your strength. Continue through the woods, still on the GRW and gently downhill (120°). Go past a wooden post with GRW sign in 200 metres and across a field. In 260 metres pass another post with GRW logo in to woods, then down steps, over a ditch and veer left through a possibly muddy section. In 60 metres cross another ditch by a post. In 25 metres veer further left (East) on grass at a 4-armed wooden signpost. Linden Lake is to your left, largely hidden by trees. In 120 metres go over a wooden plank bridge and through a metal gate, then continue East in the next field.
3. In 180 metres continue on a narrow path, among bushes and nettles. In 50 metres go through a tall metal gate and turn left on Church End at a GRW sign. In 250 metres keep left at the junction with Witt’s End (seriously). In 80 metres you pass the Church of St John the Baptist, Eversholt, on the left. The Green Man is on the right in 30 metres.

5 Church End (Eversholt) to Woburn Safari Park (3.5 kms)

1. Turn right from the pub and in 100 metres ignore a path to the left across the cricket field (a good place for a picnic). In 45 metres the road turns left but you continue ahead on Brook End (a path to Millenium Pond is to its left). The road ends in 180 metres at Dove Cottage. Continue on a path with a tiny stream to your left. In 30 metres turn left to cross a wooden footbridge with two yellow posts and turn right. In 45 metres go through a wooden gate with GRW logo and continue along the right edge of a field. In 140 metres turn left at the corner of the field then in 35 metres turn right through a wooden kissing gate with a yellow post and immediately left again at a GRW sign, heading North at first through a possibly muddy section, with bushes and trees on both sides, ignoring an immediate right turn through a gate.
2. In 150 metres ignore gates and paths to left and right. In 140 metres the wide path starts to climb again, but you take the path to the left through a wooden kissing gate with a yellow post, leaving the GRW. Continue along the left edge of a field, alongside a hedge. In 140 metres, after a solitary tree, turn half right. There is no sign but it is obvious enough on the ground. Head towards a post (more orange than yellow), on the edge of woods (not marked on older maps). Enter the woods in 100 metres and maintain the same direction. In 100 metres leave the woods and briefly veer to the right. In 15 metres cross the next field to the far corner, in the same direction. In 200 metres turn left on a road, Old Water End (signed for Ridgmont), ignoring the road to the left (Witts End again).
3. In 180 metres take the road to the right (signed Ridgmont, 1½). In 220 metres take the path to the left through a wooden gate, to the left of a rusty field-gate. There is a green public footpath sign and a map of the Woburn Estate here. Follow the path uphill, at first with fences on both sides. In 140 metres the fence on the left turns away to your left and you pass a yellow post and continue on a narrow path, still uphill. In 150 metres go through a gate and continue ahead (300°) with buildings visible away to your right. You pass further yellow posts in 50 metres, 60 metres, 100 metres and 10 metres.
4. You emerge from woods on to open ground on a level grassy path. In 350 metres you pass another yellow post with a white house (Trusslers Lodge) soon visible ahead to the left. Turn left at the next yellow post in 80 metres, with a deer fence to your right. Pass another yellow post in 75 metres to reach a 3 armed green public footpath signpost in 90 metres by Trusslers Lodge. In 10 metres turn right on a drive, going over a stile next to a cattle grid and passing Trusslers Lodge on your right (Walk 1-17 joins you again here).
5. In 45 metres you turn left at another yellow post, off the drive and downhill in to Hay Wood, walking below a line of wires, your direction 310°. You pass another yellow post in 280 metres and leave the woods in 100 metres, having passed through some possibly muddy sections, through high metal gates. Continue ahead (still 310°) on a tarmac road. In 60 metres you pass to the left of two stone lions, at the entrance to Woburn Safari Park, crossing the entrance drive (with pay kiosks over to your left). Continue ahead on a drive in 30 metres (this is Sandy Lane, which would be the most direct onward route, but it is not open to the public and it would be a shame not to see the animals anyway).

6 Woburn Safari Park to Husborne Crawley (3.4 kms)

1. In 90 metres take the wooden kissing gate to the left opposite the last buildings, signed as a public footpath. Continue on the grassy path (210°) with Safari Park high fencing on your left. There are bison, dromedaries and other animals beyond the fence and shortly elephants on the right. Other animals you can hope to see include ostrich, zebra, rhinoceros, giraffe and oryx. In 650 metres cross a tarmac drive and continue through a high wooden kissing gate and downhill in to woods (220°). In 50 metres, at the bottom of the slope, follow the footpath round to your right with a ditch on your left (now 285°). Keep ahead along this straight path, possibly muddy in places, through a lightly wooded area, soon with wallabies on the left and probably muntjac deer scurrying on the path itself. In 550 metres you turn right on a tarmac drive at a yellow post (345°). In 350 metres at a yellow post on the right, turn right again on a possibly muddy path (North), leaving the tarmac. In 220 metres turn left at a yellow post.
2. In 25 metres cross a private road. In 25 metres continue ahead (315°) through a wooded area with a deer fence to your right. In 150 metres pass a yellow post to leave the Woburn Estate by a cattle grid and Husborne Crawley Gate in 35 metres. In 15 metres turn right on the B5704 and in 60 metres left on Horsepool Lane. In 30 metres take a path to the left at a green sign (with information about a World War Two plane crash in this field) and go through a wooden double gate (Walk 1-17 stays on the road here). (!) In 180 metres turn right at an unmarked cross paths (if you pass under wires, you have gone too far). There is a yellow post visible from this junction, which you pass in 30 metres.
3. In 45 metres turn left and right to cross Horsepool Lane again and take the path opposite, with the M1 now visible ahead. In 175 metres go through a metal kissing gate and maintain the same direction (20°) across the next field. In 120 metres pass a yellow post and continue across the next field, ignoring a path to the right. In 80 metres pass a yellow post and go through two metal gates in to woods, turning half left. In 85 metres go over a footbridge. In 75 metres turn right at a path junction by another yellow post, with the woods now to your right.
4. In 80 metres go through a ‘two tone’ (wood and metal) kissing gate and continue on tarmac (Crow Lane) with houses to your left. In 280 metres cross School Lane by a seat and continue at a green public footpath sign (Ridgmont station, 1 mile), now following the Western Historic Parkland Walk (a short local route). Note that the White Horse pub is 500 metres to your right on School Lane, though the village of Husborne Crawley is to the left.

7 Husborne Crawley to Ridgmont (1.7 kms)

1. As you cross the road, look up to your left to note the ‘Crown 2022’ feature on the tree in the corner of the field. Follow the left edge of the field; St James’ Church at Husborne Crawley is above you to the left (you may also see llamas in one of the gardens) and soon the spire of Ridgmont church is also visible on the horizon to your right. In 250 metres at a yellow post continue (10°) up across the next probably muddy field as per the arrow (don’t veer further right with the hedge). In 300 metres go in to the next field at another yellow post (30°), by the end of a hedge.
2. In 200 metres you have a hedge on your left. In 180 metres pass under wires and continue downhill. In 40 metres there are corrugated buildings to your left. In 60 metres continue past a yellow post and over a ditch in to the next field. In 200 metres go over a wooden footbridge, by another yellow post. In 40 metres go through a metal gate and in 20 metres through another metal gate to your left. In 20 metres cross the railway line at ground level with great care, directly under the M1 and continue to the right.
3. In 45 metres go up and down steps over piping. In 35 metres go through a gate, still with the rail line on your right. Continue on waste ground, to the right then to the left. Go under the A507 in 120 metres. In 25 metres ignore steps up to the road, on your left. In 100 metres turn right on Station Road, to reach Ridgmont station in 20 metres. Trains for Bedford depart from the near side (Platform 2); cross the line for the Heritage Centre and tea room, trains for Bletchley from Platform 1 and rail replacement buses.