Greensand Ridge - Leighton Buzzard to Woburn
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This description should be read in conjunction with the route map.
A link to this map is given below.
Route Map
(PDF, 687kb)
Introduction
The Greensand Ridge Walk is Bedfordshire’s premier long
distance walk. The route spans the county for a total of 40 miles,
following the greensand ridge. The walk is an ideal introduction to
the history, landscape and wildlife of this part of the county.
Section 2, from Woburn to Ampthill, passes through the attractive
Deer Park in Woburn and ends in the historic centre of
Ampthill.
Start/Finish Point
Either Leighton Road in Leighton Buzzard or George Street in
Woburn. For Leighton Buzzard, simply change trains at
Bletchley.
For Woburn, the nearest station is Woburn Sands. You can use the
below journey planner to plan your journey to the start
point.
Access and General Information
Length: 8.5 miles
Surface Types: You will walk across surface types ranging
from hard and firm with no stones larger than 5mm, to hard and firm
with some loose, variable sized stones, to grass or uncultivated
earth paths with and without ruts and mud, to farmland.
Linear Gradient: The steepest linear gradient is steeper
than 1:6 between points 3 and 4 on the map There are also gradients
of greater than 1:6 before you enter Oak Wood, between points 4 and
5 on the map. Elsewhere, there are gradients of between 1:6-1:9,
1:10-1:13 and between 1:14-1:17 along the route.
Cross Falls: The steepest are 1:9 or steeper between points
3 and 4 on the map and between points 4 and 5.
Width Restriction: The minimum width restriction of 770mm,
on the sleeper bridge between the A5 and Sheep Lane (between points
6 and 7 on the map).
Steps: The longest flight of steps is at the A5 (Watling
Street). There are 15 steps down to the road and 12 steps up from
the road with a maximum height of 300mm. There are 7 steps at the
bridge over the Ouzel (point 3), with a maximum height of 350mm, 6
steps at the first boardwalk (point 3) with a maximum height of
280mm, and 4 steps at the second boardwalk (point 3), with a
maximum height of 210mm.
Barriers: There are 8 kissing gates with a restriction of
less than 1000mm. There are two particularly narrow kissing gates
with a restriction of between 420mm and 550mm, located where the
path skirts Rammamere Farm (between points 5 and 6). There are also
2 two-step stiles, one one-step stile, 1 2-way opening gate with a
width of greater than 750mm and one 1-way opening gate with a width
of greater than 750mm.
Refreshments: Leighton Buzzard town centre (about 450m from
the start of the walk), has a full range of pubs, shops,
cafés, etc. Stockgrove Country Park (about 800m from the
route), has a café. In Woburn, there are shops, pubs and
cafés.
Public Toilets: These are located at Stockgrove Country
Park.
Picnic Tables: Located at Stockgrove Country Park.
Seats: There are seats at the canal bridge in Linslade, at
Leighton lock and as you leave Oak Wood.
Directions
1 Begin at the road bridge on Leighton Road which crosses the
canal. Walk northwards along the towpath of the Grand Union Canal
to The Globe Public House.
2 Pass the pub and turn right through a kissing gate into a large
meadow. Immediately turn left, heading down the bank and onto the
boardwalks. At the end of the boardwalks turn sharp right and walk
across the field to the edge of the river. At this point head for
the bridge that crosses over the river.
3 Cross the bridge and head straight across the field to a track.
Turn left, through the kissing gate and left again to join a large,
sandy track known as Firs Path. Keep following this path with the
wood on your right and river on your left until you emerge into a
large meadow. Continue to follow the path up the hill and through
the wood to the crossroads.
4 Turn left along Bragenham Lane for 50m and turn right onto the
footpath. Follow the waymarked path to Oak Wood.
Oak Wood is part of Stockgrove Country Park. To visit the Park,
follow the signposted path which is off the bridleway.
Pass the pond and over the bridge. Continue on the main path until
you reach a T- junction. Turn right up the hill, through the
conifers and past the cottages and clock tower. This brings you out
onto Brickhill Road.
5 Turn right and after 200m turn left through the layby and down a
narrow path. Follow the bridleway around the edge of Rammamere
Heath. On leaving the heath, head towards Rammamere farm. Go
through the gate and into open fields. Cross one field but do not
go through the gate. Instead turn right and follow the fence line.
Follow the waymarked path until you get to the corner of the field
by a wood. At this point turn left over a stile and footbridge and
into another field. King's Wood National Nature Reserve is on the
right hand side.
6 Cross the road with care and follow the cross-field footpaths
until you reach Sheep Lane. At the road turn left and after 150m
turn left again through a gate and along a grass ride.
7 Enter the wood following the bridleway known as Nun's Lane to a
junction with a large sandstone marker. Turn right and follow the
path to the road, passing Job's Farm.
8 At the road turn left and continue along the pavement for 400m.
At Maryland College there is a fingerpost on the opposite side of
the road. Cross the road with care and follow the waymarked path
across a field and then along the fence line. From this path, take
the first left to go into Woburn, or the second left to follow to
Greensand Ridge Walk to the fire station on George Street.
Weather Forecast
Below is the weather forecast for Leighton Buzzard and
Woburn.
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