Greenwood Cycle Trail
This information has been provided courtesy of
Let's Go. Simply log onto their website for more
information.
This description should be read in conjunction with the route map.
A link to the map is given below.
Greenwood
Cycle Trail (PDF, 168kb)
Introduction
This scenic trail allows you to enjoy a leisurely cycle ride that
is suitable for all standards of cyclists. Following this trail
takes you out and about the villages and hamlets of North
Bedfordshire.
The Greenwood Trail is a cycle route that starts from the Marston
Vale Millennium Country Park in mid Bedfordshire. Stretching over
250 hectares, the park provides a habitat for many species of
plants, insects and other wildlife, in particular wild birds. The
Forest Centre is a focus point for a network of trails that wind
their way around the Country Park together with a horse trail
created towards the southern edge of the parkland.
The Forest Centre provides an excellent starting point for the
Greenwood Trail. The Centre itself has a fully licensed café
bar and sun terrace with views overlooking the lake and parkland
beyond. Other internal features include an interactive exhibition
area, art gallery and gift shop. Close to the Centre is an
adventure play area, a miniature boating pond for model boats and a
sensory wildlife garden.
The Greenwood Cycle Trail is a 23 mile circular route which
includes 5.5 miles around the lakeside and parkland of Marston
Vale. On leaving the park, the remainder of the cycle trail uses a
series of ‘B’ roads and country lanes that meander
through the villages of mid and north Bedfordshire.
The roadside route is not waymarked. However, the illustrated map
highlights the trail together with trail alerts (TA). These are
included to draw your attention to a change of terrain, main
junctions and other details. Key places along the route include
Wootton, Wood End, Kempston West End, Stagsden West End, Astwood,
Upper and Lower Shelton.
The terrain is gently rolling and suitable to most standards of
cyclists. The route can be cycled in either direction. However, you
are advised to cycle clockwise around the lakeside and parkland of
the Marston Vale Forest area.
Start/Finish Point
This circular route starts from the Marston Vale Forest Centre. The
nearest station is Millbrook.Get off the train at Millbrook
station. Follow the road to the right. Head through the third gate
to the right into the Marston Vale Millennium Country Park. Follow
the perimeter path to the Forest Centre.
You can buy tickets to Millbrook on our website.
Access and General Information
Length: 23.8 miles
Directions
1. With the Forest Centre on your right, follow the cycle
path in a clockwise direction around the parkland and side of
Stewartby Lake. This is approximately 5.5 miles.
2. Leave the Country Park along the main drive and turn
RIGHT towards Marston Moretaine. (0.5 miles)
3. Turn RIGHT at the T junction by the Post Office. (0.8
miles)
4. Turn LEFT into Lower Shelton Road. Follow way-marked
cycle path through the subway under the main road. (1.4 miles) TA:
Winding road with blind bends
5. Turn RIGHT at T junction at Upper Shelton. (road sign
directions Wootton l¾ Bedford 6 miles). Pass through Wootton
Green (2.4 miles)
6. Turn LEFT at Wootton into Church Road, passing the war
memorial, then the church, both on the left-hand side. (4
miles)
7. Turn LEFT at T junction (road sign direction Wood End
¾ and Bourne End 1½) (5 miles) TA: Winding road with
blind bends.
8. Turn RIGHT at T junction (road sign directions Wood End
¼ Kempston 2) (5.3 miles)
9. Turn LEFT at The Cross Keys public house entering Tithe
Road. (road directions Stagsden 3) (5.7 miles) TA: Winding road
with blind bends
10. Turn LEFT at T-junction, into West End Road (road sign
Stagsden 2) (TA: Ignore Cycle Route Sign for Stagsden) (7.0
miles)
11. Turn RIGHT (the through road) Road climbs and descends a
substantial ridge (7.4 miles)
12. Turn LEFT at Firs Farm - follow single- track lane.
(road sign Stagsden West End) (8.3 miles) TA: Uneven track
13. Turn RIGHT (the through route) Lane climbs gradually.
(9.1 miles)
14. Turn LEFT onto Bedford-Milton Keynes road. TA: Take care
along this brief stretch. (9.6 miles)
15. Just beyond 'Buckinghamshire' sign, veer LEFT onto
one-way slip-road. This soon becomes a two-way carriageway. (10.0
miles) TA: Road ascends for approx 0.3 miles
16. At T-junction in Astwood, turn LEFT. This is a steady
descent, then ascent. (road sign Cranfield 3). (10.5 miles)
17. Just beyond the bus-shelter, turn LEFT. (road sign
Cranfield 1) (12.7 miles)
18. At four-way intersection at Broad Green, turn LEFT into
Crane Way. (road sign Wootton 4 Bedford 8) (13.7 miles)
19. TA: Take care joining main road (veers in on the
lefthand side, but it has priority). TA: Take care descending hill.
TA: Ignore signposted route to Marston Moretaine at foot of
descent, (road sign Wootton 4, Bedford 8) (13.9 miles)
20. Soon after passing The Exhibition PH on the left, turn
RIGHT to start retracing outward route. Turn RIGHT into subway
before reaching the main road. (road sign Lower Shelton) (15.8
miles)
21. Turn RIGHT towards Marston Moretaine (road sign Cycle
Route Symbol Marston Moretaine) (16.8 Miles)
22. Turn LEFT at Post Office into Station Road (road sign
Forest Centre) (17.5 miles)
23. Turn LEFT into drive to Forest Centre (17.7 miles)
24. Congratulations! You have now completed the Greenwood
Cycle Trail (18.3 miles) 23.8 miles in total
Weather Forecast
Below is the weather forecast for the Forest Centre.
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