The Ramblers Association
Milton Keynes & District Group
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Walks Programme |
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| Sunday 14 December |
Starting at the National Trust Visitor Centre / Chilterns Gateway Centre on Dunstable Downs, the walk begins with magnificent panoramic views across the rolling, open chalk grasslands of Dunstable Downs, which are part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The walk follows a section of the historic Icknield Way, taking us first to the Whipsnade Tree Cathedral, a unique memorial to soldiers lost in the First World War, and then to Whipsnade village. We later leave the Icknield Way Trail to begin the descent to Totternhoe village, passing near the London Gliding Club. The final mile of our walk takes us past the ancient Five Knolls round barrow cemetery and then, high up on the escarpment, we enjoy expansive views over the Bedfordshire plains. Where: Chilterns Gateway Centre Whipsnade Road Dunstable Beds LU6 2GY Additional Details: Parking at the Chilterns Gateway Centre in Dunstable Downs costs £3.50 per day for non-National Trust members and is free for National Trust members. Bring a packed lunch.    | 07531 728687 Boyd F | ||
| Sunday 21 December |
Meet at the Thornton turning off the A422. Travelling from MK, turn left at signpost for Thornton and immediately on the right is a lay-by section of the old road with plenty of parking space and unfortunately some fly-tipping rubbish. The Thornton road is currently closed, but the lay-by is still open. | 07710 423032 Philip T | ||
| Friday 26 December |
The first loop takes us to the green spaces of Shenley Brook End’s Recreation Ground and then the Garthwaite Pavilion sports fields before alighting to Shenley Wood with its overhead canopy of ash and oak trees and its understory of hazel bushes, an ancient woodland dating back to the Domesday survey of 1086. We then pass through Shenley Toot, which includes the remains of a motte and bailey castle and the earthworks of a landscaped garden of a Tudor manor house. After we walk through the historic centre of Shenley Church End village, we pick up a hidden bridle track that takes us to the vertex point of our figure-of-eight walk and the start of the second loop. We walk to the historical part of Loughton village via Whitworth Lane, Milton Keynes’ very own millionaires’ row, where average property prices are closer to £2 million than £1 million. We see the North Loughton moated site, a scheduled ancient monument, the 16th-century Manor Farm and Cell Farm at The Green, All Saints' Church and finally the old school house which has recently been refurbished. Where: Park in car park at front of Caroline Haslett Primary School, Faraday Drive, Shenley Lodge, Milton Keynes, MK5 7DF. | 07531 728687 Boyd F | ||
| Sunday 11 January |
We cross the road into Stockgrove Country Park where there are public toilets. The route next takes us lakeside through beech woods before a sharp ascent to the Giant Chair and Rushmere Country Park. We will have our lunch stop at the Visitors Centre where hot beverages are available. After leaving the park we walk down through woods and fields to join the canal. It is then 1.5 miles along the tow path back to the cars. Where: Meet in the public car park off Leighton Road, just past the Three Locks pub (on the left if approaching from Milton Keynes). Take care as there are lots of pot holes! Additional Details: The walk is undulating so a good degree of fitness is required. Walking poles may be useful. Some paths will be muddy at this time of year. Bring a packed lunch. | 07729 911061 Sue F | ||
| Sunday 18 January |
The return trip is via the Stony bird sanctuary and the car park. Where: Watermill Lane car park, Wolverton Milton Keynes, MK12 5NZ Additional Details: Lunch & coffee next to the Church of Saint Mary and Saint Giles (toilets & refreshments at No.8 Coffee Shop) in Stony High Street. Moderate walking along mostly MK redways and the canal path. Dog friendly. New walkers most welcome. | 07803 248210 Mark F | ||
| Friday 6 March |
Three nights away (details below) with perhaps a 6 mile walk on Saturday 7 March 2026. and a 10 mile walk on Sunday 8 March 2026. Details of the walks are not yet known but will be agreed with those walk leaders joining the trip. Be aware that will not have done a “recce” for these walks; but we will ensure that at least two experienced walk leaders are present on each walk. Our base for the walk will be Longmynd House, Church Stretton, owned by the walking cooperative HF Holidays, about 120 miles from Milton Keynes. Full Board for three nights from 6 March currently costs £469 for a single en-suite room and £439 per person for a double room. Unfortunately the price has increased since I first posted the details. A packed lunch is included on each walking day. The webpage to see the details of the walk can be found at: https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/holidays-and-tours/3-night-shropshire-hills-self-guided-walking-holiday. The details of the HF country house can be found at: https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/country-houses/locations/church-stretton-shropshire-hills. We will be starting each walk at 10 am outside Longmynd house, so if you prefer you can book your own accommodation rather than stay with HF Holidays. Wherever you are staying, please let the organiser (Philip T) know that you will be coming; so no one gets lost or left out. Shared cars to the hotel can be arranged on request. If you are travelling by train, there is a station at Church Stretton (change at Crewe). Where: Longmynd Hotel Cunnery Road Church Stretton Shropshire Additional Details: Check in time for the hotel/house is 4 pm on Friday 6 March. Check out time is 10 am on Monday 9 March 2026. Please ignore the stated finish date and time shown in Walks Manager, as it does not allow for multi walk breaks | 07710 423032 Philip T | ||
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* Registered Assistance Dogs are allowed to walk with their owners in accordance
with the Disability Equality Act (2010). If you wish to bring an assistance dog, please contact the leader beforehand to check for any difficulties with the route. |
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Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577, registered charity in Scotland number: SC039799.