The Ramblers Association
Milton Keynes & District Group
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Walks Programme |
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| Sunday 16 November |
Starting from Waddesdon village, the route quickly leaves the roads behind for open fields and pastures, providing expansive, sweeping views over Aylesbury Vale. The path leads you across the magnificent Waddesdon Estate grounds, offering glimpses of the grand Waddesdon Manor and its stunning architecture. The outward bound part of our walk continues towards our lunch stop at the village of Cuddington with its characterful thatched cottages and a central pub, creating an idyllic visual of traditional English village life. After lunch, our inward bound part of the walk takes us to the small, isolated hamlets of Nether Winchendon and Upper Winchendon. In Nether Winchendon, you can pause at the historic St. Nicholas Church, a quiet landmark amidst the surrounding farmlands and the setting for a baptism scene in the film Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. The route loosely follows parts of the River Thame, where you can enjoy peaceful riverside scenery. Where: Layby on eastern edge of Waddesdon village, off the A41. Walk will start from site of Kaci’s Café (now permanently closed), Warmstone Lane, Waddesdon, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP18 0NF. Additional Details: I have elected for a slightly earlier start time to ensure we return to our cars before darkness falls. Waddesdon village is 30 minutes' drive from Milton Keynes. I recommend meeting in large car park adjacent to The Clock Tower pub, 2 White Horse Drive, Emerson Valley, Milton Keynes, MK4 2AS for shared lifts to Waddesdon village. Upon arrival in Waddesdon village, park in layby on eastern edge of Waddesdon village, off the A41. Walk will start from site of Kaci’s Café (now permanently closed) which is on the layby.    | 07531 728687 Boyd F | ||
| Sunday 23 November |
Where: Ashland Lakeside Community Centre Car Park | 07870 648566 Andy G | ||
| Sunday 23 November |
| 07870 648566 Andy G | ||
| Sunday 30 November |
Walk past HMP Woodhill, along parts of Swans Way, around the woods, up the hill to Whaddon. Then circle back along the North Bucks Way & MK Boundary, through the estate red ways to lunch at the Grounds Café at Howe Park Wood. Final stretch through the estate red ways back to the car park. | 07803 248210 Mark F | ||
| Sunday 7 December |
Where: Milton Keynes Village Sportsfield Carpark opposite the Church | 07870 648566 Andy G | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 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 £399 for a single en-suite room and £366 per person for a double room. These are “early bird” prices and the rates may be higher nearer the date of the walk. 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 Friday6 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.