HERITAGE SITE INFORMATION HERITAGE SITE INFORMATION eritage Section 1 Section 2 Cycle Trail Willen Lake to Woughton Medieval Village (3.6 miles) Woughton Medieval Village to ‘Magiovinium’ (3.2 miles)

Willen Lake is one of the largest The Open University or OU was formed purpose-built balancing lakes in in 1969 and is centred CIRCULAR ROUTE in the UK. Its primary purpose is to on the historic Walton Hall. It is Milton intercept the Ouzel. North Lake is a Keynes’ biggest employer with over 5,000 key wildfowl site attracting up to 2,500 staff on site and is the foremost distance Milton Keynes OuzelValley wild birds, with a wide variety of learning institution in the world. Willen Lake The Open University migrating waders in and autumn. Walton Lake is a disused ‘balancing lake’ South Lake is devoted to recreational allowed to fill with reeds, creating a very pursuits, mainly dinghy sailing and wind different habitat from the open of surfing, but also boasts Aerial Xtreme most of the city’s other lakes. A boardwalk adventure rope course. into the reedbed, linked to two birdhides, offers fantastic opportunties to see bird Refreshment Spots and waterlife close-up. One4Six / Lakeside Willen Lake Aerial Xtreme Walton Lake

Milton KeynesVillage originally Saxon, Caldecotte Lake has given up an this small village is mentioned in the Ichthyosaur, a sea-living dinosaur from Domesday Book. Its name derives from around 150 million years ago (now on the ‘DeCatrines’ or ‘Keynes’ family who the wall of CMK Reference Library) and a owned the manor during the 13th late-medieval boat (c.1540 AD) a type century. The village contains many timber unique this far north in the UK. Milton KeynesVillage Church Fossil of Ichthyosaur framed and thatched buildings including The Caldecotte Arms pub windmill may be The Swan Inn, Burley Cottages and Ivy modern, however a watermill dating to the Cottage. Other notable buildings are the late 1600s was excavated in the area now Church, Rectory and School House. occupied by Caldecotte Lake south, near See www.mkheritage.co.uk/tva the deserted medieval village of Caldecotte.

Refreshment Spot Refreshment Spot Swan Inn Swan Inn The Caldecotte Arms Caldecotte Arms

Bronze Age Gold Torcs and bracelets The Roman Garden at Dobbies Garden (1100-800BC) were unearthed from a World, which opened in 2006, developed dig in Monkston Park, declared treasure from an idea to commemorate the trove and are now in the British Museum. Roman past of the area. James Dobbie Woughton MedievalVillage , it is not started the company in 1865. known why it became deserted – at Magiovinium was a Roman fort which Monkston Park GoldTorcs Roman Garden some point in history the villagers moved later grew into a small town on Watling to where Woughton-on-the-Green now Street. Excavations for the construction of stands. You can still make out medieval the A5 dual carriageway revealed Roman ridge and furrow farming patterns, cemeteries and artefacts including a platforms where houses once stood and possible coin forger’s hoard. the wide sunken way – Meadows Lane – leading past the former Manor site. Refreshment Spot Start/End: Willen Lake South Site of Medieval village Dobbies Garden World Find from Magiovinium Distance: Full Route 12.6 miles, Short Route 4.5 miles HERITAGE SITE INFORMATION HERITAGE SITE INFORMATION

Section 3 Section 4 ‘Magiovinium’ to Woughton On The Green (3 miles) Woughton On The Green to Willen Lake (2.8 miles)

Fenny Stratford was an important staging The medieval fish date from a 14th post along Watling Street and ancient century fish farm belonging to the manor market town until 1665 when the town house.They were built near the Ouzel so a was devastated by the bubonic plague. In supply of fresh could be maintained. 1805 the Grand Junction from Little Woolstone church, described in London to opened, passing 1755 as ‘a poor mean building’, with a Fenny Lock and swingbridge Site of Fishponds Heritage Cycle Trails through Fenny Stratford. wooden turret at the west end. West of Fenny Lock To overcome a local problem the church is the farmhouse, a 17th during construction Fenny Lock was century red brick building, considerably Trail C Milton Keynes Ouzel installed as a temporary lock and remains altered and modernised. The Mill House Start: Willen Lake South to this day, deemed too costly to remove. on the , is a 17th century Distance: Full Route 12.6 miles, Short Route 4.5 miles stone house with an upper story of half- Refreshment Spot Duration: 31/2 - 4 1/2 hours timber and a thatched roof. The Red Lion The Red Lion LittleWoolstone Church Note: Full route involves minor 30mph roads and trails near waterways and may not be suitable for children and/or inexperienced cyclists. Simpson Great Woolstone Church Farm and The old church of St Thomas has been Dovecote was built in the late 1500s of largely reconstructed and altered many timber with a brick front added in the times. Simpson House opposite Walnuts 1700s. In the 1800s the farm was home to School is Grade II listed. Many other William Smith who pioneered the use of buildings have historical significance. steam engines to plough fields – an StThomas Church Dovecote Simpson was the first village to see new example is on display at MK Museum. development. It still has a rural feel as it is Holy Trinity Church dates from the late now almost completely surrounded by 1200s although excavations revealed linear parks and the canal runs alongside it. foundations of a Norman church and For 2008, Milton Keynes has revamped its three Heritage Cycle Simpson Manor House is on the site of Roman occupation. Trails A – C to be bigger and better than before. In addition, a the medieval manor. The house itself was brand new Trail D – North West Milton Keynes has been Refreshment Spot pulled down in around 1810. designed by a group of young volunteers supported by the Make Site of Manor House The Barge Inn HolyTrinity Church a Difference Team. Trails start either at Willen or Furzton Lakes and take you around some of the magnificent scenery and hidden Woughton On The Green The winds its way heritage that Milton Keynes has to offer. Additional Heritage Cycle The original village was recorded in the through Milton Keynes creating a haven of Trails are planned for 2009, meanwhile, cycle, walk, jog or run and Domesday Book as Ulchestone with a tranquility. Canal boats first travelled from discover Milton Keynes for yourself. population c120. The Green is a London to , through what is Trail leaflets are available from Discover Milton Keynes, Silbury scheduled ancient monument site, the now Milton Keynes, in 1805. The Canal Boulevard, near door 7 of the centre:mk shopping centre, and extensive earthworks evidencing the prospered until 1838, when the London St Mary’s Church Bridge over canal local museums or libraries, or can be downloaded: growth of the village until its decline after to Birmingham Railway opened and took www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/cyclemk the enclosure of 1769. away a great deal of trade. www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk Ye Olde Swan originally constructed in Campbell Park is named after Lord the 1600s has historical associations with Campbell of Eskan, first Chairman of highwayman Dick Turpin. Milton Keynes Development Corporation. It is the largest City Centre Sculpture Park Refreshment Spot in the UK. ‘Head’ is by artist Allen Jones. Ye Olde Swan Inn ‘Head’ sculpture Campbell Park Produced by Heritage Unit Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes Council Ye Olde Swan Email: [email protected] Web: www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/heritage Designed by Lionart: [email protected] October 2008 Edition Heritage Cycle Trail C – Milton Keynes OuzelValley 0 miles 2 miles 4 miles 6 miles 8 miles 10 miles 12 miles

17. At the church turn left along Mill Lane to 18. Go over the bridge and take the second 1. Starting from One4Six Coffee Shop, 2. Turn left following the river before then The Barge pub. Cross Newport Road with care right up to ‘Head’ sculpture where NCR6 and head south past the Lakeside Pub to bearing right onto the redway and past the and head up Linford Lane. Cross Pattison Lane. NCR51 meet. Turn right at ‘Head’ to follow South Lake past the Adventure Xtreme houses keeping the new school in the distance Head under the H6 Childs Way and head redway a short distance to next bridge (81b) Ropes Course (on your right). Turn right (Middleton Primary) on your right. Follow the slightly uphill past the rear of Gullivers Eco Park turn right and head back to Willen Lake onto NCR51 over the miniature railway path towards Milton Keynes Village Church, and back to the Grand Union Canal. between Gullivers Land and Eco Park. tracks and under the H6 Childs Way to its roadside entrance. Note the historic buildings head up to and over the bridge crossing on either side. At the end of the redway turn the River Ouzel. right along Willen Road to the Swan Inn. 16. As the river bends to the right take the path left circling the medieval moat, picnic tables and children’s play area, passing between it and the Milton Keynes Village cricket green along the path to Great Woolstone church. One4Six,Willen Lake

Woolstone

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3. From the Swan Inn bear right along the road 18 until you reach the and can join the redway on the right opposite Dorman’s Close. Continue along it past new housing across the 17 road, downhill under H7 Chaffron Way into 15. Almost immediately (and before you cross Monkston, and turn right following the H7 until the river) head down to river again as earlier, but 2 you reach the River Ouzel. Carry on over the this time turn left and head north with river on bridge, turn left down to the riverside. your right passing under the H8 Standing Way. 16 3 Short-cut route: Jump to No 15. Continue along the river passing until you come to Little Woolstone, Medieval Fishponds, Woolstone Manor and church. 4. Continue South along the Ouzel Valley pathway some distance along the river under the road ( H8 S tanding Way) to Walton Lake and 14. Follow NCR6 signs through housing to canal on the left you will see the Open University. and at bridge turn right and head up canal Take care to close gates and avoid any sheep or keeping it on your left. At next bridge turn right 15 cattle. away from canal across fields and join redway up 4 to main road H7 Chaffron Way .

5. Bear left after Walton Lake and continue 13. Pass throughYe Olde Swan car park, turning down the riverside path, keeping river on your left away from the church and past Village Hall left. Continue past St Michael’s Church, under to The Green. At Green take small path on right 14 the H9 Groveway and on until you reach parallel to black railings to pass white house on 13 Simpson Road. (Note Simpson Church in the your left. distance on the right).

Woughton on the Green Simpson

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12. Join Newport Road and head north, passing 6. Turn left and cross the bridge, turning right Saddington and Foxton Roads. At Castle Rose through the small car park and bear right down take redway under the H8 Standing Way and 10 onto Caldecotte Lake. Head past the lake on continue along Newport Road into Woughton- your left and on your right towards the on-the-Green, toYe Olde Swan. windmill and the Caldecotte Arms.

7 11. Continue along path through gate to Simpson Road. Turn left to church and pass Caldecotte Lake and Fenny Lock through churchyard into High Street. Continue past village cottages to end of road and under H9 Groveway into Woughton Park.

10. At the Simpson village sign, cross the road and join redway. Turn left through the next gate and head across the fields towards Simpson 9 Church. Marked in the field lies the old site of Simpson Manor House. Pause to read the 8 interpretation board. Dobbies GardenWorld

Bike Hire NCR = National Cycle Route 7. From the Caldecotte Arms follow the lakeside Bike Hire available at Willen Lake. path under the H10 Bletcham Way and continue Available from Whitecap Leisure behind Lakeside. 9. Cross the Fenny Lock Swing 8. Return via the redway to Caldecotte Lake and along the lake ignoring a wooden bridge on your Bridge if in place and turn right up turn left across the wooden bridge you right until you reach a new redway bearing right. Simpson Road. Alternatively, exit previously ignored and turn left almost retracing Take this redway as it follows the River Ouzel Fenny Lock on the path heading your steps on the other side of the River Ouzel, and passes under the A5 and railway bridges, north and follow it down to and up towards Fenny Lock and the Grand Union and follow the redway across the field to This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission along Simpson Road, under the A5 Canal. Here you can see the Red Lion Inn, Dobbies Garden World, the site of the former of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown and towards Simpson village. Pump House and Swing Bridge. Roman settlement of Magiovinium. Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Milton Keynes Council Licence Number 100018390, 2008.