Promoted A pleasant walk that leads you through the Millennium Route Country Park and surrounding farmland to the Georgian Market Town of with its historical connections Let us keep you informed then onto the attractive village of Millbrook with its 1 distinctive cottages originally built to house the workers of the Duke of ’s Estate.

Access information You will walk across surface types ranging from hard & firm without stones to uneven cultivated ground and the steepest linear gradient is 1:6 with cross falls of 1:9 and steeper. A bridge has a restricted width of 980mm between points 2 & 3 on the map and there are steps at point 6 with a max step height of 300mm. Barriers along the For further information on all parts of the Forest of Marston path include a couple Vale, our activities, and the facilities of the Forest Centre of stiles and a number please visit: of kissing gates. Public www.marstonvale.org toilets are available at the Forest Centre and Receive news about the in Ampthill. Forest including what’s on (either by post or email) Facilities by signing up via our The Forest Centre has website or by calling the Watch ©out Neil for Wright red kites ample parking, toilets Forest Centre. and a café bar. The Chequers Pub is located in Millbrook and Ampthill has an The Forest Centre impressive mixture of shops, as well as public houses and Station Road toilets. Marston Moreteyne , MK43 0PR Let the train take the strain! From Bedford or Bletchley alight at Millbrook Station T. 01234 767037 to start your walk via the Country Park Visitor Centre E. [email protected] (about 20 mins walk). Please note there is no Sunday service. For timetable details visit www.londonmidland. This leaflet was delivered by the Forest of Volunteers with assistance from The Marston Vale com or ring 08457 484950 Trust working in partnership with District Council, Bedford Borough Council & The Brit- Bus timetable details ring 01234 220030 or visit ish Horse Society and was funded by Natural www.travelsmart.com through the Paths for Communities Project.

Let’s Go - for details of other walks or rides throughout Bedfordshire please visit www.letsgo.org.uk Partners: Forest Volunteers, Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedford Forest Centre to Millbrook Borough Council, The British Horse Society and Marston P3 Group & Ampthill Park (7 miles) Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park to Millbrook & Ampthill

From the map board outside the At the crest of the hill there’s a good view woods and head along the path. Continue 1 Forest Centre walk right, past the cycle 3 of the Cardington sheds, old brick pits and up a steep hill (bench at the top). At the top hire shed, through the pergola and turn Millbrook test track to your right. Head head straight along the path; ignore the gate right down the bridleway, passing a picnic straight along the path towards a waymark post on the left and go through a wood. Head table and towards a waymark post, following in the distance. Descend into a conifer straight past a bin at the bottom of the hill the right hand grass track. Continue forward plantation and follow the path through some and through another wooded area. Keep past a field gate on the right and turn right at trees. Continue across an open field to a on left path then turn left, exiting the Park a waymark post and turn right again over a footpath junction. Ignore the footpath to the through a kissing gate onto Bedford Street. wooden foot bridge. Continue ahead, keeping right and head through a gap in the hedge From the kissing gate turn right downhill the hedgerow on your right, and past a bench with a waymark post to side. Continue across along Bedford Street towards Waitrose after approximately 100m. Continue along the the next field to a gap in the hedgerow and 5 and the Prince of Wales pub, heading into Millbrook Road. Cross the road and follow the surfaced track parallel with the Bedford to Ampthill town centre. At the mini footpath sign over a small field where you will Bletchley railway until you come to a wooden roundabout turn right uphill along Woburn emerge onto a gravel track. Take the second left kissing gate that leads out of the Park onto Street, passing the Queen’s Head pub on your across a bridge heading along a surfaced track Station Lane and Millbrook Train Station. left.Turn right along Chapel Lane following towards buildings at Park Farm Cottage. signs for the Timberland Trail. Continue along Cross the railway at Millbrook Station Follow a surfaced track past farm buildings and Chapel Lane and then into Park Hill and 2 and continue along Station Lane using the head across a small paddock to another gate in continue forwards entering Ampthill Park via a grass verge for 430m to a public footpath the far right hand corner. There’s a very gate along a narrow path. Continue, following signpost on your left. Please take care when prominent old oak tree on the right. walking along the road verge. At the signpost the Timberland Trail path that opens out walk down steps and through trees, over a Head uphill and through a gate into into woodland and a broad track. Continue wooden footbridge that crosses one of the 4 Ampthill Park (can be boggy if it has along the track and over an intersection of many ditches that flow into the Elstow Brook. rained). Continue forwards at a waymark post paths which leads to a park keeper’s cottage At the bridge and footpath junction follow the and take the left hand fork uphill following the (now a private dwelling) and open area. At a right hand path heading uphill over arable fields sandy path. Turn into right fork and continue waymark post take the left hand path along keeping the pylons on your left. uphill towards a gate. Ignore path into the the Greensand Ridge and past the Ampthill Explore the A wildlife haven Grange Estate

More than 240 hectares (600 acres) Ba of floodplain forest will be created in The Grange Estate To Great the Park, a rare and valuable habitat for was bought by the Marston Vale wildlife. The Park will provide one of the Jones Derek © ExploreTrust in 2006. New th trailse for walkers,

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You can be a Marina WorkBusinesss Brook w Octagon InformaForestl Centre & MillenniumA603 to Sand Country Park to Millbrook & Ampthill o y step of a long journey to create e Park Farm partsomething of truly the great dream for Bedford.… Cyclewayw Route 51 Elst recreation to Bedfordd Priory Bedford Road (A603) PCountry Visit Cardington Camp Memorial Cross and then Catherine’s Fenlake Priory Park Lock Priory 'There are already great surfaced www.bedfordrivervalleypark.orYou can be a g Marina Business Brook w Informal Cross with excellent views across the Marston o trails for walking and cycling; the future Meadows P Park w Car Elst promises much more. Bedford Borough Vale and plenty of benches. Continue to follow part of the dream… Cycleway Route 51d Sport ington recreation to Bedfordd Priory Cardington Bedford Road (A603) Council’s ‘Bedford Green Wheel’ will promote 1 Timberland Trail discs and cross a footpath Visit R Country Canoe Slalom traffic-free cycling and walking routes within oad Course Cardington The watersports lake, junction that leads to the park car park. Fenlake Park Lock and around'There Bedford.are already Over great such surfaced a vast area it www.bedfordrivervalleypark.org P granted planning permission Meadows will betrails possible for walking to experience and cycling; ‘countryside’, the future just Gradually make your way down to a kissing gate Car P in 2006, could provide exciting promises much more. Bedford Borough d Sport 3 miles from Bedford town centre. There will that leads you over a grass field, then out of the ington Cardington opportunities for canoeing and Council’s ‘Bedford Green Wheel’ will promote Enjoyn Priory Canoe Slalom be peace and quiet; places for watching park and through a small woodland. R oad triathlon as well as rowing. traffic-free cycling and walking routes within y Course The watersports lake, wildlife and opportunities just to relax. c In addition to paddle sports en P and around Bedford. Over such a vast area it g k A granted planning permission A beach and lake swimming, live music Country Park the park will be large enough will be possible to experience ‘countryside’, just Broo de in 2006, could provide exciting and a visitor centre are all si Follow the fenced path past grass fields, ow for shooting and possibly 3 miles from Bedford town centre. There will ry st t El opportunities for canoeing and real possibilities. off road motor sport. be peace and quiet; places for watching 2 un still following the Timberland Trail discs. Enjoyn Priory A421 to Priory Country Park, owned triathlon as well as rowing. y 6 c wildlife and opportunities just to relax. © Co In addition to paddle sports en Continue along a gravelled path then by Bedford Borough Council, is g k A A beach and lake swimming, live music Country Park the park will be large enough Cople linked to the new cycleways of the Broo de at crossroads continue straight on. Ahead will and a visitor centre are all si ow for shooting and possibly ry Grange Estate by Route 51. Priory st t El real possibilities. be Millbrook Parish Church. Descend the left Sand & Gravel off road motor sport. The Future - your un offersPr beautifuliory Country walking Park, and owned cycle A421 to Milton Keynes 3 hand path leading into Millbrook village then 0 500m 1km © Co routesby asBedford well as Borough bird hides, Council, fishing, is turn right along the footpath past the Chequers canoeing and sailing. There is ample Cople support is vital linked to the new cycleways of the Bedford River Valley Park pub to a T-junction in the road. Turn right along freeGrange car parkingEstate by and Ro toiletsute 51. close Priory Sandwill be possible & because Gr ofavel the The Future - your7 offersto beautifulthe visitor walking centre andoff cycle large volumes of aggregate that Bedford River Valley Park’s huge Sandhill Close for 50m to a public footpath 0 500m 1km routes as wellBarkers as bird Lane. hides, fishing, have and will be extracted What’s Sailing Wooded areas Bus Stop supportsize offers opportunities is to createvita l on your left. Follow the footpath down the canoeing and sailing. There is ample fromBedford the area. River Once Valley workings Park facilities for a wide range of leisure field, cross a small wooden footbridge free car parking and toilets close will are be complete possible becauserestoration of the there now Horse access Built up areas Pub activities for people as well as important to the visitor centre off large volumes of aggregate that wildlifeBedford habitats. River Va lleyMuch Pa needsrk’s huge to be and along a path next to trees, will create the exciting Bird Watching Quarry area 4 Barkers Lane. have and will be extracted Sailing Wooded areas BusToilet Stops size offers opportunities to create continuing across a field towards a new landscapes needed What’sCycleway done before this dream becomes a from thefor area. the Pa Oncerk. workings Caution, quarry traffic Existing BRVP sites facilitiesreality; foryour a supportwide range is vital. of leisure Visit 6 5 hedge. From here you can retrace ! Horse access Built up areas P ParkingPuParkinb g Pub Geocaching are complete restoration thereBridlewa nowy activitieswww .bedfordrivervalleypark.orgfor people as well as importan t will create the exciting wildlife habitats. Much needs to be your steps back to the Forest Centre BirdBird HideWatching Lakes,Quarry pondsarea & water courses ToiletInformations board to find out more and to see how Toilets Shop doneTrain before station this dream becomes a from point 7 on the map. new landscapes needed FootpathCycleway you could get involved. Boat Trips Farmland, quarry for the Park. ! Caution, quarry traffic Existing BRVP sites CanoeingParkinRouteg Infrastructur 1 Forest Centree toreality; Millbrook your support is vital. Visit Small Copper e Footpath & grassland areas P Bridleway and Ampthill www.bedfordrivervalleypark.org © Don Morris & Cycleway ProposedBird Hide Rowing Lake Lakes, ponds & water courses Information board to find out more and to see how

© Lafarg © Footpath OS OpenData Crown Copyright you could get involved. Boat Trips Farmland, quarry Canoeing Infrastructure e Footpath & grassland areas All Rights Reserved. OS data used under license no. 100042098. & Cycleway Proposed Rowing Lake Maps

© Lafarg © This promoted route is not waymarked and the leaflet map is All Rights Reserved. OS data used under license no. 100042098.basic so purchasing an ordnance survey map is recommended whenever venturing into the countryside. Explorer Maps 193 & 208 cover this walk.