Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire: Walk of the week

1000AM GMT twelve March 2010

View Dunstable Downs Walk of the week in a incomparable map Link to this video

THE EXPERT"S VIEW

Kate Sheard, Dunstable Downs Warden "The perspective conflicting the Vale of Aylesbury is what creates this travel so special. On a transparent day from Dunstable Downs you can see 35 miles in to Oxfordshire, but there are fantastic views all year round, generally on a glacial winters morning. Despite being only a couple of miles from Luton and Dunstable there is a genuine clarity of shun here.

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Download an OS map of this travel Reproduced by accede of Ordnance Survey. All rights reserved. OS looseness no. AL 100018591

"The fallen trackways, where story and inlet come together, are my prime piece of the walk. Here it is probable to symbol a far-reaching range of wild orchids in June, such as the usual speckled orchid, the pyramidal orchid and the perfumed orchid, along with singular butterflies such as the Duke of Burgundy and the marker mountain blue in the summer months.

"Id suggest a tea stop at the Chilterns Gateway Centre at the finish of the walk, where internal specialities embody the Bedfordshire Clanger, a suet pudding with a multiple of delectable and honeyed fillings at possibly end."

ESSENTIALS

Start Visitor Centre car play ground

Grid ref TL 008195

Maps OS Landranger 166 and Explorer 181 & 193

Getting there

By feet footpaths from West Street and Tring Road, DunstableBy bike open bridleway from West Street in Dunstable and Whipsnade. Cycle parking accessible at the Gateway CentreBy sight Arriva 61, Luton hire to Aylesbury, land West Street, Dunstable. Daily, solely Sundays. From here you can stick on the travel at point 2 on the mapBy sight Luton hire 7 miles, from here take the 61 sight serviceBy car on the B4541 in between Dunstable and Whipsnade.

Local facilities

National Trust car parkWCsCaf and present emporium open every day 10am-5pm (open 10am-4pm in winter, sealed 24/25 December).Contact 01582 500920; dunstabledowns@nationaltrust.org.uk

Terrain and accessibility

This is a 6 mile (10.4km) spin walk; concede about 3 hours. Parts of the travel can spin murky and sleazy after soppy weather, stout shoes is advisable. Some stiles and gates. Dogs acquire underneath close control.

THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Five Knolls Lying on the corner of the Downs, this Scheduled Ancient Monument is the largest spin barrow tomb in Bedfordshire. Visible as bumps conflicting the skyline, the funeral mounds were excavated in the 1850s and 1920s, divulgence that they originated in the late Neolithic and Bronze Age and re-used for funeral in the Roman period.

Drovers Way Part of a network of marks and paths in and around Dunstable, traditionally used by Drovers to take stock to marketplace in Dunstable, but right away renouned with walkers and equine riders.

Wildlife The marker grassland supports a far-reaching accumulation of wildlife, together with singular wild flowers, similar to the Bee Orchard, and butterflies similar to the Chalkhill Blue and Duke of Burgundy.

DIRECTIONS

Download an OS map of this travel Reproduced by accede of Ordnance Survey. All rights reserved. OS looseness no. AL 100018591

1. From the car park, travel somewhat downhill over the weed area, afterwards spin right at the breeze catcher following the trail along the tip of the slant past the site of the Gothic warren as far as the five knolls tumuli.

2. Continue downhill to West Street, that runs along the line of the Icknield Way.

3. Cross West Street on to Green Lane opposite, well known additionally as Drovers Way.

4. Continue as far as the crossroads. In the margin diagonally to the right, the line of trees symbol the fortification of Maiden Bower, an Iron Age mountain fort. At the second crossroads, spin left along the Houghton Green Highway in to Totternhoe village.

5. Cross Dunstable Road and follow Furlong Lane, spin left onto Church Road and left again on to Well Head Road. Follow this as far as the Icknield Way nearby Well Head.

6. Cross the highway and follow the bridleway conflicting as far as the bottom of the Downs.

7. Turn right at the finish of the bridleway. Follow the pavement at the bottom of the slope, by the fence, until a lane is reached on the left. NOTE for a shorter walk, follow this lane ascending and behind to the starting point along an very old vale way.

8. Pass by a gate, spin left ascending for 45m, afterwards spin right onto a fallen way. This trail is an old "cut way" that would have offering travellers an simpler approach up the slope. Follow this trail as it climbs up the Downs and afterwards behind to the bottom.

9. Join the pavement that follows the bottom of the Downs.

10. Just prior to the road, stick on the bridleway that climbs uphill, seeking behind views of the Vale of Aylesbury and Ivinghoe Beacon appear.

11. With the car play ground on your right lift on ascending and spin left in to a large weed field. Please keep your dogs on a lead in this margin as there might be sheep grazing.

12. Follow the sidestep line at the tip of the margin with some-more views of the Vale of Aylesbury on your left. You are following the Ridgeway Link that joins Dunstable Downs to Ivinghoe Beacon. After on foot underneath a series of Beech trees and flitting by a bridlegate, the Chilterns Gateway Centre shortly appears on the right.

Find some-more disdainful National Trust walks at www.telegraph.co.uk/walks