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How to get there

You can access the route by car and by bus from Bedford and Milton Keynes.

• Public transport - Various buses stop nearby but you will have to walk down to Green End Road (Click here for the C1/Milton Keynes Timetables and click here for the Bedford timetables)
• Car - Follow the A428 from either the A421, or A4280.

Start/finish points

Green End Road, Kempston Rural.

Length

4 miles

Accessibility

No cross falls recorded

Surface types – Varied, ranging from a hard, firm surface with stones no larger than 5mm, to grass or uncultivated earth paths with and without ruts, too farmland.

Linear gradient – Steepest gradient is steeper than 1:6 for a short distance at Kempston Wood. There are also gradients of between 1:6 - 1:9 and between 1:14 and 1:17.

Width restriction - 320mm between points F and G on the map.

Steps - Max heigh 150mm at the bridge between points J and K on the map.

Barriers – Five kissing gates with a width restriction of 1000mm, and 6 two-step stiles.

Short Route Description-

1 - Begin on Green End Road following the footpath between the painted cottages, along the edge of the cemetery. To the north you will see the clay ridge that borders the Vale and the ancient woodland Hanger Wood.

2 - Once you’re past the cemetery, take the path left and follow it to the crossroad.

3 - At the crossroads take the field edge path right over the next two fields, crossing a bridge and ending at the road.

4 - At the road, turn right and take the path on the opposite side of the road. Follow the grassy field edge across a stile, then diagonally across a paddock and coming out on West End Road over another stile.

5 - Turn left and follow the road, taking the forked sign for Stagsden.

6 - Opposite West End Farm house take the footpath across the next two fields, crossing a narrow bridge and coming out, via a stile, onto Title Road. Turn left for a short distance until the first bend and then take the path to the left across the open field. Exit via a stile and through a kissing gate to rejoin Green End Road (ahead).

Longer Route Description -

1 - Begin on Green End Road following the footpath between the painted cottages, along the edge of the cemetery. To the north you will see the clay ridge that borders the Vale and the ancient woodland Hanger Wood.

2 - Once you’re past the cemetery, take the path left and follow it to the crossroad.

3 - At the crossroads take the field edge path right over the next two fields, crossing a bridge and ending at the road.

4 - At the road, turn right and take the path on the opposite side of the road. Follow the grassy field edge across a stile, then diagonally across a paddock and coming out on West End Road over another stile.

5 - Turn left and follow the road, taking the forked sign for Stagsden.

6 - Opposite West End Farm house take the footpath across the next two fields, crossing a narrow bridge and coming out, via a stile, onto Title Road. Follow the road right and take the footpath at the first bend.

7 - Cross two stiles and a small bridge before following a field hedge for some distance. You will get great views over the area and can explore Kempston Wood before rejoining Tithe Road across a sleeper bridge.

8 - At the road, turn right and go past the Cross Keys and Wood End Farm.

9 - Take the footpath opposite past Wood End Farm and follow the path along a field edge, through a kissing gate and diagonally across a field. Follow the worn path, exit the field through the gate to the right of the thatched ‘Rose Cottage’

10 - Cross the track and follow the path through the kissing gate to the right of the farm gate (behind a tree) - this path follows fence to the right and comes out on Green End Road. Follow it left to return to your start point.

Pit stops/points of interest

There are benches and picnic tables at Buttons Ramsey, a short walk from point J. There are no public toilets on this route.

The Cross Keys pub

Kempston Wood