Walks and routes

Explore your community woodland

The Forest of Marston Vale is 61 square miles, and surrounded by the stunning countryside of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire - that's a lot to explore! We put together some of our favourite routes for walkers, cyclists and horse riders as part of the Paths 4 Communities project (funded by the EU through Natural England)

The Forest obviously has loads of amazing green spaces, including 11 of our own woodlands which are all free to access on foot/bike/horseback, 365 days a year. The routes below are all based around the Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park - if you'd like to get free parking there all year round, as well as access to our Wetlands Trail and more, click below to become a Friend of the Forest.

Become a Friend of the Forest 

Forest Centre to Millbrook and Ampthill Park – 7 miles
Through the Millennium Country Park and surrounding farmland to the Georgian Market Town of Ampthill, then on to the stunning village of Millbrook. This route is circular, and takes you back to the Forest Centre.

Forest Centre to Gateway Woods – 10 miles
From the Millennium Country Park through Kempston Rural and Wootton and across the farmland to Gateway Woods. This route is circular, and takes you back to the Forest Centre.

Forest Centre to Lidlington and Folly Wood – 7 miles
Through the Millennium Country Park and surrounding farmland to Lidlington and one of our other sites, Folly Wood. You can take a longer or shorter route back to the Forest Centre. 

The Jubilee Walk - 6.5 miles
From the Millennium Country Park through the surrounding countryside to Hunger Hill and our site Rectory Wood returning via the ancient woodland of Marston Thrift. This route is circular, and takes you back to the Forest Centre.

Forest Centre to Bedford via Shocott Spring – 13.5 miles
From the Millennium Country Park through the eastern part of the Forest with views of the Greensand Ridge and the Cardington Sheds, with the opportunity to explore King’s Wood, Glebe Meadows and our sites Conquest Wood and Shocott. Click here for train timetables.

The Clay Way: Forest Centre to Bromham Mill – 9.5 miles
From the Millennium Country Park take the train from Millbrook to Ridgmont then walk or cycle up onto the clay ridge to enjoy views across the Forest and the Greensand Ridge before getting to Bromham Mill. Click here for train timetables. Ideal for cyclists.

Bedford St Johns Station to the Grange Estate - 6.5 miles
From the Millennium Country Park take the train from Millbrook to Bedford St Johns Station, then walk or cycle through Bedford River Valley Park into Willington and our site - the Grange Estate. Click here for train timetables. Ideal for cyclists.

Forest Centre to Centre Parcs - 14 miles
Through the Millennium Country Park over the beautiful Greensand Ridge, using the bridleway between Millbrook and Lidlington to go around the perimeter of the new Centreparcs near Flitwick. This route is circular, and takes you back to the Forest Centre. Ideal for horse riders.

Forest Centre to Cranfield - 10 miles
From the Millennium Country Park to the ancient woodland of Marston Thrift and Hulcot and then on to Cranfield via bridleways which offer superb views and many canter opportunities. You can take a longer route through Rectory Wood or Bourne End. This route is circular, and takes you back to the Forest Centre. Ideal for horse riders.

The Timberland Trail - 13 miles
A full day’s walk from the Millennium Country Park through Marston Moretaine and Lidlington, up Jacklaw Hill and down to Millbrook, passing through Ampthill past Houghton House and returning via King’s Wood and Stewartby. This route is circular, and takes you back to the Forest Centre.

Nordic Walking

As it grows in popularity, there'll no doubt be plenty of local groups popping up but there are two who use the Millennium Country Park on a weekly basis - Walk 2 Fitness on Wednesdays, and Nordic Walk With Us on Thursdays. No matter what your experience level, it's a great way to keep fit and get some fresh air.

Route 51 Cycle Way

Route 51 is a long distance cycle route that connects major cities in the south of England – the stretch that passes through the Forest connects Oxford to Cambridge, via Bedford and Milton Keynes. It’s mainly off road and you can pick it up at the Forest Centre or the Grange Estate, with loads of food and drink stops. Click here to see the full route.

Let’s Go.org.uk

For loads of walking, cycling and horse riding routes throughout the whole of Bedfordshire, check out Let’s Go.

For more information about any of the routes above please call 01234 767037 or email us. To report any issues with the routes, please contact Bedford Borough or Central Bedfordshire Councils.

 

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Keep these routes on the right track

Interested in helping us maintain our other sites or check out these routes? We’re looking for volunteer Wood Wardens across all of our sites, and Let’s Go are currently working their way through all of the routes on their site to check for accuracy. Sign up to be a volunteer today and get involved.

If you enjoy walking, cycling or riding through any of our woodlands then donate and help us to create even more! Every £20 plants another tree in the Forest, but even smaller amounts help us to maintain and create new woodlands.