Post on 05-Jun-2020
transcript
Woburn VillageFollowing three major fires between 1595 and 1724 which destroyed the earlier mediaeval settlement, major rebuilding works took place in the 18th century giving this pretty village a distinctive Georgian character.
There are a good selection of public houses, shops and tea rooms and just off Bedford Street stands the old church of St Mary, now home to Woburn Heritage Centre which contains a museum of the local history of Woburn and a tourist information point. The 19th century church of St Mary in Park Street is considered to be one of the finest Victorian buildings in the county.
Woburn AbbeyThe history of the Abbey dates back to 1145, and was originally a religious house for Cistercian monks but in 1538 the Abbot, Robert Hobbes, was found guilty of treason and the monastery was confiscated. In 1547 King Edward VI granted Woburn Abbey to Sir John Russell but it took 70 years for it to become a family home. In 1694 during the reign of William and Mary the head of the family was given the title of Duke of Bedford and today it is occupied by the 15th Duke of Bedford and his family..
The Russell FamilyThrough the generations members of the Russell family have been prominent parliamentarians, great art patrons and involved in social reforms of the 19th century.
This walk will take you through the wooded parkland of Woburn Abbey and the Safari Park allowing you a glimpse of some of Bedfordshire’s unusual larger wildlife.
lifestyles
Walk
6 Circular walksWoburn – EversholtWalk: 8.3 miles/13.4km Time: 3 hours.
Anna Marie 7th Duchess of Bedford is said to be the originator of the great British tradition of afternoon tea. In the early 1800’s she initiated the idea of having tea in the late afternoon to bridge the gap between luncheon and dinner, which in fashionable circles might not be served until 8 o’clock at night.
Mary, the wife of the 11th Duke of Bedford, also given the unofficial title of ‘The Flying Duchess’, was a keen ornithologist, an accomplished skater, markswoman, canoeist, mountaineer and photographer. A lifelong interest in medical matters led her to establish a hospital at Woburn where she became the Theatre Sister and taught herself radiography. She took up flying in her sixties with an enthusiasm which led her to take part in world record-breaking flights to India and the South African Cape. The duchess died in tragic circumstances in March 1937 aged 71 after leaving Woburn Abbey in her De Havilland Gipsy Moth on a short, solo flight towards Cambridge to view floods in the Fens. A search was arranged when she had not returned by tea-time but sadly her body was never recovered.
The Deer Park The Abbey is set in a beautiful 3,000 acre deer park with 10 species of deer roaming free. These include Red, Sika, Fallow and Muntjac deer as well as Milu or Pere David deer introduced in 1894 from the Imperial Herd of China and saved from extinction at Woburn.
Landscaped in the 19th century by Humphrey Repton, the park has remained mostly unchanged and contains
many magnificent, ancient oak trees within the extensive grasslands.
Other features remain from the early 20th century near Milton Wood, where a series of small ponds were constructed for ornamental bird species. Near Basin pond is a tree known as Abbot’s Oak, said to be the tree where Abbot Robert Hobbes was hanged.
Woburn Safari Park opened in 1970, and today is an award winning attraction making a valuable contribution to conservation. You may be rewarded by the sight of elephants, tigers, camels or bears (safely within their enclosures) as you follow this walk.
EversholtA pretty traditional village whose name means “wood of the boar” its village hall overlooks the cricket pitch and 12th century church of St John the Baptist. There are thirteen “Ends” or hamlets to the village and many comprise of old stone built houses. The Domesday Book of 1086 lists Hugh de Beauchamp as the Lord of the Manor of Eversholt whose descendants continued to own property in the area until the 13th century when the land passed to Woburn Abbey.
At various points along the way you may join part of the Greensand Ridge Walk; this is Central Bedfordshire’s 40 mile linear route passing through some of the most attractive parts of the county.
Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Central Bedfordshire Council. Licence No 100049029 (2013)
11
10
9
8
6
5
4
3
2
1
7
Shefford
Walk1 Sandy and Everton 2 Old Warden3 Silsoe - Shillington4 Ampthill - Maulden5 Ampthill - Millbrook 6 Woburn - Eversholt
7 Rushmere and Stockgrove8 Cranfield9 Totternhoe10 Dunstable Downs11 Whipsnade Greensand Ridge walk
@BedsCountryside
CBCountryside
Walk
6 Circular walksWoburn – EversholtWalk: 8.3 miles/13.4km Time: 3 hours.
Healthy walkingWhy not get out and get healthy? There is no better way to start than by taking a walk. Just 30 minutes a day can improve health and well-being, reduce the risk of heart disease, help to prevent diabetes, improve muscle strength even reduce anxiety and depression. So make today the day you start to enjoy Bedfordshire and enjoy good health. For information on healthy walking log on t www.walkingforhealth.org.uk
Planning your walkThe car park opposite St. Mary’s Church in Woburn is the suggested starting point and the walk is described in an anti-clockwise direction. However, you can begin at any other point and walk in either direction. For local information call in at the Heritage Centre and Tourist Information Point off Bedford Street.
OpeningTimes:Easter–October:Monday-Friday2.00-4.30pm Sat/Sun&B/Hols 10.00-5.00pm Only open weekends in October. Telephone: 01525 290631 or visit www.woburnheritagemuseum.co.uk
Refreshments, parking and toiletsWoburn has several good pubs and a wealth of restaurants and tea rooms where you can enjoy a wonderful range of refreshments, and there is plenty of parking available at the free car park opposite St. Mary’s Church.
Public transport A regular bus service operates between Leighton Buzzard and Milton Keynes, for information contact
Traveline 0871 200 22 33. There are railway stations at Aspley Guise and at Woburn Sands..
Ordnance Survey mapsThe route is covered on Ordnance Survey Landranger Series map 165. It is also shown on Explorer map 192.
Did you enjoy the walk? This is one of a series of circular walk leaflets produced by Central Bedfordshire Council. If you wish to request a leaflet, give us some feedback or report any problems encountered, please contact us on 03003008305 or e-mail us on recreational.routes@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Tips for enjoying your walkParts of the walk can become muddy especially after heavy rain, so strong waterproof footwear is recommended. Take care where conditions are rough and do let someone know where you are going. Please be aware that much of the walk is unsuitable for wheelchairs and difficult for pushchairs.
Other walksTo discover more walks in Central Bedfordshire visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/countryside or www.letsgo.org.uk
Or why not explore the Greensand Ridge by following the fabulous Greensand Ridge Walk, a walk that passes through many of the area’s most valuable landscapes and historic towns www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/greensand
Wob
urn
Park
Wob
urn
Milt
onW
ood
Hay
Woo
d
Trus
sler
sLo
dge
Bir
chm
oor
Gre
enDra
kelo
e Lo
dge
CrawleyRoad
New
port
Roa
d
London Road
Com
mon
s Cl
ump
Stoc
king
Le
ys
Frox
field
Hill
s En
d
Tyre
lls
End
Star
tpo
int
Key
The
wal
k
Foot
path
Brid
lew
ay
Gre
ensa
ndRi
dge
Wal
k
Woo
ds
Chur
ch
Park
ing
Loca
l sho
p
Publ
ic h
ouse
© C
row
n co
pyrig
ht. A
ll rig
hts
rese
rved
. Cen
tral
Bed
ford
shire
Cou
ncil.
100
0 49
029
2013
From
the
car
par
k on
Par
kSt
reet
, tur
n le
ft a
nd h
ead
out
of t
he v
illag
e vi
a G
eorg
eSt
reet
tow
ards
Ivy
Lodg
e.
At Iv
y Lo
dge
go t
hrou
ghth
e ga
te t
o en
ter t
he d
eer
park
, the
n at
the
nex
t ga
tefo
llow
the
circ
ular
wal
k m
arke
rsar
ound
Bas
in P
ond
to w
here
the
foot
path
mee
ts t
he t
rack
. Tur
nrig
ht k
eepi
ng t
he b
ridge
to
the
Abbe
y be
hind
you
. The
tra
ckbe
ars
to t
he le
ft a
t th
e gr
ass
tria
ngle
but
fol
low
the
way
mar
king
sig
ns s
trai
ght
ahea
dpa
st P
aris
Hou
se; t
he h
alf
timbe
red
hous
e to
you
r rig
ht.
Leav
e th
e de
er p
ark
thro
ugh
an ir
on g
ate
and
wal
k th
roug
h th
e sm
all c
opse
,be
arin
g le
ft a
t th
e w
aym
arke
rhe
adin
g to
war
ds M
ilton
Woo
d.Fo
llow
the
pat
h th
roug
h th
ew
ood.
Exi
t th
e w
ood
and
turn
left
fol
low
ing
the
signs
.
Follo
w t
he p
ath
arou
nd t
oth
e rig
ht t
o m
eet
the
Gre
ensa
nd R
idge
Wal
k an
dei
ther
tur
n le
ft t
o re
turn
to
Basin
Pond
via
Wob
urn
Abbe
y, o
r tur
nrig
ht t
o co
ntin
ue t
he c
ircul
arw
alk.
Cro
ss t
he b
ridge
and
pas
sth
e fo
ur a
rm s
ignp
ost
befo
reco
ntin
uing
ove
r ano
ther
brid
ge
1 2
3 4
Circ
ular
wal
ks
Wo
bu
rn –
Eve
rsh
olt
Wal
k:9
mile
s/14
.4km
Tim
e:3
hour
s
tow
ard
the
road
. At
the
road
turn
left
into
Eve
rsho
lt vi
llage
.
Follo
w t
he ro
ad t
hrou
ghEv
ersh
olt,
turn
ing
left
ont
oW
obur
n Ro
ad a
t Ty
rell’
s En
dfo
llow
the
road
uph
ill t
oFr
oxfie
ld v
ia H
ills
End.
At t
he ro
ad ju
nctio
n be
arle
ft in
to t
he D
eer P
ark,
cro
ssth
e ca
ttle
grid
the
n tu
rnim
med
iate
ly ri
ght
and
follo
w t
hesig
npos
ting
for t
he c
ircul
ar w
alk.
Cros
s ov
er t
he o
pen
grou
nd, k
eepi
ng t
hesu
rfac
ed t
rack
on
your
left
. At
Trus
sler’s
Lod
ge c
ross
the
cat
tle
grid
and
tur
n le
ft o
nto
the
trac
kth
roug
h H
ay W
ood
and
cont
inue
alon
g th
e fo
otpa
th t
owar
dsan
othe
r brid
ge.
Cros
s th
e Sa
fari
Park
entr
ance
fol
low
ing
signs
for
Safa
ri Lo
dge.
Pas
s th
e re
dte
leph
one
box
then
cro
ss t
hero
ad t
o ta
ke t
he f
ootp
ath
on t
hele
ft o
ppos
ite t
he ‘q
uara
ntin
ebu
ildin
gs’.
Follo
w t
he f
ootp
ath
left
thr
ough
the
gat
e an
d al
ong
the
edge
of
the
Safa
ri Pa
rk.
Hea
d pa
st t
he E
leph
ant
encl
osur
e, t
hrou
gh a
noth
er g
ate
and
on t
hrou
gh t
he w
oodl
and
toth
e ro
ad.
5 6 7
8
Follo
w t
he w
aym
arke
rsal
ong
the
road
tow
ards
Craw
ley
Lodg
e, b
ear r
ight
tow
ards
Cra
wle
y Be
lt, t
hen
cros
sth
e ro
ad a
nd f
ollo
w t
he p
ath
thro
ugh
the
woo
d.
At C
raw
ley
Lodg
e, p
ass
thro
ugh
the
gate
and
cro
ssth
e A4
012
bear
ing
right
and
then
left
up
Hor
sepo
ol L
ane.
Appr
oxim
atel
y 30
m a
fter
the
road
junc
tion
turn
left
thro
ugh
the
gate
and
cro
ss t
hear
able
fie
ld t
owar
ds t
hew
oodl
and.
Pas
s th
roug
h th
ew
oodl
and
follo
win
g th
e
way
mar
kers
, cro
ssin
g a
brid
ge.
At t
he t
rack
, tur
n le
ft a
nd f
ollo
wth
e pa
th p
ast
Birc
hmoo
r Far
man
d on
to B
irchm
oor G
reen
.
Follo
w t
he ro
ad a
tBi
rchm
oor G
reen
to
the
A513
0 W
obur
n Ro
ad a
nd b
ear
left
and
con
tinue
bac
k in
to
the
villa
ge t
o th
e ca
r par
k at
the
star
t of
the
wal
k.
10
11
12
9
Co
un
trys
ide
Co
de
�
Be s
afe
– pl
an a
head
and
follo
w a
ny s
igns
�
Leav
e ga
tes
and
prop
erty
as
you
find
them
�
Prot
ect p
lant
s an
d an
imal
s, a
nd t
ake
your
litte
r hom
e�
Ke
ep d
ogs
unde
r clo
se c
ontr
ol�
Co
nsid
er o
ther
peo
ple.
ww
w.c
ount
rysi
deac
cess
.gov
.uk
Dog
sar
ew
elco
me
ona
llou
rsi
tes
and
righ
tso
fw
ay,b
ut d
o ke
ep th
em u
nder
cont
rol a
nd a
way
from
any
gra
zing
ani
mal
s as
wel
l as
othe
r visi
tors
. Ple
ase
be a
con
sider
ate
owne
r; cl
ean
up if
you
r dog
leav
es a
mes
s.
This
is on
e of
a s
erie
s of
circ
ular
wal
k le
afle
tspr
oduc
ed b
y Ce
ntra
l Bed
ford
shire
Cou
ncil.
For f
urth
er in
form
atio
n an
d av
aila
bilit
ypl
ease
con
tact
us
on 0
300
300
8085
.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
11
12
Wal
k 6
10
9
N
Walk
6Circular walksWoburn – EversholtWalk: 9 miles/14.4km Time: 3 hours.
This
is on
e of
a s
erie
s of
circ
ular
wal
k le
afle
ts
prod
uced
by
Cent
ral B
edfo
rdsh
ire C
ounc
il.
For f
urth
er in
form
atio
n an
d av
aila
bilit
y pl
ease
co
ntac
t us
on 0
300
300
8085
.
Key
Woo
ds
Chur
ch
Park
ing
Loca
l sho
p
Publ
ic h
ouse
The
wal
k
Foot
path
Brid
lew
ay
Gre
ensa
nd
Ridg
e W
alk
Walk: 8.3 miles/13.4km Time: 3 hours.
A
lway
s ke
ep y
ou d
og in
sig
ht a
nd t
rain
it t
o co
me
back
whe
n ca
lled.
N
ever
let
your
dog
cha
se w
ildlif
e or
gra
zing
ani
mal
s –
it co
uld
get
inju
red
too.
U
nles
s yo
u’re
alre
ady
frie
nds,
kee
p yo
u do
g aw
ay f
rom
oth
er p
eopl
e an
d ei
ther
do
gs –
not
eve
ryon
e lo
ves
your
dog
as
muc
h as
you
do!
A
lway
s cl
ean
up a
fter
you
r dog
.
Loo
k ou
t fo
r hor
ses,
cyc
lists
and
runn
ers
– fo
r eve
rybo
dy’s
saf
ety
its b
est
to p
ut
your
dog
on
a le
ad a
s th
ey c
ome
by.
F
ollo
w a
ll lo
cal s
igns
abo
ut g
razi
ng a
nim
als.
Ple
ase
fo
llo
w t
hes
e ti
ps
to k
eep
yo
u a
nd
yo
ur
do
g sa
fe:
1 From the car park on Park Street, turn left and head out of the village via George Street towards Ivy Lodge.
2 At Ivy Lodge go through the gate to enter the deer park, then at the next gate follow the circular walk markers around Basin Pond to where the footpath meets the track. Turn right keeping the bridge to the Abbey behind you. The track bears to the left at the grass triangle but follow the waymarking signs straight ahead past Paris House; the half timbered house to your right.
3 Leave the deer park through an iron gate and walk through the small copse, bearing left at the waymarker heading towards Milton Wood. Follow the path through the wood. Exit the wood and turn left following the signs.
4 Follow the path around to the right to meet the Greensand Ridge Walk and either turn left to return to Basin Pond via Woburn Abbey, or turn right to continue the circular walk. Cross the bridge and pass the four arm signpost before continuing over another bridge toward the road. At the road turn left into Eversholt village.
5 Follow the road through Eversholt, turning left onto Woburn Road at Tyrell’s End follow the road uphill to Froxfield via Hills End.
6 At the road junction bear left into the Deer Park, cross the cattle grid then turn immediately right and follow the signposting for the circular walk.
7 Cross over the open ground, keeping the surfaced track on your left. At Trussler’s Lodge cross the cattle grid and turn left onto the track through Hay Wood and continue along the footpath towards another bridge.
8 Cross the Safari Park entrance following signs for Safari Lodge. Pass the red telephone box then cross the road to take the footpath on the left opposite the ‘quarantine buildings’. Follow the footpath left through the gate and along the edge of the Safari Park. Head past the Elephant enclosure, through another gate and on through the woodland to the road.
9 Follow the waymarkers along the road towards Crawley Lodge, bear right towards Crawley Belt, then cross the road and follow the path through the wood.
10 At Crawley Lodge, pass through the gate and cross the A4012 bearing right and then left up Horsepool Lane.
11 Approximately 30m after the road junction turn left through the gate and cross the arable field towards the woodland. Pass through the woodland following the waymarkers, crossing a bridge. At the track, turn left and follow the path past Birchmoor Farm and onto Birchmoor Green.
12 Follow the road at Birchmoor Green to the A5130 Woburn Road and bear left and continue back in to the village to the car park at the start of the walk.
Walk
6 Circular walksWoburn – EversholtWalk: 8.3 miles/13.4km Time: 3 hours.
Countryside code l Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signsl Leave gates and property as you find them
l Protect plants and animals, and take your litter homel Consider other people.