Walks in Leighton Buzzard
This Bedfordshire based market town is located close to a canal, two fine country parks and the Chiltern Hills AONB. The interesting town also includes a 13th century church and a popular heritage railway.
This walk from the town visits some of the highlights of the area including the Grand Union Canal, Rushmere Country Park the Greensand Ridge, Stockgrove Country Park and the River Ouzel.
The walk starts on the canal, just to the west of the town centre. Follow the towpath north and it will take you to Leighton Lock, the Swing Bridge and Old Linslade Manor. Near here you leave the canal to head north east towards Rushmere Country Park. Here you'll find miles of woodland walking trails and several pretty ponds. There's also Stockgrove Country Park where there's a nice lakeside trail.
After exploring the park you pick up a section of the Greensand Ridge Walk to take you along the River Ouzel around Rushmere. The route then returns to the canal to follow the towpath south back to Leighton.
Leighton Buzzard Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Leighton Buzzard Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Leighton Buzzard OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Leighton Buzzard Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The Grove Lock is in a fine position next to the canal. You can sit outside and enjoy fine views over the water. It's located just south to the start point of the route at postcode LU7 0QU for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The canalside and woodland trails on the route make for a fine dog walk. The Grove Lock mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
In the town you could enjoy a ride on Buzz Rail. The heritage railway runs trains along a three-mile line up to five times a week from March to October. You can find them on Billington Road at postcode LU7 4TG.
Just to the south west of the town you'll find the village of Wing and Ascott House. This 16th century manor house is another local highlight. It's surrounded by over 200 acres of parkland and 30 acres of beautiful formal gardens. Near here you can also visit the historic village of Mentmore where you will find interesting old buildings associated with the 19th century Mentmore Towers Estate.
The canal walk links with the Cross Bucks Way around Linslade Manor. You could pick up this waymarked footpath and follow it west through the countryside to Soulbury, Stewkley, Swanbourne and Winslow.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Chilterns Walks, Bedfordshire Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Leighton Buzzard: Market Square. The 15th Century pentagonal market cross in the Market Square at the top end of the High Street.
The Beer Garden, Grove Lock Public House, Near Leighton Buzzard
Below Leighton Lock. Lock 27 on the Grand Union Canal just north of Linslade.
The Lake, Stockgrove Park
Rushmere Park entrance.
Leighton Buzzard, River Ouzel. Viewed looking northwards and downstream from the A4146 road bridge with a light dusting of snow on the ground.
Linslade: Leighton Buzzard railway station. Anyone arriving at the railway station expecting to be in the town centre would be disappointed because the station is in Linslade on the opposite side of the valley of the River Ouzel and about 1 kilometre away from the town to the west. This view was taken looking northwards from the footbridge to the south of the station.
View of the Doll. Doll being the name of this 1919 built steam engine on the narrow gauge Leighton Buzzard Railway. This photograph was taken at the Page's Park terminus station. The railway was originally built in 1919 to carry sand from nearby quarries to the now dismantled Leighton Buzzard to Dunstable standard gauge railway line close to Page's Park. It closed as an industrial line in 1969, but was taken over by volunteers to be run as a heritage railway.