Kents Hill - Browns Wood - Caldecotte Lake - Kents Hill

Derek Gibbons

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Kents Hill - Browns Wood - Caldecotte Lake - River Ouzel - Kents Hill

For most of the walk you have the choice of walking a paved path or an unpaved path (bridleway). Although it can sometimes seem as if they are going different ways, they do converge at key points such as where a road is crossed. I have stated when either can be taken, or when just one should be followed. The bridleways are a mixture of ancient, retained in the master plan of Milton Keynes; and modern, created to link areas of green and often following streams or rivers. Considering that this walk passes through nine of the estates of Milton Keynes, it is surprisingly rural in character, due in no small part to the way the new city was planned, with lots of open space. There are over 22 million trees and over 4,500 acres of parkland and green landscape in Milton Keynes (25% of the town).

We start from a small car park next to the world-famous Open University, then later on pass Wavendon Tower, the headquarters of The Milton Keynes Development Corporation until it was wound up in 1992. From Wavendon Tower you are walking along an ancient bridleway which is part of the boundary of Milton Keynes, before turning into a long, winding, linear park which follows a small stream. The next major point of interest is Caldecotte Lake, built in 1982 as a balancing lake, designed to prevent the River Ouzel from flooding the southern part of Milton Keynes. Walking, cycling and of course, water sports are all popular and there is a children's play area close to the windmill. But the size of the lake means it's also easy to escape the activity and find a peaceful spot to enjoy the plentiful wildlife.

The River Ouzel rises as a chalk stream near Dunstable Downs and flows through Milton Keynes, where it has been turned into an important linear park. We follow it from Caldecotte Lake, with a short detour into Walton Lake, before returning to the car park.

England - Central England - Buckinghamshire - Town or city

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Church, Flowers, Great Views, Lake/Loch, Mostly Flat, Play Area, Public Transport, River

10/31/2019 - Derek Gibbons

Hi, Following Roy Heape's comment, I checked the location of the car park, and it is as I stated, on the right when approaching from Brickhill Street.

10/14/2019 - Roy Heape

Due to the very wet weather |I was looking for a walk that was mostly on hard paths. This walk fitted the bill and proved to be excellent. There was one small mistake in the instructions. In the 'Access' information the small car park is on the left not the right of Hawkehurst Gate as stated. Roy Heape

10/14/2019 - Roy Heape

Due to the very wet weather, I was looking for a walk that was mostly on hard paths. This walk fitted the bill and proved to be excellent. There was one small mistake in the instructions. In the 'Access' information the small car park is on the left not the right of Hawkehurst Gate as stated. Roy Heape

3/29/2012 - Walkingworld Admin

Our thanks to Derek Gibbons for his updates for this walk. March 2012. Adrian (Admin)