The Greensands Ridge Section 3: Ampthill - Haynes

Sue Owen

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The Greensands Ridge is Bedfordshire's premier long-distance route from the canals of Leighton Buzzard to the rolling green fields of Gamlingay. It traverses forty miles of the county along a ridge above clay valleys on each side. The route covers heaths, ancient and modern woodland, meadows, green fields and some charming villages with buildings from the local sandstone. It provides a varied habitat for wildlife including heather, gorse, bluebells, nightjars on the heaths, woodpeckers, buzzards and of course muntjac deer.

Section 3 from Ampthill to Haynes takes us past Houghton House ruin, thought to be John Bunyan's 'The House Beautiful', through the church meadows of Maulden and past the ruin of St Mary's Church. The meadow is one of the few remaining areas of unimproved grassland on the ridge. The ruin of St Mary's Church has a medieval burial mound still visible in its grounds. The ancient Maulden Wood, together with Chicksands Wood later in this section, is the most likely place to spot the shy muntjac deer. Oak timbers from Chicksands Wood were used to build Ely Cathedral.

England - Central England - Bedfordshire - Countryside

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Church, Flowers, Great Views, Pub, Public Transport, Wildlife, Woodland

7/16/2009 - Walkingworld Admin

I have just completed all five legs of the Greensands Ridge Walk (Nos.3199 to 3203). Together they make up a superb walk – it has to be one of the finest in East Anglia. What’s more the local bus system works brilliantly to get you back to the start at the end of each of these linear walks. Just log on to www.traveline.org.uk, and they will give you your itinerary for whatever time of day you require. So if you are pondering whether to do the Greensands Ridge Walk (50 miles altogether), ponder no more, just do it; you won’t regret it.

7/7/2009 - Walkingworld Administrator

Thoroughly enjoyable walk. Thanks to Adrian Perkins for updating this walk July 2009.