Greensand Ridge Walk #4: Ridgmont to Bletchley (13 miles / 21 km - Moderate, Booking Required)

This walk is for up to 30 people, including the leader.

Part 4 of the Greensand Ridge Walk long-distance trail across Bedfordshire, which we’re walking in five sections on the second Saturday of each month. Don’t worry if you’ve missed previous sections of the trail - everyone is welcome on any of these walks.

Today's walk is along a beautiful section of the Greensand Ridge starting from Ridgmont and finishing in Bletchley. This route gives us a proper slice of Bedfordshire countryside: ruined churches, village greens, quiet fields, old woodland, and deer at Woburn Park, ending with a waterside walk into Bletchley. The terrain is a mix of field and village paths, woodland and parkland, with some urban paths near the end and a few gentle slopes. There may be mud depending on recent weather. This is a longer walk, so it is best suited to people comfortable walking 13 miles at a steady group pace.

Please note this is a linear walk from Ridgmont to Bletchley, linked by the Marston Vale railway line. We recommend meeting at the end point in Bletchley to take the train to the start point at Ridgmont.

From our starting point at Ridgmont station, we will cross safely over the busy M1/A507 interchange using the bridge before heading towards Ridgmont village. Shortly after, we will pass the atmospheric ruins of All Saints Church, Segenhoe, the old parish church of Ridgmont until 1855 and now a protected Scheduled Monument. This ruin has characteristics of late Anglo-Saxon churches and parts of the building are thought to be over 1,000 years old. After that, the route slips into the quieter world of Malting Spinney and open fields, giving us a welcome escape from road noise and village edges.

We will then make our way to Eversholt, where we will stop for our packed lunch. After lunch, the route becomes especially memorable as we follow the public footpath through Woburn Park, passing through the parkland and near Woburn Abbey itself. Deer are able to roam freely here, so we will be respectful, keep our distance and move calmly through the estate.

We will then continue into Woburn village, where we’ll have a short stop for anyone who wants a tea, coffee, or quick browse in a couple of the village shops. From there, we head on through Buttermilk Wood, where we divert from the Greensand Ridge Walk into the sleepy village of Little Brickhill, where we can stop for a drink at The George.

The final stretch takes us into Bletchley, and as we enter the town, the route changes character again: we cross the River Ouzel, meet the Grand Union Canal and then follow Water Eaton Brook for the last section back towards the station.

Dogs are welcome on a lead.

For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.

Booking your place: Please book your place using the free Meetup website/app. Join the Stag Walkers Meetup group and click the 'Attend' button on the event page.

Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited.

If the walk is fully booked, please click 'join waitlist' then please check back regularly as you will likely get a place. The waitlist gives priority to single bookings so if you wish to bring a guest, we recommend booking separately.

Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.