Marston Vale Trail (10 miles/16 km - moderate, booking required)

This walk is for up to 25 people, including the leader.

Starting from the Marston Vale Millennium Country Park Forest Centre we head south past a couple of lakes and the church of Marston Moretaine to pick up the Vale Trail. After crossing the railway at Lidlington we have a steep climb up past the remains of All Saints Church into attractive beech woodland for some last traces of autumn colours, and weave along the contours of the Greensand Ridge and John Bunyan Trail to Millbrook and then Ampthill Park.

To our north is the Millbrook vehicle testing facility where top-secret prototype models are evaluated and vehicle stunts for movies sometimes filmed. Trees and high fences prevent spy shots and peeking around 99% of the perimeter. Will we spot anything exciting through the 1% gaps?

Six miles in, at the east side of Ampthill Park we pause for lunch, then drop in on The Queen's Head for a drink before returning along the edge of Laurel Wood. It is a gentle downhill from here crossing two railway lines and passing four lakes as we re-enter the Country Park and return to the start for tea and medals.

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, click 'join waitlist' to get a place if one becomes available and please check back regularly in case you do 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.