We’re a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s, 30s and a bit beyond, offering guided hikes and social events across Herts, Beds and south Cambs.
This walk is for up to 25 people, including the leader.
Join us on Easter Monday for our Bedfordshire Three Peaks Challenge! Bedfordshire may not be known for its peaks, but wrapped around the south of Dunstable you will find a corner of the Chiltern Hills which contains the county’s three highest points: Blow’s Down, Bison Hill and Dunstable Downs.
Our route takes in farmland, woodland and open chalk grassland, with some steep slopes. Please bring a packed lunch, snacks and drinks, and something to sit on at lunchtime.
We begin in Dunstable town centre by walking through Priory Gardens and past the impressive 12th-century Priory Church. We then come to Blow’s Down, a nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest, where we’ll have a steep climb to the top of the hill (212m above sea level). This gives us views over Dunstable and Luton and across to Dunstable Downs. The reserve is grazed by cattle and ponies to help maintain the chalk grassland as a habitat for wildflowers, and we might encounter some of these as we make our way southeast along the ridge.
Leaving the ridge and the reserve, we’ll skirt the edge of woods and arable fields then turn west to pass through sheep pasture and horse paddocks. After crossing the London Road, a narrow path brings us back into undulating farmland and we make our way to Church End, Kensworth, where we can pause for a snack break in the churchyard.
We continue along the southern edge of Kensworth Chalk Pit, the UK's largest active chalk quarry, and can glimpse some of its workings. Then we progress across the grassy slope of Codlings Bank and through wooded Whipsnade Heath, followed by our packed lunch stop on the green at Whipsnade village.
Next we’ll wander through Whipsnade Tree Cathedral, an arboretum planted in the shape of a medieval cathedral, before coming to the edge of Bison Hill (235m), named after the bison which live at Whipsnade Zoo over the road. Sadly we won’t get to see the bison (or summit the hilltop, which is on private land) but we can look over to the famous Whipsnade Lion carved into the chalk hillside.
We’ll then traverse the ridge of Dunstable Downs, with wide-reaching views of Ivinghoe Beacon and across the Vale of Aylesbury. We’ll have another break at the Chilterns Gateway Visitor Centre, and a chance to visit the trig pillar marking the highest point on the Downs (243m).
After this we’ll walk northwards to the end of the Downs, past the ancient Five Knolls burial mounds and downhill along the Icknield Way Path. It’s then less than a mile along the street to return to our start point, and the option of a drink at a nearby pub.
Toilets are available at Whipsnade church and Dunstable Downs.
Please note this walk is not suitable for dogs.
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.
This is a circular walk.
The start time is when we aim to start walking and the finish time is an estimate.
Walks are graded Easy, Leisurely, Moderate or Strenuous in increasing order of difficulty. Please read the walk description to check it is within your abilities and contact the group if you are unsure.
Please:
We are a Ramblers group, non-members are welcome to try us out for three free walks before joining Ramblers as a full member.
As a charity we ask that non-members consider making a voluntary donation to Ramblers until they purchase membership. We suggest £3-4 per walk. You can donate in person or online.
The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577. Registered office: Stone King LLP, Boundary House, 91 Charterhouse Street, London EC1M 6HR.
Ashton Square Car Park, Bullpond Lane, Dunstable LU6 3BE. Free parking on Bank Holidays. Accessible by local bus services from Luton, Leighton Buzzard etc.
