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.
Hosted by Stag Walkers as part of Bedfordshire Festival of Autumn Walks. From the county’s highest point, down to former railway cuttings and back via ancient earthworks, this walk unwraps Dunstable’s unique biodiversity and 5,000 year history.
We’ll gather at The Quadrant's NCP Car Park, thread the leafy ribbon of Priory Meadows and ease into a single steady mile-long climb, enough to warm the legs but comfortable for anyone used to moderate hills, first over the springy fairways of Dunstable Golf Course, where skylarks sing above the greens, and then onto the broad chalk ridge of Dunstable Downs (243m). From this airy perch wide views spill across the Vale of Aylesbury while red kites wheel overhead and gliders from the London Gliding Club ride the up-draughts.
Dropping beside the grass runway, we head west through open pasture to the flint-built lanes of Totternhoe before turning north onto the flower-rich turf of Totternhoe Knolls. Here we’ll pause for lunch on the grassy earthworks of the Totternhoe Castle motte-and-bailey, often spangled with orchids and chalkhill-blue butterflies in summer.
With the escarpment behind us we join the leafy trackbed of the disused Leighton Buzzard–Dunstable railway through Sewell Cutting, its embankments bright with scabious and knapweed, then make a brief detour to the low Iron-Age rim of Maiden Bower, beneath which lie faint traces of a Neolithic enclosure. Finally, a gentle green-lane walk returns us to Dunstable’s historic town centre.
Please bring a packed lunch, snacks and drinks, and optionally something to sit on at lunch (e.g. a sitmat). Toilets are available at Ashton Square Car Park (near the start) and at the Chilterns Gateway Centre on Dunstable Downs.
This is one of nearly 50 walks making up the Bedfordshire Festival of Autumn Walks, hosted by Bedfordshire Ramblers Groups and friends from 6th to 14th September. To see the full Walks Programme visit http://www.bedswalkfest.co.uk/
Dogs are welcome on a lead.
For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.
There is no limit on group size for this walk and booking is preferred, but not essential; however, we do find it helpful to know who's coming, so:
* if you plan to come along, please book a place for yourself and any guests you are bringing
* if you have to cancel please update your RSVP so we know not to wait for you
* you can RSVP via our Meetup group or e-mail stagwalkers at gmail dot com
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.
NCP Car Park, The Quadrant Shopping Centre, Dunstable LU5 4RH. Meet by the walkway that takes you into the shopping centre, near the Revolution Laundry washing machines. All-day parking in the NCP multi-storey is £5.95 on the day or £4.95 if pre-booked in the NCP app. Also accessible by bus via Luton, Leighton Buzzard etc.
