Aspley Woods

These 800 acre woods near Milton Keynes have some good mountain bike trails and miles of footpaths.
You can start your exercise from the car park where you can pick up the Longslade Trail red route.
It's a single track 10km trail with flowing berms and corners, short but stiff climbs and the odd (rollable) drop-off. You can see the trails mapped out on the open street map below.
You can also pick up various footpaths taking you across Wavenden Heath and Bow Brickhill Woods.... There's nice shady woodland paths, pretty ponds and lots of wildlife to see. Look out for Muntjac Deer, Fallow Deer, rabbits, hares and various woodland birds.
The Milton Keynes Boundary Walk passes through woods so you can pick up the trail to extend your walk. If you follow the trail north it will take you through the countryside to Woburn Sands and Salford.
Heading south will take you through Buttermilk Wood to Rushmere Country Park.
The Greensand Ridge Walk also passes through the woods. If you follow it east you will soon come to the splendid Woburn Park. The expansive park includes tranquil ponds, pretty Orchards, a 3000 acre deer park and the magnificent Woburn Safari Park with its White Rhino, Elephants, Tigers and Black Bears.
Postcode: MK17 8EB
Pubs and More Info
At the northern end of the woods there's the village of Woburn Sands where there are a number of pubs and cafes for refreshments. One nice option is the Fir Tree Inn which dates from 1850. There's good home made food and an outdoor seating area here. You can find them at The Square, Woburn Sands with a postcode of MK17 8SY.
Head a couple of miles west from the woods and you will come to Caldecotte Lake. The pretty lake includes a surfaced cycling and walking trail running around the perimeter. It's a nice easy family walk or cycle with a decent lakeside pub to visit afterwards.
Pick up the Grand Union Canal and you could visit the canalside village of Cosgrove to the north west of Milton Keynes. There's a fine 17th century pub and a significant aqueduct to see here.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Bedfordshire Walks page.

Ordnance Survey Map OpenStreetMap OS Map (Mobile GPS) OpenStreetMap (Mobile GPS)

Interactive Map

Ordnance Survey Map Full Screen>>

OS Map (Mobile GPS)

Nearby Routes

Milton Keynes Boundary Walk Woburn Park Greensand Ridge Walk Caldecotte Lake Woburn Sands Bow Brickhill Aspley Guise Longslade Trail Wavendon Heath

Photos

Old Wavendon Heath near to Aspley Heath. A profusion of Broom and Gorse flowers in this late spring photo. This was taken adjacent to the A4012. I assume that the ditches here are lined with paving stones to prevent collapse into the ditch of the friable sand and gravel soil. There was a quarry for gravel extraction across the road from here.

Footpath in woods near Apsley Heath, Longslade Cottage and Woburn. The woodland around here was very attractive, with this sunlit footpath looking particularly appealing.

Public Bridleway. The view southwards into Browns Wood along the bridleway that joins up with the Milton Keynes Boundary Walk.

Milton Keynes Boundary Walk, Aspley Heath. View up the Milton Keynes Boundary Walk from the bottom of Sandy Lane.

Footpath Junction, Back Wood, Bow Brickhill

Milton Keynes Boundary Walk towards Buttermilk Wood.

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Aspley Woods.gpx