Dunstable Downs Short Circular Walk

Climb Dunstable Downs and enjoy breathtaking views over the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on this circular walk in Whipsnade. There are miles of footpaths crossing the chalk grasslands of the Downs visiting a number of interesting sites including:
The Five Knolls - a Bronze Age cemetery constructed over 4000 years ago.
Whipsnade Heath - a mosaic of grassland, scrub and woodland, with a fantastic variety of wildlife....
A peak of 797 ft (243 m) - this is the highest point in Bedfordshire and provides fine views over the county
Whipsnade Tree Cathedral - an extraordinary 10 acre park in planted in the form of a cathedral.
The area also includes the Chilterns Gateway Visitor Centre which has a wealth of information about the area, a cafe and fabulous views in a sheltered environment. Look out for gliders, kite fliers, hang gliders and paragliders on the downs too. You will often see them gliding past the hills on a summer day.
If you'd like to continue your walk you could follow the Icknield Way Path which runs through the park. This will take you north east into Dunstable or south west to another major highlight of the area at Ivinghoe Beacon. The iconic hill is located just a few miles to the west of the park and is a great way to extend your walking in the area. It commands fine views over the Chiltern Hills and the Vale of Aylesbury.
Pubs and More Info
Just to the north of the park you can pick up the Sewell Greenway. The shared cycling and walking trail runs along a disused railway line to Stanbridgeford.

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

Interactive Map

Ordnance Survey Map Full Screen>>

OS Map (Mobile GPS)

Route Video

Nearby Routes

Icknield Way Path Whipsnade Tree Cathedral Ivinghoe Beacon Sewell Greenway Whipsnade Heath and Kensworth Quarry Walk Studham Markyate and Whipsnade Zoo Walk Caddington and Blows Downs Walk Dunstable Downs to Ivinghoe Beacon Walk Bridgewater Monument Walk

Photos

Five Knolls round barrow cemetery: three bell barrows, two bowl barrows and two pond barrows on Dunstable Down

Dunstable Downs. Chiltern Way comes out onto the Dunstable Downs and cuts right heading to the Chilterns Gateway Centre. The Downs as home to various orchids, including frog orchids, bee orchids, and occasionally common spotted and pyramidal orchids. Other wildflowers such as great pignut, knapweed, scabious, and rock-rose thrive in the nutrient-poor, well-drained chalk soils, along with a mix of low-growing herbs that add seasonal colour and attract pollinators.

Footpath off Buttercup Lane. Buttercup Lane becomes a private road just after this footpath strikes off to the right. This footpath crosses Dunstable Downs Golf Course. The Downs provide an important habitat for butterflies, including chalkhill blue, marbled white, and the rarer Duke of Burgundy, along with a diversity of other invertebrates such as various moths and beetles. Ground-nesting birds like skylarks, meadow pipits, and yellowhammers are commonly found in the open chalkland, while passing migrants may also use the area as a feeding stop.

Kite flying on Dunstable Downs. Looking north. Although they are not easy to see on the photograph, the sky was full of kites.

Trig point, on Dunstable Downs Highest point in Bedfordshire at a mighty 797 feet). It was scaled only in 2014, after numerous mountaineering expeditions perished due to the high altitudes and unforgiving crevasses and sheer rock faces on route to the summit. Beyond its ecological significance, Dunstable Downs features historical and archaeological interest. The Five Knolls round barrow cemetery, a Bronze Age burial site later reused in different periods, is one of the key historical features. There are also remnants of medieval rabbit warrens, while ancient trackways such as the Icknield Way pass through the area, highlighting its historical role as a trade and communication route.

A glider from the nearby London Gliding Club swoops on the thermals around the downs. Some visitors watch, others seem oblivious to it.
Dunstable Downs is also known for its panoramic views, standing at 243 metres and offering clear-day vistas over several counties. The open landscape attracts visitors for recreational activities including kite flying, paragliding, hang gliding, and gliding, with the London Gliding Club based at the foot of the Downs. Managed in part by the National Trust, the Chilterns Gateway Centre provides visitor facilities such as a café and information about the area’s natural and historical heritage.

National Trust Visitor Centre, Dunstable Downs

Pastures at the base of the Dunstable Downs. View north-west of the B489, the Icknield Way, by Wellhead Farm.

Download GPX

Dunstable Downs Country Park.gpx