Wobamp one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Wobamp here.

This is a nice varied route. The first part from Woburn Sands to Ridgmont is very similar to the Woburn Sands to Flitwick slow way, which I have reviewed previously, with just a minor difference at Husborne Crawley. I therefore just did the Ridgmont to Ampthill section. The first stretch on from Ridgmont is around fields but also has a stretch on a bridleway between the M1 and the A421, which despite the proximity of the roads is a haven for wildlife and wildflowers, and a another bit on a quiet road. At the moment the field paths are very overgrown thanks to the unusual weather this year and can be quite hard going but usually they are very easy walking. The next section of the walk is on a bridleway skirting the Centre Parks holiday village which undulates through pine forest on a mostly wide sandy path. The only point to note here is when you get to the end of this section where the route takes you out onto the Woburn Road, the route as plotted suggests you need to go through a locked gate when in fact you should follow the path round to the right a little way, which takes you to a pelican crossing allowing you to cross the road safely. Having crossed this and the next road to get you over the roundabout you go a little way up the Ampthill Road before turning left on a track past Warren Farm and a number of Industrial Units. Here you need to take the track signed to Millbrook Church (the left of the two directly in front of you) following the scent of coffee past the Wooden Hill Coffee roastery, where you can stop for a cup of coffee as they have a little garden cafe, and then past a few other units and turn right onto a path that leads you past a farm with some alpacas and on until you come to Ampthill Park. The route then goes through this lovely park, past Katherine's Cross and some spectacular views before descending from the park via some small residential streets to come out opposite Waitrose, a short stroll to the centre of the town.

So a quite long but varied and attractive walk on mainly good paths and tracks. There are a few kissing gates in the first section from Woburn Sands to Ridgmont and then a couple more when the route passes into Ampthill Park, but no stiles and apart from a few steep but short climbs nothing too taxing. There are a number of options for refreshment stops: in Aspley Guise a pub and restaurants, the Firs cafe and the Rose and Crown pub in Ridgmont, and the coffee roastery already mentioned near Ampthill.

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