[1] From the car park turn right and walk along the pavement to the gate at the entrance of Woburn Park. Go through the gate to the right of the cattle grid, continuing on the path past the lake on the left, then onto the drive past the houses on the right. Go through the gate to the left of the cattle grid and head for the drive adjacent to the buildings in front of you. Follow the drive as it turns right past the buildings, continue to the pay booths. There is no charge to enter the Park providing you remain on the public footpaths – just let the person in the pay booth know this is your intention.Dogs are allowed in the Deer Park but not within the Abbey Grounds or Gardens (with the exception of assistance dogs), they must be kept on a lead at all times.
(A) Opposite the car park is the parish church of Woburn - St. Marys. This was built between 1865 and 1868 for William, the 8th Duke of Bedford, by the architect Henry Clutton. He based his design on a French Gothic cathedral style and you will see the grotesques and gargoyles on the tower roof.
[2] After the pay booths turn right, off the driveway,by a brick wall on your right and along the path. Continue along this path until you reach a junction of paths, just before a park access gate, and turn left onto the Greensand Ridge Walk towards the Abbey. (See photo) Cross the road and carry on up the incline with the Abbey now to your right. Walk past the Abbey entrance and gardens, up another incline, crossing over the drive as it bends at 90 degrees and go down the path on the left to the gate.
(B) The Greensand Ridge Walk follows a ridge of greensand which rises from the surrounding clay vales through Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The 40 mile walk starts in Leighton Buzzard and finishes in Gamlingay.
(C) Woburn Abbey was originally built in c1145 and was home to a number of Cistercian monks. When the leader of the monks was hanged for treason in 1538, the building was granted, some nine years later, to Sir John Russell (1st Earl of Bedford) by the monarch. It has since then been the home of the Russell Family and is now home to the 15th Duke of Bedford and his family.
[3] Go through the gate, to exit Woburn Park, and follow the path through the small woodland to the open fields. At the bottom of the fields go down the few steps, across the bridge/plank and turn right. Follow the path crossing another bridge, through the bamboo until it reaches the woods.
[4] Turn left at the way marker post and after 30 metres turn right into the woods taking the “unsigned” path (See photo). Follow this path for just over a kilometre (15 to 20 mins) as it runs fairly parallel to the boundary wall of Woburn Park.
[5] When reaching an open area take the path on the right that takes you back into Woburn Park. Go past the Paris House restaurant and onto the path adjacent to the park road.You will see the Abbey away to your right. Continue on this path until it turns left before the bridge. This path takes you back to the Greensand Ridge Walk after point 2. If you wish at this point you can retrace your steps back to the car park via the pay booths.
(D) Paris House, Bedfordshire's only Michelin starred restaurant, was originally built in 1878 as part of The Paris International Exhibition called ‘The Streets of Nations’ and located on the Rue des Nations in Paris. The 9th Duke of Bedford liked the building so much, he had it dismantled, shipped piece by piece and rebuilt in the grounds of Woburn Park.
[6] On reaching the Greensand Ridge Walk turn left through the gates to yet again leave the Park. At the end of the path go through the gate and cross the road (A4012) to the Speedwell Cottages. Just as the driveway takes a sharp left turn, go through the gap in the trees straight in front of you. Follow the path around the field margin and turn right through the holly trees onto the track.
The A4012 can be quite busy, with fast moving vehicles at this point, take care in crossing the road.
[7] After passing the pond take the second waymarked path on the right (as you reach a crossroads of paths). This path takes you towards and through the trees to open grassland with views back to the Abbey on your right. Continue on the same path as it goes through the trees and some small fields, then eventually between the houses to the main road. Turn right here to walk along the pavement to the centre of Woburn. Cross St. Georges Street (A4012) and turn down Park Street back to the car park.
When crossing the road in the centre of Woburn take extra care, as vehicles are emerging/approaching from different directions. It's a good idea to cross the road a little way from the junction.
(E) Woburn is a Georgian village with a selection of pubs, restaurants, tea rooms, hotels and specialist shops. It also has a popular monthly Farmers' Market, held in the village centre, on the third Sunday of the month.