Crossing Milton Keynes is a chance to see how the tricky business of creating a new city has been tackled.
Ouse Valley Way or the Redways?
The Ouse Valley Way avoids much of Milton Keynes and even takes a curious detour to Little Linford rather than using the Redways, a network of walkable (and cycleable) routes. They are a great way to explore a city that was designed to be traversable by foot, bike or horse. Some highlights have been marked on the map so why not hire a bike or scooter and go explore?
Former church of St Peters, Stantonbury
However you choose to cross MK, the initial part of the Ouse Valle Way route is worth taking as it goes through the expansive and well-managed Ouse Valley Park. It is owned and maintained by the Parks Trust, a unique self-funding body which looks after MK’s green spaces.
courtesy of Parks Trust
courtesy of Parks Trust
The Park includes dedicated flood plains and lakes along the banks of the Great Ouse. A good option is to follow the Grand Union Canal to Great Linford Manor (marked on the map) and head into Newport Pagnell on the Redways.
courtesy of Parks Trust
However, should you choose to stick to the Ouse Valley Way, you will pass Haversham Weir and on to Little Linford.
One advantage of this route is seeing the attractive Linford Lakes, although the tunnel under the M1 is less than salubrious.
The end point is the town of Newport Pagnell which mirrors Stony Stratford as an old place at the edge of MK. It has the only vellum manufacturer in the United Kingdom and is the original home of Aston Martin.
Next leg: Newport Pagnell to Olney
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