Giffard Park to Bradville via Stanton Low and Great Linford

Description

Park at or near the Giffard Park pub.

(D/A) Cross Broadway Avenue to join the Redway that runs beside the road, heading in north west direction. Before long the redway crosses Broadway Avenue and passes to the left of a smallish pond. This is actually a remnant of the former Great Linford to Newport Pagnell Canal. Continue along the Redway on the left side of Broadway Avenue, until just past Snowshill Court.

(1) Here you turn left onto the Railway Walk, heading south west. Very soon you reach the former Great Linford rail station, the platform of which still remains intact. Continue along the railway walk, still heading south west, through Black Horse Woods. Just before the railway walk goes across a bridge over the Grand Union Canal.

(2) Do not cross the bridge, but instead turn left down a short set of steps to the canal towpath. Turn to the right and pass under the railway bridge, following the towpath until you reach the Black Horse pub on your right. Immediately after the Black Horse pub, the canal towpath passes under Wolverton Road.

(3) The next part is a tiny bit tricky. Cars are able to drive down onto a short stretch of the towpath. You have to turn right, back towards the road for a few metres. It is quite easy to identify another track which leads off from the east side, heading into Stanton Low in a north west direction, marked on the OSmap as Swan's Way. This track takes you to the ruins of St. Peter's Church.

(4) Immediately after the church, turn left and head south up an incline towards the Grand Union Canal. Turn right onto the towpath and continue in a southerly direction.
Continue south along the canal towpath, passing under Newport Road, then south west until you pass under the next road bridge Bradwell Road.

(5) You will see the New Inn on the opposite side of the canal. Climb the steps up to the road level, turn right uphill and pass beside the New Inn and continue uphill for less than 100 metres.

(6) Cross the road and descend down onto the platform of the former Bradwell Rail Station. The return journey along the Railway Walk begins here. Head north east along the Railway Walk for almost 2 km until you return to the bridge over the Grand Union Canal. Once again, do not cross the bridge, but head to the right down into Linford Manor Park. As you follow the path towards the Manor, it takes you past St. Andrew's church and the Linford Almshouses.

(7) Head southwards, in front of the Manor to emerge onto Linford High Street by the Nag's Head pub. After not many metres take the path on the left side that leads to the Cricket Green and Pavilion.

(8) Turn right to go anti-clockwise around the cricket green, but after the Pavilion takes the second path/exit to join a redway just near the junction of Marsh Drive and Woad Lane. Cross Marsh Drive and continue eastwards along the Redway, passing tennis courts and through Great Linford Park until, once again, you meet the Grand Union Canal.

(9) Cross the bridge and turn left to return to the car park of the Giffard Park pub.(D/A)