woburn safari park reptiles

The Outdoors Mum

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE

• Oct 20, 2019

Woburn Safari Park

Updated: Jun 4, 2020

We were lucky enough to be gifted tickets to visit Woburn Safari Park last week. I’ve visited many times before, pre child and when Daisy was younger. I wanted to take Daisy back now she’s older and I’m so glad I did.

We did the Safari first and our favourites were the Rhinos and the naughty Monkeys who climbed on our car. Daisy found this hilarious.  I’ve never seen so many Giraffes either too so that was impressive. You feel so close to the animals and can see them up close, we really took our time and stopped to watch each animal. You can go around the Safari as many times as you want. We also saw Wolves, Bears, Tigers, Lions, Zebras and more up close.

To save money we took a packed lunch but the Restaurant sold hot food such as curry and cold options like sandwiches and cakes. I did treat Daisy to a Gingerbread animal biscuit for £1.99 which I thought was quite pricey but it was delicious to be fair. I also spotted a few other cafes but they were all closed, probably due to it being midweek and Autumn.

I’ve visited so many times and never knew Woburn Safari Park had any reptiles. They were tucked away next to the gift shop and the toilets. There were Snakes a Bearded Dragon, tiny little Frogs and more. The lady who worked there said the Snakes had, had a busy summer so they let them rest during quieter months but advised me we could hold a Giant Snail, Hissing Cockroach or a Stick Insect. I opted for the Giant Snail and it was great to be able to see it up close and ask the lady questions, Daisy was fascinated and stroked i’ts massive shell.

FOOT SAFARI/FARM 

We took a stroll into the Wallabie enclosure, Daisy loved this and she would shout with excitement, ‘Mummy, what are they doing?’. So cute, she loved watching them hop around or rest on the floor. We also enjoyed being inside the little Monkey Enclosure. On previous visits they’ve tried to climb up our legs but on this occasion they were all happy relaxing on their high ropes.

The farm area with the Goats that you could stroke was a firm favourite for us. Daisy’s familiar with Farm animals and felt confident to give them a little pat. We also saw Penguins, Tortoise and more. There’s so many animals you an barely do it all in one day.

Lastly we visited the Birds inside the Rainbow Landing House. We paid £1 for two little cups of food for the Birds in the hope they’d land on us and have a drink. The lady did warn us she had just fed them so they weren’t all that hungry however I managed to entice one down from its perch and it sat on my hand. It’s no nice to see the Birds up close. I’ve been before and it’s been crazy in there so be warned! You can’t help but laugh and let out a little screech when they land on your arm or swoop past your head.

OUTSIDE PLAY AREA

This was brilliant and it all looked very new. If you follow my Instagram page you’ll know Daisy loves balancing on obstacles so this was her dream play area. With not a slide or a swing in site it was fab. I really love play areas that aren’t like your traditional park. I love seeing equipment that challenges children. It’s wonderful to see them master something they struggled with when they first arrived. By the end of the day Daisy was running around the wooden balancing maze. She also loved the musical area which included drums and a xylophone. We picked up a stick to see what sounds we could make. There were plenty of wooden Animals too which I think is great for continuing the learning.

TALKS/DEMONSTRATIONS

We actually didn’t get time to attend any talks or demonstrations however I’ll upload the schedule here.  I’m actually thinking of getting a season ticket which I’ll talk more about later however it would be good to just attend the Safari Park to see a quick demonstration for example. For example just popping to the park one day to see the Otters being fed instead of spending the entire day there.

I have seen the Elephant Meadow demonstration before which is incredible. This wasn’t on when we visited but its amazing to see the Elephants up close and I mean really close. You even get the opportunity to touch them. I wish I could describe how big they really are apart from saying they’re ‘MASSIVE!’.

COST/TODDLER PASS

Buying online doesn’t get you any discount however you will get a free guide book.

Depending on when you visit, prices for Adults start from £22.49, Children over 3 £16.99 and under 2s go free. All other ticket prices and information is linked here .

Opening times are linked here.

I wanted to tell you about the Toddler pass because so many of you have messaged me about it. So the details don’t get lost in translation, I’ll copy the details below. The cost of a Toddler pass (0-2yrs) is £89.99.

The Toddler Pass gives the named toddler free admission for one full year, as well as admission  free of charge for ANY one accompanying adult, per visit.  The toddler pass allows for a different adult to enjoy the free admission on separate occasions, making this a flexible way of different adults, bringing the child. To be eligible, the toddler must not have reached their third birthday, when the pass is purchased (ie. The child must be aged two years of age, or below. Please bring proof of age, as this will be required if the toddler looks older).

Lots of you informed me you can also get discounted/free tickets using your Tesco club boosts.

Overall, we had a brilliant time and Daisy thoroughly enjoyed herself.

#woburnsafaripark #woburn #animals #safaripark #theoutdoorsmum #zoo

Recent Posts

Felixstowe Beach Trip

Bridgewater Monument Ashridge Estate

Caldecotte Miniature Railway

Official Description

Visitor Reviews

Anonymous review 25 June 2009

Woburn Safari Park is split into two sections, firstly you have the 'drive-through' animals, then you can park up and move onto the 'foot safari'.  You can go straight through to the foot safari first and come back on the re-entry road to the drive through and you can go around both as many times as you like.  There is plenty of free parking, and some grass areas for picnics and enjoying the sun however there is no extensive gardens or planting like many zoos have, nor are there any 'photo points', sculptures or anything like that.  Both sections are easy enough to find your way around, there are not many signposts but these are not needed really.

The highlights for us were:

Drive through Wolf and Black Bear enclosure – I think this must be the only one of its kind in the UK, and it is brilliant to be able to see Wolves and Bears together as they would naturally be in the wild.  One tip – Remember to look up in the trees to spot all of the bears!  Both species also hide in self dug dens in the ground which is great for them, but might mean you need another trip around to spot them all. 

Drive through Monkey Woods – 3 Species are in here which is great and they don't seem to destroy the car like many drive through Monkey enclosures.  It is always fun to see baby monkeys playing on your car!

Rainbow Landing – Free flying Lorikeets and Lorys in an inside aviary which is looking very dated but is pleasant enough, especially when the waterfall is on.  It costs about £1 to buy 2 pots of nectar to feed the birds and be prepared, because if they are hungry they will mob you when you walk in! 

Lemur Walkthrough – Is not the largest or most heavily planted Lemur walkthrough we have seen however it is lovely, with a couple of huge trees and lots of Bamboo for the Lemurs to play in which they seemed to love.  They have 3 species of Lemur, 2 of which are rarley seen in Zoos (most zoos seem to favour Ring-tailed Lemurs).  They have Black and White Ruffed Lemurs which lift their arms up for you to tickle their armpits sometimes!  Also Red Bellied Lemurs, of which one is a new born baby, and Red Fronted Lemurs which are smaller than the Ruffed.  There is a talk on at various times throughout the day when most of the Lemurs come quite close for the keepers to feed.

Squirrel Monkey Walkthrough – A lovely sized enclosure for these small Primates, but do not take food, drink or babies dummies in here as the monkeys might well take them off you!  The keepers have their work cut out keeping the monkeys from climbing on visitors but generally the monkeys are good natured if you respect the rules on the gate.  The feeding time is great to see, when all the monkeys come down from the trees to see how many mealworms they can stuff in their mouths.  Strictly no touching of the monkeys is allowed.

Australian Walkthrough – Very spacious enclosure for Wallabies and Rheas, very strange as Rheas are not even from Australia!  At feeding time there is an opportunity to stroke the Wallabies and hand them a bit of food – great for small children.

Penguins – Small and dated Penguin pool however it allows a good view of the Penguins and there is a window so you can see them swim underwater.  The feeding times are worth seeing, 2 children are chosen from the audience to help the keepers feed the Penguins and the talk is very informative.

Birds of Prey Display – Don't forget to go to this display as its worth seeing some beautiful birds free flying.

The disappointments for us were:

Lynx – In a very small enclosure even for one cat let alone two

Reptiles – There is no reptile house and the only reptile we saw on show was a snake

Tigers – The one day we went no Tigers were on show in the drive through but instead were in a pen on the side.

Lions – Have a MASSIVE enclosure but you can see the keepers controlling exactly where the Lions are allowed to go, which isn't very far.

Misleading Signs – There is a train platform which is called “Bison Halt” so you expect to see Bisons but you don't!!  Also there is a slide called “BobCat Run” so you expect to see BobCats but you don't!!

They are enough toilets available, but only just!  There are no gardens for you to sit and enjoy the surroundings but there are some grassed areas.  There are 2 restaurants, one is The Ark and is massive!  It sells chips, burgers, drinks and such like but does some nice vegetarian meals and is spacious.  Also in this building is the Play Area which is brilliant, massive slides for kids and an assault course style play area with a ball pit for the smaller children.  The next restaurant is a bit more grown up and sells some lovely meals, again at prices which are not too bad but could be a bit cheaper!  There are some drinks machines around but not many.  The shop is very good, with lots of choice and reasonable prices.  The car parking is free and even when it is very busy there are always spaces and these are right in the park.  The guidebook was £5 (if i remember correct) and for this you get a Spotters Guide also which the kids love to use, this was good value for money.  There are good play areas for the kids, free Swan boats for them to pedal on the lake and its a lovely atmosphere.

In our opinion this is an excellent Safari Park, the animals have a lot of room and showed no stereotypical behaviour and is easily a full day out.  Although if you find you have time on your hands a visit to the Deer Park or Woburn Abbey is also recommended.  It is one of the more expensive parks to get into but I think you get your monies worth.  Compared to West Midlands Safari Park this is a much nicer place to visit (although is more expensive).  A great place to visit if you have just a little bit more money in your pocket.

GoodZoos.com Reviews

Species List

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Fitness & Wellbeing
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance Deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Climate 100
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Wine Offers
• Betting Sites

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Woburn Safari Park welcomes two new rhinos and bids farewell to one

The safari park is welcoming two southern white rhinos., article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails, thanks for signing up to the breaking news email.

Woburn Safari Park has announced the arrival of two new southern white rhinos as it prepares to bid farewell to one “much loved” member of the herd.

Granville, a five-year-old male, arrived from West Midlands Safari Park on August 20 and Azeeza, a three-year-old female, arrived later the same day from Safari Zoo Cumbria.

Alongside the arrival of the two new rhinos, keepers are preparing to say goodbye to Granville’s aunt and a “much loved” member of the herd, Bonnie, as she embarks on a new adventure at West Midlands Safari Park, the Woburn park said.

New rhino Granville is known for his friendly nature, curiosity and confidence and is expected to settle in well with the rest of the rhino herd, according to the safari park.

Born in 2021 to mother Ntombi and father Muzungu, Azeeza’s name means “strong, powerful, and dear” and she is known for a stubborn streak inherited from her mother.

Keeper Zack Turner said: “It’s always sad to see any of our animals go, especially Bonnie. She’s a great rhino to work with and has so much personality.

“Although it’s sad to see her go, the chance to hopefully have a breeding group of rhino, with the introduction of Granville, is something that excites us all.

“With white rhinos being a species that faces a lot of struggles out in the wild, breeding them here at Woburn would be a great step in the right direction for their conservation.”

To ensure a smooth transition for Bonnie, the safari park keepers have spent training time with her, making sure she feels comfortable and at ease for her journey, the park said.

The process has involved using the crate as a tunnel between the house and the sand yard, which has helped her become familiar and comfortable with the crate in the weeks leading up to the move.

Keepers hope the new arrivals will breed, as southern white rhinos are classified as “near threatened” due to ongoing poaching and habitat loss out in the wild.

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

• Squires & Spires
• Northamptonshire’s heroes
• Summary of walks by distance & time
• Walk 1: Castle Ashby Circular (6.5 miles, 2hrs): A fantastic walk including a stately home, great tea rooms, rivers, wildlife, spooky graveyards & a secret place…shhh!
• Walk 2: Collingtree Circular: A golf course, open fields, villages, a canal, pocket parks
• Walk 3: Braunston Circular: An ancient footpath, a gunpowder plot, a tale of woes, fab jams & marmalades & a canal finish
• Walk 4: Delapre Abbey Circular: A 10 mile walk from an ancient Abbey, along the Nene way, through the washlands & beyond!
• Walk 6: Great & Little Brington Circular: A wave to Diana..
• Walk 7: Yardley Gobian Circular: Stepping back in time across the fields to ‘The Deserted Village’
• Walk 8: Old Village Circular: 8 miles across the fields with great views & big trees on a boiling hot day. Mind the sheep poo though!!
• Walk 9: Oundle Water Meadows Circular: Wonderful water, wildlife & willows
• Walk 10: Stoke Bruerne Circular: A lovely walk for all the family around Northamptonshire’s jewel in the canal network
• Walk 11: Salcey Forest Circular: We followed an Elephant looking for an Owl but saw neither today…
• Walk 12: Abthorpe Circular: Picturesque South Northamptonshire villages (1) in the Tove valley
• Walk 13: Weston Circular: Picturesque South Northamptonshire villages (2) in the Tove valley
• Walk 14: Bugbrooke Circular: Back to the flats of the canals, but with fantastic views over our beautiful county
• Walk 15: Northampton: A brief walk around the historic town centre
• Walk 16: Wellingborough town centre heritage trail
• Walk 17: Thrapston & Titchmarsh Nature Reserves Circular: A ‘twitchers’ paradise
• Walk 18: Stony Stratford Circular: Crossing the border twice….a walk in the Great Ouse valley
• Walk 19: Sywell Country Park Circular
• Walk 20: The Bramptons & the Brampton Valley Way Circular
• Walk 21: Harringworth Circular: Wonderful structures & wildlife in the Welland Valley
• Walk 22: Summer Leys Circular: What a beautiful little nature reserve
• Walk 23: Towcester Town & Watermeadows Walk
• Walk 24: Rothwell town centre…”the place of the red well”
• Walk 25: Abington Park, Northampton: Ever walked in one of the UK’s top 5 parks?
• Walk 26: Sulgrave Village Circular Walk…full of Stars & Stripes
• Walk 27: King’s Sutton village walk…a must see southern Northants village
• Walk 28: Higham Ferrers town centre
• Walk 29: Raunds town centre…memories of times gone by
• Walk 30: Harlestone Firs Circular
• Walk 31: Wadenhoe Circular: Kingfishers & just a stunning walk
• Walk 32: Litchborough & Farthingstone Circular – a little cardio exercise!
• Walk 33: Eastcote Circular
• Walk 34: Flore Circular: This one’s flawless
• Walk 35: Grendon & Easton Maudit Circular: ‘Larking around’
• Walk 36: Badby Circular: Strolling amongst the bluebells
• Walk 37: Ravensthorpe Circular: Water, wildlife & waiting for a bite
• Walk 38: Twywell Circular: ‘Up Hill & down Dale’
• Walk 39: Aynho Circular: ‘I know, I know…(apricot anyone?)
• Walk 40: Cransley Reservoir Circular…who knew about that?
• Walk 41: Welford Circular…views across 3 counties, & also known as the “Happy Whale Walk”!…
• Walk 42: Cosgrove Circular: watch out for a ‘stampede’
• Walk 43: Great Addington Circular: The 3 ‘Ws’ – Water, Wildlife & Walking
• Walk 44: Fermyn Woods Circular: Flip-Flop Frenzy
• Walk 45: Kings Cliffe Circular: Bouncing dogs & unusual libraries…
• Walk 46: Whilton Circular: more stampeding
• Walk 47: Irchester & Chester House Circular
• Walk 48: Canons Ashby Circular: Round & round the Mulberry Bush…
• Walk 49: Kingsthorpe Circular: Kings, Dallies, Firs & a couple of Chapels…
• Walk 50: The Northampton Round Long Distance Footpath
• Walk 51: Whittlebury Circular: Golf balls & fast cars…
• Walk 52: Marston Trussell Circular: Historical Battlefields & a Big Rock
• Walk 53: Arthingworth Circular: A walk through a railway tunnel? No ‘Bull’
• Walk 54: Oundle Heritage Trail…Back to School
• Walk 55: Titchmarsh Village Heritage Trail: Do you dig it Alan?…
• Walk 56: Thrapston Town Centre: The Star Spangled Banner
• Walk 57: Boddington Reservoir Circular: You wanna a flake with that luv?
• Walk 58: Fotheringhay Circular: Off with her head!!
• Walk 59: Kislingbury Circular: Why not combine it with Sunday Lunch…
• Walk 60: Sudborough Circular: Living it up around Lyvedon New Bield
• Walk 61: Bugbrooke & Nether Heyford Circular: No need to ‘flour’ this one up…
• Walk 62: Middleton & East Carlton Circular: ‘Steel yourself’…
• Walk 63: Warkton & Weekley Circular: Ise spies a tea shop…
• Walk 64: Winwick Circular: Views to die for from Honey Hill
• Walk 65: Wansford Circular: Watermeadows & Dick Whittington
• Walk 66: Polebrook Circular: “Frankly my dear…I don’t give a damn”
• Walk 67: Brackley Town Centre: Elvis is alive & well…
• Walk 68: Greens Norton Circular: Catherine Parr lived here? Maybe not…
• Walk 69: Hellidon Circular: The ‘Peaks’ of our stunning County…
• Walk 71: Great Doddington Circular: Pubs & birds
• Walk 72: Earls Barton Circular: Tea & Kinky Boots Vicar?
• Walk 73: Wicken Circular: Solitude & a rather damp climate
• Walk 74: Easton on the Hill Circular: Got your passport ready?
• Walk 75: Kettering’s Industrial Trail..plus a couple of other bits!
• Walk 76: Daventry Town Centre: “Daventry calling…Daventry calling”
• Walk 77: Middleton Cheney Circular: No Bull
• Walk 78: Crick Village Walk: Everybody knew everybody…
• Walk 79: Rushden Town Centre: Not feeling ‘blue’…a look at Rushden’s notoriety
• Walk 80: Wollaston Village Walk: “Who are you…”
• Walk 81: Northampton’s Shoe Quarter
• Walk 82: Rothersthorpe Circular: Bull or No Bull
• Walk 83: Braunston Circular: Canals & Floating breakfasts
• Walk 84: Geddington Circular: In the Willows…
• Walk 85: Rockingham Village: Up the hill & back down again…
• Walk 86: East Haddon Circular: Get away from it all…
• Walk 87: The Harlestones Circular: Inspiring Jane Austen
• Walk 88: Syresham Village Walk: Know your heritage…
• Walk 89: Burton Latimer Circular: Have you had your daily wheat? “Ise” hope so!
• Walk 90: Weedon Bec Village Walk: Did Napoleon leave a bomb?
• Walk 91: Helmdon Village Walk: Lovely village, lovely people
• Walk 92: Middleton Village Walk: On yer bike!
• Walk 93: Cottingham Village Walk: Possibly the oldest inn in England…
• Walk 94: Kinewell Lake Circular Walk: Kinda a kindly stroll
• Walk 95: Upton Circular: Guided by the ‘Light’
• Walk 96: Brockhall Circular: The CIA are watching you!…
• Walk 97: Northampton Washlands Circular
• Walk 98: Kings Cliffe & Blatherwyke Circular: Red Kites & bizarre statues…
• Walk 99: Collingtree & Milton Malser Circular: Max’s Morning Walk
• Walk 100: The Nene Way Long Distance Footpath
• Walk 101: Brigstock & Fermyn Woods Circular: Wear your green tights for this one…
• Walk 102: Yelvertoft & Crick Circular: Well…more a figure of 8
• Walk 103: Harrington Circular: Time for a Gin anyone?
• Walk 104: Maidwell Circular: A short afternoon stroll
• Walk 105: Greatworth Circular: A great little stroll
• Walk 106: Welton Circular: Up the Junction
• Walk 107 – Delapre Abbey Inner Grounds
• Walk 108: Naseby Village & Battlefield Walk: The most important Battle in the English Civil War
• Walk 109: Hollowell Circular: Our most beautiful reservoir – Permit required
• Walk 110: Gayton Circular: A classic Shire stroll around Four Churches
• Walk 111: Bugbrooke & Stowe Circular: “Nine Churches”, Catherine Parr & a Tea Room
• Walk 112: Silverstone Circular: A great ‘Formula’ & an Ancient Wood
• Walk 113: Rushden Lakes Circular (1)…strolls, ski jumps & sculptures
• Walk 114: Rushden Lakes Circular (2): Beautiful frosty mornings…
• Walk 115: Whitfield Circular…”Mind that Stile!!”
• Walk 116: Welford Reservoir Circular – two hidden gems
• Walk 117: Chipping Warden & Edgcote Circular. Northamptonshire at its best!
• Walk 118: Lamport Circular Walk: Spot the mushroom!
• Walk 119: The Lyveden Way…stepping back in history
• Walk 120: Collyweston Circular…searching for the lost palace
• Walk 121: Blisworth Circular
• Walk 122: Nassington Circular… this one will get you “In the Mood!”
• Walk 123: Charlton Circular Walk: A stunning short stroll
• Walk 124: Gretton & Kirby Hall circular walk
• Walk 125: Roade & Stoke Bruerne Circular
• Walk 126: Grafton Underwood & Warkton Circular
• Walk 127: Piddington Circular Walk
• Walk 128: The Ecton Circular
• Walk 129: Pitsford Reservoir Circular Walk
• Walk 130: Yardley Hastings & Castle Ashby Circular
• Walk 131: Everdon – Fawsley – Preston Capes Circular (Get ready to roll!)
• Walk 132: Cottesbrooke to Haselbech Hill Circular Walk
• Walk 133: Rushton & Pipewell Circular
• Walk 134: Little Harrowden, Orlingbury, Pytchley & Isham…an inter-village circular & a boot scraper in a field
• Walk 135: Boughton Circular: Obelisks, Follies, Grottos & Northamptonshire’s most haunted place!! Beware…
• Walk 136: A short stroll around Spratton
• Walk 137: Moulton Village Walk – how beautiful!
• Walk 138: Overstone Circular
• Walk 139: Moulton Circular
• Walk 140: Barton Seagrave & Wicksteed Park
• Walk 141: Little Harrowden & Hardwick Circular Walk
• Walk 142: Ringstead & Denford Circular Walk
• Walk 143: Bulwick Circular Walk: A ‘pickled’ village & a ‘Tea Pot’ Monument in Red Kite Country
• Walk 144: Annie & Nina’s Cotton End, Northampton Circular Walk
• Walk 145: Grafton Regis Circular Walk
• Walk 146: Walgrave Circular
• Walk 147: Little Irchester & Wellingborough Circular
• Walk 148: Brackmills Country Park (1) The Hard Path Short Circuit
• Walk 149: Brackmills Woods Country Park (2): The ‘Alpine’ Perimeter Circular Walk
• Walk 150: St Crispins, Marina Park & Old Duston Circular Walk
• Walk 151: Clipston Circular Walk
• Walk 152: Quinton, Preston Deanery, Wootton, & Grange Park Circular
• Walk 153: Northampton’s Riverside Meadows Circular Walk
• Walk 154: Holcot Circular Walk
• Walk 155: Collingtree, Milton Malser, Blisworth & Courteenhall Circular
• Walk 156: Chelveston Circular…a short walk around an old airfield with big sky views
• Walk 157: Hulcote Circular
• Walk 158: Stanwick Circular Walk
• Walk 159: Deanshanger, Wicken & ‘Farm of the Goblin’ Circular
• Walk 160: Quinton, Piddington, Horton & Hackleton Circular
• Walk 161: Roade – Cosgrove Circular: canals, fields & a ford
• Walk 162: Lowick Circular including the Drayton Estate (Saltburn)
• Walk 163: Adstone & Woodend Circular
• Walk 164: Brixworth & Pitsford Circular
• Walk 165: Harpole, Harlestone & Nobottle Circular
• Walk 166: Eydon Circular…stunning scenery & just the sound of the birds
• Walk 167: Brixworth Village Walk
• Walk 168: Bozeat & Strixton Circular
• Walk 169: Brixworth & Holcot Circular
• Walk 170: Tiffield, Shutlanger, Alderton, Heathencote, Towcester & Caldecote Circular
• Walk 171: Alderton, Grafton Regis, Pury End & Paulerspury Circular
• Walk 172: Wollaston Saxby’s Cider Circular
• Walk 174: Sulgrave & Culworth Circular
• Walk 175: Thorpe Mandeville & Thenford Circular
• Walk 176: Middleton Cheney, Chacombe, Overthorpe & Warkworth Circular
• Walk 177: Cottingham, East Carlton, Wilbarston & Stoke Albany Circular
• Walk 178: The Parks & Woodlands of Corby
• Walk 179: Great Oakley, Newton, Geddington Circular
• Walk 180: Stanion, Geddington Chase & Brigstock Circular
• Walk 181: Daventry Country Park
• Walk 182: Barnwell…a short, yet beautiful stroll
• Walk 183: Hinton in the Hedges circular walk
• Walk 184: Croughton Circular
• Walk 185: Stanwick Lakes: Hidden Gems Sculpture Trail
• Walk 186: Stanwick Lakes: Nature Ramble Trail
• Walk 187: Helmdon & Astwell Circular
• Walk 188: Hunsbury Pocket Parks & Bluebell Walk
• Walk 189: Everdon Stubbs
• Walk 190: West Haddon Circular
• Walk 191: Lutton & Folksworth Circular
• Walk 192: Long Buckby Duck Pond Walk
• Walk 193: The ‘Binty Bint’ Graffiti Walk
• Walk 194: Creaton: “The one with the Wild Flower Field” Circular
• Walk 195: Cransley & Loddington Circular
• Walk 196: Greens Norton, Bradden & Blakesley Circular
• Walk 197: Barby Circular
• Walk 198: Brafield on the Green Circular…the Best Duck Pond in Northamptonshire!
• Walk 199: Foxfield Country Park: Accessible for All & in All weathers
• Walk 201: Hardingstone Pocket Park…a short, accessible for all, stroll in ‘Narnia’
• Walk 202: Paulerspury & Pury End Circular
• Walk 203: Sutton Bassett & Ashley Circular
• Walk 204: Draughton Circular
• Walk 205: Crick Deer Park Circular
• Walk 206: Blisworth & Stoke Bruerne Circular – Missing out that awful road!
• Walk 207: Dodford & Borough Hill (our 2nd highest)…plus a Hobbit(ty) House!
• Walk 208: Watford Village & ‘Pulpit Bridge’
• Walk 209: Glapthorn & the Cow Pastures
• Walk 210: Stanford on Avon & the Hemplow Hills
• Walk 211: Newnham & ‘The Nuttery’
• Walk 212: Maidford & Canons Ashby Circular
• Walk 213: Glendon: Prologis Park Walk
• Walk 214: Syresham Circular Walk
• Walk 215: Norton Circular…the best Fish ‘n’ Chips in Northamptonshire?
• Walk 216: A stroll around Burton Latimer
• Walk 217: Litchborough Circular Walk: The birthplace of Radar (who knew!). And…a Tea Room
• Walk 218: The Ancient Oaks of Salcey Forest
• Walk 219: A Knight’s Tale…a Circular Stroll from Delapre Abbey
• Walk 220: Woodford Halse Circular
• Walk 221: Yelvertoft & Clay Coton
• Walk 222: Great Houghton Circular – the one with the ‘Big Stile’
• Walk 67: Brackley Town Centre: Elvis is alive & well…
• Walk 1: London’s East End Circular: In search of Jack the Ripper & the Twins!!
• Walk 2: Dorchester Circular Walk: Far from the Maddening Crowd
• Walk 3: Lincoln City Circular Walk: Back to our birthplace
• Walk 4: Bedford Circular Walk: Tales from the riverbank
• Walk 5: Dublin City Centre Walk
• Walk 6: Stowe Gardens, Buckinghamshire
• Walk 7: Cambridge City Centre Circular Walk: Colleges & Culture
• Walk 8: Blickling Estate, Norfolk Circular Walk: ‘It’s bootiful’
• Walk 9: Newmarket Town Circular Walk: An early morning ‘Gallop’
• Walk 10: Flatford Mill: It’s a picture (you’ve seen before)…
• Walk 11: Colchester Town Circular Walk: ‘Roman’ing’ around
• Walk 12: Lavenham Town Walk: It’s all a bit ‘Wonky’
• Walk 13: Odell Circular: Take it on….The 7 Churches Challenge
• Walk 14: Poole Town Centre: Cockles & Mussels alive a live oh!
• Walk 15: Hengistbury Head Circular Walk: Life’s a beach!
• Walk 16: Three Cliffs Bay, The Gower Circular: Cerdded o gwmpas Y Gŵyr
• Walk 17: St Davids Circular: A Pembrokeshire Pilgrimage from the UK’s smallest city
• Walk 18: Greenwich: From the London Eye on a Fast Boat
• Walk 19: Aberdeen City Circular Walk: “Any port in a storm”
• Walk 20: Cardiff City Circular Walk: “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay”
• Walk 21: Penarth to Lavernock Point Linear Walk: “Can You Hear Me”…”Yes Loud & Clear”
• Walk 22: Bath City Walk: Bathing with your Beau
• Walk 23: Pisa City Walk: A ‘leaning’ towards piazzas & pizzas
• Walk 24: Antrim Town Walk: Irish eyes are smiling
• Walk 25: Florence City Walk: Does it live up to the hype?
• Walk 26: Prague City Walk: Good King Wenceslas last looked out in
• Walk 27: Milton Keynes, Willen Lakes Circular: So much more than just water
• Walk 28: Paris, Montmartre Area: A quick ‘Can-Can’ around the streets
• Walk 29: Foxton Locks: Slowly up or down…
• Walk 30: Buckingham Town Walk: Get out of Gaol free
• Walk 31: Llantrisant Town Walk: It’s a real ‘Mint’
• Walk 32: Pontypridd Town Walk: In the “Land of My Fathers”
• Walk 33: Rhondda Heritage Park Circular: In the valley of black gold…Cwm Hafod
• Walk 34: Aberdare Town Walk: Memories of days gone by…

Walk 35: Woburn Circular: Getting ‘wild’ with the locals

• Walk 36: Leicester City Centre: King Richard III Walking Trail
• Walk 37: Leicester City Centre: A multi-cultural stroll
• Walk 38: Edinburgh City Centre: This one’s not around the ‘Fringe’
• Walk 39: Leith: Plenty of sunshine on it (plus good food)
• Walk 40: Warwick Town Circular: A Town & Country stroll
• Walk 41: Westport Town Centre: Never expected to see an Elephant in Ireland
• Walk 42: Galway City Centre: What a city!
• Walk 43: Dingle Town Centre: Where’s Dick Mack’s?
• Walk 44: Oxford Circular: A Perch & The Trout – sounds like a case for Inspector Morse…
• Walk 45: Killarney Town Centre: The Key to the Kingdom
• Walk 46: Fenny Stratford Circular: Parks, canals & lakes – a bit of everything
• Walk 47: City of London: Apples ‘n Pears
• Walk 48: Chepstow Town Walk: A Christmas stroll
• Walk 49: Weymouth Town Walk: Beware the Black Death
• Walk 50: Oakham Town Walk: The traditional English town is still alive
• Walk 51: Uppingham Town Walk: Back to school
• Walk 52: Olney Town Walk: Keep running & tossing as fast as you can
• Walk 52: Pontefract Town Walk: The ‘sweet’ smell of sugar
• Walk 53: Newport Pagnell Town Walk: It’s as keen as mustard
• Walk 54: Seven Sisters & Beachy Head Circular: Watch your step…
• Walk 55: Hastings Old Town Walk: Hang onto your Winkle!
• Walk 56: Melton Mowbray Town Walk: Everyone loves a Pork Pie
• Walk 57: St Andrews Linear Walk: The ‘Home of Golf’
• Walk 58: Dundee City Walk: One City, Many Discoveries…
• Walk 59: Rhossili Circular: ‘The supermodel of British beaches’
• Walk 60: Grantham Town Walk: This walk’s not for turning
• Walk 61: Beverley Town Walk: Down the rabbit hole
• Walk 62: Worcester City Walk: Full of Pomp & Ceremony
• Walk 63: Newcastle City Walk: Wae’aye man!
• Walk 64: Stirling City Walk: Gateway to the Highlands
• Walk 65: Falkirk Town Walk: A really, wheelie great walk
• Walk 66: Troon Circular: The home of the 2016 Open
• Walk 67: Dean Village, Edinburgh, Town Walk: An Oasis in the middle of a bustling city
• Walk 68: Holme Pierrepoint Circular: Wet ‘n’ Wild near Nottingham
• Walk 69: Thaxted Village Walk: Morris Men & Highway Men
• Walk 70: Braintree Town Walk: Shaaaattttaaaapppp…a quick walk round the centre of Essex
• Walk 71: Little Dunmow Circular: Bringing home the bacon & an otter surprise too
• Walk 72: York City Walk: The Bars & Walls
• Walk 73: Horncastle Town Walk: Present & the Past in our home town
• Walk 74: Canterbury City Walk: Watch your backs!
• Walk 75: Herne Bay Town Walk: Bouncing Bombs & Records
• Walk 76: Bushy Park Circular: A right royal stroll…
• Walk 77: Castleton Circular: To ‘the Edge’ & back…the Great Ridge
• Walk 78: Rochdale Heritage Trail: Wot you skennin’ at & stop mithering’…
• Walk 79: Chelmsford City Walk: Judas, a thermos flask & sandwiches
• Walk 80: Soho to Westminster Linear Walk: Sex, noodles, drama & politics
• Walk 81: Broadstairs Town Walk: A Dickens of a lovely place
• Walk 82. Hambleton Peninsula Circular: ‘Ambling on’ the shores of Rutland Water
• Walk 83: Mayfair: Get me to the church on time
• Walk 84: Stratford upon Avon Town Walk: To walk or not to walk…that is the question…
• Walk 85: Kings Cross & Camden Circular: Harry meets Amy & back (to black)
• Walk 86: Bradford City Walk: Tikka moment to (Aloo) Go(bi) & have a look Bradford
• Walk 87: Covent Garden Circular: Any ‘Venezuelan Beaver Cheese’ my good man?
• Walk 88: The Mumbles Circular: Surf’s Up!
• Walk 89: Swansea City Walk: Does it deliver a knockout punch?
• Walk 90: Paddington & Marylebone Linear: Following in the steps of a Virgin
• Walk 91: La Roche-Canillac Circular: A French beauty
• Walk 92: Belgravia Linear: “Lucky or not…”
• Walk 93: London Southwark & Bankside Linear
• Walk 94: St James Linear: Fancy going ‘clubbing’ gentlemen (& occasionally ladies)?
• Walk 95: Highgate Linear: Hitler, George Michael & “a very naughty boy”
• Walk 96: Haworth Circular: The Railway Children Walk – Don’t upset the “bloomin’ missus!”
• Walk 97: Southwold Circular: “We’re Ladies you know!”
• Walk 98: Thorpeness Circular: Walking with our heads (house) in the clouds
• Walk 99: Storms River Mouth Circular: A South African ‘wobble’
• Walk 100: The London Circle Line: 21 miles around the stations
• Walk 101: Knysna, South Africa Town Walk: A place of contrast
• Walk 102: Cambridge City Walk: The Art Trail
• Walk 103: Historic Cape Town & Bo Kaap
• Walk 104: Wigan City Walk: The Road to Wigan Pie(r)
• Walk 105: Burnley Town Walk: Memories of a time gone by…
• Walk 106: Abergavenny Town Walk: Gateway to the Brecons
• Walk 107: St Ives Town Walk: Worth ‘The Wait’
• Walk 108: Palermo City Walk: A foodie & cultural stroll
• Walk 109: Birmingham Centre Walk: Traditional Markets & Canals
• Walk 110: Creswell Crags Circular: Home of the Ice Age Hunter
• Walk 111: Clondalkin Town Walk: An amazing tower but no Rumpelstiltskin!
• Walk 112: Hull City Centre Circular: Exploring the Land of Green Ginger…a city of culture
• Walk 113: Tenbury Wells: A beautiful town
• Walk 114: Sherwood Forest Circular: “Robin Hood, Robin Hood”
• Walk 115: Lambeth Linear: Did James Bond do the ‘Lambeth Walk’..Oii!!??
• Walk 116: Trafalgar Square to St Paul’s Cathedral Linear
• Walk 117: Shrewsbury Town Centre: 660+ listed buildings to discover
• Walk 118 / 118: The City of London (1): The Eastern part
• Walk 119: The City of London (2): The fascinating Western part
• Walk 120: Eton Town Centre: Up against the ‘Wall’…Eton & its college
• Walk 121: Spitalfields Circular: A melting pot of history
• Walk 122: Ludlow Town Centre: ” The loveliest town in England”?
• Walk 123: Market Harborough Town Walk: A wander around a lovely little gem
• Walk 124: Sydney city centre – G’Day!
• Walk 125: Epping Forest circular…Did we find the body?
• Walk 126: Melbourne City Centre linear walk – we loved you!
• Walk 127: Brisbane, Australia, Circular Walk
• Walk 128: Cairns, Australia Circular Walk
• Walk 129: Chester City Circular: “What have the Romans done for us?”
• Walk 130: Rotorua New Zealand. It’s smelly but you’ll get a great welcome
• Walk 131: Ravenna…Just incredible mosaics
• Walk 132: Bologna…food, history & fab!
• Walk 133: Turville circular…”Come in if you’re sexy & love Jesus”
• Walk 134: Henley on Thames Circular…Beatles, Pudding Stones & Princess Anne
• Walk 135: Tarr Steps, Exmoor, Circular Walk…give it a ‘Clap(per)’
• Walk 136: Curry Rivel Circular…a monument to Cider
• Walk 137: ‘The Broomway’ Linear Walk…”One of the most dangerous paths in the UK”
• Walk 138: Polperro Village & Headlands…Pasty or Clotted Cream Fudge anyone?
• Walk 139: Tintagel Circular: It’s a legend
• Walk 140: London, Tower Hill to Canary Wharf
• Walk 141: Digbeth (Birmingham) Art Trail: It’s a (Peaky) Blinder!
• Walk 142: Boscastle & the Valency Valley
• Walk 143: Padstow Town Trail
• Walk 144: Grasmere & Rydal Waters & the ‘Coffin Route’ Circular walk
• Walk 145: Stamford Town Trail Circular Walk…Worth a weekend away!
• Walk 146: Silverdale Circular Walk (1)…a beautiful unknown corner of Britain
• Walk 147: St Neots town circular walk
• Walk 148: The Isle of Wight…A stroll around the Yarmouth estuary
• Walk 149: Painshill Park circular walk
• Walk 150: Bembridge, Isle of Wight Circular Walk
• Walk 151: Burford Town Walk
• Walk 152: Bradgate Park & Swithland Wood Circular
• Walk 153: Barnack & Ufford Circular (Rowdy Rectors & Sequoia Safari)
• Walk 154: Baildon – Escholt Circular (Emmerdale Walk)
• Walk 155: Saltaire & Salts Mill
• Walk 156: Marlow & Hurley Lock Circular Walk
• Walk 157: Marlow Town Walk
• Walk 158: St Albans City Walk
• Walk 159: Sudbury Town Walk…in the footsteps of Thomas Gainsborough
• Walk 160: The Ashridge Estate….an avoid the usual crowds walk
• Walk 161: The Huntingdon Town Trail
• Walk 162: Milton Keynes Lake to Lake Circular
• Walk 163: Pickering Town Walk
• Walk 164: Levisham…a hamlet in the North Yorkshire Moors
• Walk 165: Malham Cove, Gordale Scar & Janet’s Foss Circular Walk (Voted No.3 in ‘Britain’s Best 100 Walks)
• Walk 166: Aysgarth Falls & Woods…just a stunning walk
• Walk 167: West Burton in the Yorkshire Dales. Wow…what a short walk!
• Walk 168: A Circular Walk from ‘The Bear’ in Long Lawford
• Walk 169: Monaco: A lap of the Grand Prix circuit
• Walk 170: Cromer & Overstrand Circular
• Walk 171: Lynton…The Valley of the Rocks
• Walk 172: Heddon’s Mouth (North Devon)
• Walk 173: Robin Hood’s Bay Circular
• Walk 174: Watersmeet Trail (North Devon)
• Walk 175: Ilfracombe ‘Madonna’s Bra’ Town Trail
• Walk 176: Gloucester City Centre Walk
• Walk 177: Wittering & Thornhaugh Circular…Cecils & Russells, Harriers & Saxons
• 178: Harcourt Arboretum…beautiful autumn colours
• Walk 179: Milton Keynes Ancient & Modern Cultural Walk
• Walk 180: Turvey Circular…only just over the border
• Walk 181: Napton on the Hill
• Walk 182: Lockton (Yorkshire Moors) Circular
• Walk 183: Nunnington (Yorkshire Moors) Circular
• Walk 184: Silverdale Walk 2: Arnside Knott Circular aka ‘Marilyn’
• Walk 185: Silverdale Walk 3: Jack Scout & Jenny Brown’s Point Circular Walk
• Walk 186: Newport Pagnell & Bury Field
• Walk 187: Goathland aka ‘Heartbeat’
• Walk 188: Whitby Sculptures Walk
• Walk 189: The Hole of Horcum (North Yorkshire Moors)
• Interactive Maps
• Group Walks
• The route & history…
• Stage 1: Brixworth to Holcot
• Stage 2: Holcot to Sywell
• Stage 3: Sywell to Cogenhoe
• Stage 4: Cogenhoe to Yardley Hastings
• Stage 5: Yardley Hastings to Piddington
• Stage 6: Piddington – Stoke Bruerne
• Stage 7: Stoke Bruerne to Blisworth
• Stage 8: Blisworth – Bugbrooke
• Stage 9: Bugbrooke to Nobottle
• Stage 10: Nobottle to Church Brampton
• Stage 11: Church Brampton to Brixworth
• Background & route
• Stage 1: Badby to Kislingbury
• Stage 2: Kislingbury to Cogenhoe
• Stage 3: Cogenhoe to Irthlingborough
• Stage 4: Irthlingborough to Thrapston
• Section 1: Banbury to Chipping Warden
• Section 2: Chipping Warden to Charwelton
• Section 3: Charwelton to Braunston
• Section 4: Braunston to Winwick
• Section 5: Winwick to Sibbertoft
• Section 6: Sibbertoft to Braybrooke
• Section 7: Braybrooke to Cottingham
• Walk 21: St Crispins, Marina Park & Old Duston Circular Walk
• Merchandise
• Local Radio Recordings…Click on the links below
• News Articles – Click on each to read
• Walk 1: Obelisk & Boughton Fields, Northampton
• Walk 2: Duston, Northampton
• Walk 3: Lossiemouth…Beaches & Typhoons
• Walk 4: Long Buckby
• Walk 5: The Daventry Circular
• Walk 6: Faith & David’s Daily Walk
• Walk 7: Pete’s stroll through the Pocket Parks of East Hunsbury
• Walk 8: The Circle Line: Broughton – Great Cransley – Mawsley – Broughton Common – Broughton
• Walk 9: Kathryn’s birdsong in Warmington churchyard
• Walk 10: Broughton – Great Cransley – Cransley Wood – Mawsley – Hockley Lodge – Broughton
• Walk 11: Broughton’s Orphan
• Walk 12: Spring / early summer colours around Abington Park
• Walk 13: Rob & Karen’s stroll across the fields near Geddington
• Walk 14: Old route to Walgrave via Mawsley
• Walk 15: Isham to Pytchley
• Walk 16: Staverton to Badby
• Walk 17: A Wollaston Loop (just watch out for the Headless Horseman!)
• Walk 18: Four Spires: Broughton – Great Cransley – Thorpe Malsor – Loddington – Cransley Wood – Broughton
• Walk 19: Walgrave & back via Cransley:
• Walk 20: Braybrooke & Arthingworth Circular
• Walk 21: St Crispins, Marina Park & Old Duston Circular Walk
• Walk 22: Selena’s Wymington Walk
• Walk 23: Annie & Nina’s Cotton End, Northampton Circular Walk
• Walk 24: Tina’s Flore Circular via Brockhall
• Northamptonshire Walks Walking Playlist
• Social Media
• Disclaimer & Copyright

The ‘Needs to Know’

Distance:  8 miles (12.9km)

Time to walk:  Roughly 3.5 hours, but you may get distracted, plus there’s a fab pub to stop at en-route

Difficulty:  A flat easy walk, pretty much all off road on grassy tracks. There are some sections through woodland which look like they could get muddy, although it was all dry when we did the walk in April 2015

Parking: Free car park in Park Street, Woburn. What3 words cornering.dance.racetrack

Public toilets:  Cafes etc in Woburn or the great pub in Eversholt

Map of the route: 

This walk’s a little bit different than some we’ve done as you never know what you’re going to encounter on the way – you’ll see what we mean!

We start in the lovely Georgian village of Woburn, home to more than 200 listed buildings, a stately home & a Safari Park. It was also listed in a 2013 Sunday Times poll as one of the best places in Britain to live

It was also chosen by Center Parcs as the location for their fifth holiday village which opened in 2014

We’ll have a look at the attractions as we encounter them so…

Let’s Walk!

1. The free car park in Woburn is in Park Street opposite the church of St Mary …

On the fence as you enter the car park is a leaflet holder which contains useful leaflets about ‘what’s on’ in the village

2. Turn left out of the car park & head towards the village centre…

…& then left along George Street…

Woburn has some nice eating places – across the road’s a Loch Fyne , & on this side’s  Oliviers , which we’re passing now & has a nice menu…

…& on the opposite side, the Royal Oak…

There’s always plenty going on in the village…

This is more our scene…

4. There’s our first view of Woburn Abbey on the left…

5. This narrow path runs for about 300 yards before passing through another gate into the Park itself…

Woburn Abbey Deer Park covers 3,000 acres & is home to 9 species of deer making it one of the largest private conservation parks in Europe. These include  Pére David’s Deer , which the 11th Duke helped to save from extinction

6. It’s obviously really important that we stick to the marked path, so turn right & follow the ‘Circular Path’ markers around Basin Pond…

Basin Pond’s over to the left…

…& on the right’s our first glimpse of some of the residents…

7. Keep following the markers until reaching the road by the bridge. The Abbey’s over to the left…

…but this is a no-go direction so our path follows the road up the hill to the right…

8. Eventually, as we gain height, there’s a good view back to the Abbey…

The family seat of the Duke of Bedford ,  Woburn Abbey was founded as a Cistercian abbey in 1145.  Henry VIII took it from them & gave it to John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford when it became the seat of the Russell family & the Dukes of Bedford

When the 12th Duke died in 1953, his son was exposed to heavy death duties & the Abbey was a half-demolished, half-derelict house. Instead of handing the family estates over to the National Trust, he kept ownership & opened the it to the public for the first time in 1955

In 1970 he did something more radical by opening Woburn Safari Park in the grounds of the Abbey

9. It’s quite a trek walking up this road, but we are walking in some beautiful parkland & there’s groups of deer everywhere…

10. Eventually the road splits at a triangle…

…& our path lies straight ahead through the trees to the left of the fence of the tudor-style house…

11. The exit out of the Deer Park is through the gate in the wall on the right…

Walk through the small copse & turn left at the waymarker, following the edge of the field to the wood…

…& straight on through the gap…

12. The path markers are really easy to follow with the route changing from woodland to open field & back again…

13. The path follows the wall of the Deer Park so keep going straight, ignoring other paths to the left & right…

…until reaching a path that goes off left by some fallen trees – the path marker has fallen & is laying against the tree on the left…

Eventually it emerges into a field &, at the next marker, head right towards some bushes that look very much like bamboo. If possible walk straight through it, however if it’s spread,…walk past the bamboo & veer to the right. You will see footpath signs. Down about 3 steps & go left & you are back on track.

…where our path joins another coming from Basin Pond

15. Another path heads off diagonally right here, but keep straight ahead following the Circular Walk direction…

…across the bridge in the middle of the field & out through the gate in the hedge. Eversholt church can be seen across to the left…

16. Be careful as this is a busy little road. Turn left & head into the lovely village of Eversholt…

They like their gardens round here…

17. Eversholt was mentioned in the Domesday Book and is over 1000 years old. Its name comes from Anglo-Saxon meaning “wood of the wild boar”…

Follow the road round to the left past the church of St John the Baptist…

Have to say we love Eversholt – they’ve even done a memorial around the telephone box to the village pump…

18. So….ready for some refreshment (& on a hot day like today we were!) head into the yard of a superb pub…The Green Man…

The Green Man really is a cracking pub with great ales & food although, because it was a hot day, we did get a few strange looks at our bedraggled state when walking in & asking for the coldest beer possible!!

19. And that was most welcome, but now let’s crack on turning right out of the pub past a fabulous village cricket ground – we can really imagine a hot summers day sitting with a pint watching a game here…

20. Head up the road passing the facilities of Eversholt Hall…

On the right’s a very impressive property that’s having its chimney replaced…

21. Just after the house above turn left onto Woburn Road which was closed to traffic today…

22. The road climbs quite steeply to the small hamlet of Hills End…

…before descending to Froxfield…

23. At the junction turn left back into the Deer Park & then turn immediately right onto the grass path…

That’s not good!

There’s the path on the right…

24. It’s good be back off road again &, like when we first entered the Park, it’s a case of follow the marker posts up the hill & round to the right…

Another part of the herd

25. Now…the signs say keep to the grass track & although it’s tempting please do so, otherwise you’ll be trespassing & likely to get a telling off

Strewth that’s a Black Bear & a Wolf !!

We told you this walk was different & it’s shortly to get even better! This of course is Woburn Safari Park which we’ll look at closer in a bit, but for now lets keep going…

26. The grass path runs adjacent to the hard road towards Trusslers Lodge…

Keep looking across to the left to see what’s roaming around…

27. Pass over the cattle grid & out of the Deer Park again, looking for a signpost on the left leading into the woods…

28. The path descends through the wood towards an open large wooden gate – hang on…what’s that through the trees…

What a bonus!

29.  To the left is the entrance to the Safari Park so walk towards it & then turn right down the road with the telephone box…

Woburn Safari Park first opened in 1970 as a means to help improve the financial position of the estate & restore the Abbey, which had fallen into disrepair. The 11th Duke of Bedford had been president of the Zoological Society of London & had introduced various species such as American Bison, Deer, Antelope, Lion & Tiger to the park

The park lets animals roam freely while visitors drive through their enclosures. The species include Rhinoceros, Elands, Scimitar Horned Oryx, Addax, Gemsbok, Giraffes, Ankoles, Zebras, African Wild Asses, Elephants, Camels, Bisons, Bongo, Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Black Bears, Patas monkeys & Barbary apes

The Park also has a leisure area featuring animal talks, petting zones, a gift shop, family restaurant & the Go Ape! ‘high wire forest adventure’ course, which we’ll pass later

Animals in the leisure park include lemurs, squirrel monkeys, wallabies, emus, penguins, goats, ponies, reptiles & some free ranging marmosets

30. Continue up the road looking for the new path on the left….

It’s very clearly marked so go through the gate

31. Follow the clearly marked track up the hill…

Look to your left where hopefully you’ll see some elephants (you need to zoom in to get a good photo)

32. Continue following the path towards the trees…

…where it ends & again, there’s a clearly defined waymarker showing the way

33. Carry on along the woodland path…

Follow the yellow markers & turn right, when instructed onto the tarmac track

34. Walk along the road…

…until you get to 2 yellow markers showing a track off to the right – follow this path

35. Soon you’ll arrive at the t junction in the picture below…

Turn left & go straight over the tarmac track back into the woodland as in the picture below

36. Now follow this track…

…until you get to the gatehouse, Crawley Lodge. Pass through the gate to arrive at the main road…

37. Cross the main road & turn right & then first left up Horsepool Lane…

…looking out for a path signpost immediately on the left…

38. Enter the field & head right towards the woods…

…across a bridge & to a wider track…

39. On reaching this track turn left & follow it for roughly 1 mile until reaching Birchmoor Farm…

There was originally a long avenue of horse chestnut trees along here that succumbed to ‘bleeding canker’ . The ones we’re walking through now were part of the replanting programme started in 2013

40.  If you’ve survived the snappy Jack Russell pass through the gate & head straight on…

…until reaching the hedge where we need to turn left to follow the path to Birchmoor Green

41. The track finally joins a road passing through the hamlet to reach a main road…

Nice hamlet

42. At the main road turn left & follow it back into Woburn…

There’s lots of nice buildings, shops & restaurants along the main street…

43. On the right’s Old St Mary’s Church & the Woburn Heritage Museum . Plus there’s reference to the Queen Eleanor Crosses as there was allegedly one here – we have one in Northampton by Delapre Park…

The Eleanor crosses were a series of twelve lavishly decorated stone monuments topped with tall crosses of which three survive nearly intact in a line down part of the east of England. King Edward I had the crosses erected between 1291 & 1294 in memory of his wife Eleanor of Castile, marking the nightly resting-places along the route taken when her body was transported to London

44. At the junction turn left back into Park Street & to the car park where we started

So that’s it – a fantastic 8 mile walk that has many hidden bonuses plus a great pub to stop for refreshments around halfway

It’s definitely a walk we’ll be doing again as we’re sure you’ll see something different every time

Share this:

32 responses to walk 35: woburn circular: getting ‘wild’ with the locals.

Fantastic walk with detailed directions and pictures.

Thank you Darren. Although not in Northamptonshire it’s one of our favourites. Normally at this time of year it’s great to do with Sunday lunch at the pub & then watching a bit of cricket on the green

Great walk , clouds, rain ,sun and a bear in a hammock 😅 9.7 miles in strava

Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

Pingback: Woburn walk | Five Bean Soup

Hi & thank you for your feedback. We would point out that this walk is indeed on ‘Northamptonshire Walks’ blog, but is under the tab “Walks outside Northamptonshire” along with others we’ve done outside the county

Hope that clarifies thanks

Anybody got a gpx file of the route please ?

Sadly not. I’ve checked the original place I found it & it was quite old so none there either

did the walk today , 8 th Sept and really disappointed to find The Green Man pub was closed all day !!!!!!!!!!! schoolboy error as one bottle of water was not enough for an 8 mile walk LOL , Other than that , walk was fantastic and seeing all the animals FOC too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh dear. I’ve just checked their website & unfortunately it does say they are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays. Glad you enjoyed seeing the animals

Yeh , my fault , should’ve checked ; indeed it only opens all day on Fri , Sat & Sun – love the walk Dave and fascinating to get so close to the animals ; working my way through your walks as now semi retired , still my fav is Roade to Stoke Bruerne circular ……

Enjoy Rob – there’s so many stunners

Trying it today, v l8vely (only1 DC has laid down & cried, 10 years), sadly the days are getting shorter. We’ve stopped at the Green Man pub, but think we’ll run out of daylight b4 we get to the animals! Its a circular walk.. but we’re looking for a short cut (had to do.Music School for half a day first)

Bless – hope you manage to get there. Sadly there aren’t really any short cuts. When you come out of the estate after the animals you could just turn left & follow the road back to Woburn instead of continuing across the fields

This was a lovely walk, very well sign posted, with a variety of scenery, woodland, fields, deer park etc. We also saw brown bears and elephants and wallabies in the safari park. A bit muddy in places, but it was October! My only comment would be that myself and my husband both tracked the walk and it was a fraction under 10 miles, certainly not the8 miles stated. Loved the commentary on the walk details, very clear. Thank you.

Thanks for this very pleasant and varied route. I walked it today (my first from northamptonshirewalks) and thoroughly enjoyed it! I thought I should make you aware of a Central Bedfordshire Council order which has been made to close the footpath which currently runs alongside the elephant enclosure (“Footpaths nos. 1 & 7, Husborne Crawley”) and replace it with a new “fenced corridor” further to the northwest. Dave, I have a couple of photos of the notice, which includes a map of the changes – let me know if you want me to share them. If anyone wishes to object, the closing date for that is 23rd October, i.e. this Friday. The change would still allow this walk to be completed with the short diversion but the new path would, sadly, be a considerable distance from the elephant enclosure, so no more free elephant encounters. The rationale given in the order is to improve the welfare of the elephants by allowing them continuous unhindered access to their paddock on the other side of the road. Needless to say, even if this goes ahead, it’s still a fantastic walk with great variety to recommend it.

Hi Rob & really glad you enjoyed the walk. Yes I’m aware of the Order. Sad but probably understandable. Glad people have managed to do it before it comes in

Hello! Is this walk suitable for dogs? Thank you

Hi Jo. Yes, but they need to be kept on a lead at all times within the Deer Park

Brilliant walk BUT you will be advised to wear a good pair of wellies as there are some very wet and muddy sections at the moment.

Hahaha that walk’s muddy in flamin’ June! Fabuolous though isn’t it

This walk took us 11.5 miles followed to the letter. Great walk and such wonderful sites but was not expecting the extra millage. 😳

Hi Catherine – it’s a fab walk isn’t it.

Your comments about the mileage are interested & not unexpected. Depending on what walking apps our people use, everyone measures differently ranging from 8 miles to 12 miles 😉

Nice! I have done this route myself and it was fantastic. The ostriches were intrigued by us – they started to run along side fence and get excited. (They’re parlour to the elephants). It was the highlight of our day, haha. Shame that now a request has been put through to close the path despite it being there for many many years. I’m gutted.

Thanks Katie 🙂 I’m not sure what the latest status is regards the request. I know they had to start the process again due to some discrepancy. Let’s keep fingers crossed

Great walk on a beautiful January day. There are new marker posts between the Paris House and Eversholt marking the ‘Woburn and Eversholt Circular’ which makes it easier and a good path through the bamboo. Path by the elephant enclosure was still open today.

This really helped me and my husband today. Fantastic detailed instructions; the pictures really helped. We had a lovely lunch at the Green Man pub (thanks for the recommendation) It really is a great walk and we saw elephants, rhino’s and a giraffe! Thanks

Awww…thank you. So glad you enjoyed it. Dave 🙂

Thank you so much for taking the Time to do this for everyone we did this walk today and it was brilliant thanks to the detailed route and of course in this heat we had to end the walk in the bell for a nice cold one would have been rude not too

Fab! Glad you enjoyed it. Dave 🙂

Would suggest curtailing the walk that is the last couple of miles over fields to Birchmoor for no reason when you can turn left and follow the abbey wall back to Woburn. That must cut a mile off and there is a pathway. Do this if tired an we’re expecting 8 miles not 10!

It’s possible to do that, but then you will be walking by a very noisy boring road 🙂

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

• Search for:

Click here to access Facebook Group

Twitter Updates

Woburn Safari Park welcomes two new rhinos and bids farewell to one

W oburn Safari Park has announced the arrival of two new Southern White rhinos as it prepares to bid farewell to one “much loved” member of the herd.

Granville, a five-year-old male, arrived from West Midlands Safari Park on August 20 and Azeeza, a three-year-old female, arrived later the same day from Safari Zoo Cumbria.

Alongside the arrival of the two new rhinos, keepers are preparing to say goodbye to Granville’s aunt and a “much loved” member of the herd, Bonnie, as she embarks on a new adventure at West Midlands Safari Park, the Woburn Park said.

New rhino Granville is known for his friendly nature, curiosity and confidence and is expected to settle in well with the rest of the rhino herd, according to the safari park.

Born in 2021 to mother Ntombi and father Muzungu, Azeeza’s name means “strong, powerful, and dear” and she is known for a stubborn streak inherited from her mother.

Keeper Zack Turner said: “It’s always sad to see any of our animals go, especially Bonnie. She’s a great rhino to work with and has so much personality.

“Although it’s sad to see her go, the chance to hopefully have a breeding group of rhino, with the introduction of Granville, is something that excites us all.

“With white rhinos being a species that faces a lot of struggles out in the wild, breeding them here at Woburn would be a great step in the right direction for their conservation.”

To ensure a smooth transition for Bonnie, the safari park keepers have spent training time with her, making sure she feels comfortable and at ease for her journey, the park said.

The process has involved using the crate as a tunnel between the house and the sand yard, which has helped her become familiar and comfortable with the crate in the weeks leading up to the move.

Keepers hope the new arrivals will breed, as Southern White rhinos are classified as ‘Near Threatened’ due to ongoing poaching and habitat loss out in the wild.

• Flamingo Specialist Group’s Small Grants Fund
• BIAZA Animal Trainer Accreditation
• BIAZA Photography Competition

Job opportunities

• Job Opportunities

Senior Keeper - Animal Encounters

Woburn Safari Park

The Animal department is currently recruiting for an organised, dedicated, reliable, confident team member to join the animal encounters section. This position is offered on a permanent full time basis.

The animal encounters section encompasses a diverse range of species found in the “foot safari” area of Woburn Safari Park; including raptors, psittacines, penguins, small mammals, marine mammals, primates, small carnivores, hoofstock, reptiles and invertebrates.

As a senior keeper you will directly mentor all non-permanent members of staff including seasonals, interns and work experience. The successful candidate will be expected to assist the Deputy Head of Section and supervise in their absence.

The successful applicant will need to be: •    Able to manage and motivate a large, diverse animal keeping team. •    A highly motivated, hard working individual who has a good understanding of behavioural welfare and previous experience training and working with a variety of species. •    Able to take part in public presentations as well as demonstrating exceptional animal husbandry skills, high standards of animal care, and excellent communication skills.

The successful applicant should demonstrate:

•    Supervisory or staff management experience in a similar environment. •    A passion for animal welfare & conservation; be highly motivated, flexible and committed to Woburn Safari Park’s high standards of husbandry and welfare. •    Previous practical experience of working with a range of species (previous experience with the species we hold is preferable; however, those candidates’ with comparable experience will be considered). •    Excellent customer service and communication skills. •    An excellent understanding of health and safety in a zoological setting. •    An organised approach to managing animal records (including a working knowledge or able to work towards learning of ZIMS), reporting systems and proposals to improve the section in line with our brand values.

The zoo animal management qualification or equivalent is essential for this position.

A full valid driving licence is essential for this role.

Apply for this job:

To apply and view the job description please visit:

https://www.woburn.co.uk/careers/vacancy/?Category=Animal%2520Keeping&Advert=gVDJ76VJR3k3pux6%2Fj0mJQ%3D%3D

BIAZA, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY

General enquiries : 07593 580605 For press enquiries: 07593 580603 Email : [email protected]

BIAZA's office hours are 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. Contact outside of those times will get a response when we are next in the office.

If your enquiry is urgent and you need a response before the BIAZA office reopens, please call Jo Judge on 07593 580602. If you wish to reach one of our members, please contact them directly.

The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales number 6789783. Registered Office Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY. Registered Charity Number is 1128168 and SC040783 (Scotland)

• Terms of Use