QuarryingThe area has been quarried for centuries and yieldedTotternhoe stone known as ‘Clunch’a hard form ofchalk withproperties that make it suitable for carving ornamentalstonework.Clunch has been used in many local churchesand even as far away as Windsor Castle and insideWestminster Abbey where it has lasted for 900 years.It is only during the last century that the large scale quarryingnow visible has taken place with the quarried chalk usedmainly for cement production.

The Sewell GreenwayPart ofthe walk runs along The Sewell Greenway a shareduse path created from a former railway embankment andcutting.The railway,opened in 1848,once linked LeightonBuzzard and Dunstable.Following its closure in 1967 it hasbeen managed as a nature reserve with a wealth ofwildflowers and butterflies.Sustrans (the sustainable transport charity) worked closelywith the Wildlife Trust and the North Chilterns Trust toenhance and maintain the diverse flora and chalk grasslandofthis County Wildlife Site.

Castle HillThe earthworks ofCastle Hill are remains ofa late 11th orearly 12th century motte and bailey castle.It was probablyonly used for a short period and was known as the castle ofEglemont (Eagle Mount).Little is known about the castle whyitwas built,or even its creator.The yard has been used for various activities,includingsheep pasture and as a village sports field and is nowmanaged as a meadow to encourage the growth ofwildflowers which attract butterflies and other wildlife.The castle mound and yard is a scheduled AncientMonument.

Flora and FaunaTotternhoe Knolls is part ofthe Chiltern Hills,An Area ofOutstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).The chalky soil ofthenature reserve and picnic site supports a wide variety ofchalk downland plants and wildlife.The reserve is split intothree distinct habitats the Beechwood,a plantation datingfrom about 1870,Castle Mound and Little Hills,sited withinan important medieval quarrying area the resulting spoil tipsare now home to a range ofwild flowers,including sevenspecies oforchid,and an abundance ofbutterflies to beseen during spring and summer.Along with the Beechwood and Castle Mound and Yardareas,Little Hills has been designated a Site ofSpecialScientific Interest and a local Nature Reserve,due to the rarechalkland plants to be found there.

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Maiden BowerAlthough only apparent as a circular hedge,this is a trulyhistoric site.The hedge follows a bank and ditch whichmarks the boundary ofan Iron Age fort.The site may have originated even earlier (c.4000BC – 2000)asaNeolithic causewayed enclosure.A causewayedenclosure is a roughly circular or semi-circular area enclosedby ditches interrupted in several places by a series ofentrances (or causeways),possibly used as a tribal tradeand ceremonial centre.

St Giles ChurchBuilt from locally quarried limestone St Giles church nestlesin the Church End conservation area.The oldest part ofthepresent church is the 14th century chancel.The porch andtower are both 15th century whilst the nave and aisles areearly 16th century,there is also a beautiful Tudor carvedwooden roofabove the Nave.The modern stained glasswindow at the east end ofthe chancel was designed byJohn Piper and depicts the Tree ofLife.

There are nature reserves,ancient monuments,wonderful views and historic landscapes

to enjoy on this pleasant walk around Totternhoe.

Approx 4.2 Miles/6.8 kmTime:2 hours

CIRCULAR WALKS

TotternhoeApprox 4.2 Miles/6.8 kmTime: 2 hours

Tips for enjoying your walkParts of the walk can become muddy especially afterheavy rain, so strong waterproof footwear isrecommended. Take care where conditions are rough anddo let someone know where you are going. Please beaware that much of the walk is unsuitable for wheelchairsand difficult for pushchairs.

Did you enjoy the walk? If you have any comments about the walk or encounterany problems please contact the Rights of Way Section,Countryside Access Service, Central Bedfordshire Council,PO Box 1395, Bedford MK42 5AN or emailRightsofway@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

This is one of a series of circular walk leaflets producedby Central Bedfordshire Council. For further informationand availability please contact us on 0300 300 8085

Other walksFind out about more ofBedfordshire’s walking andriding routes as well as naturereserves and country parks byvisiting www.letsgo.org.uk

Planning your walkTotternhoe Knolls Picnic Site is the suggested starting pointand the walk is described in a clock-wise direction. Howeveryou can walk in either direction.

Refreshments, Parking and ToiletsThere is parking at the Totternhoe Knolls Picnic Site.Refreshments are available at the Cross Keys Public houseon Castle Hill Road and The Old Farm Inn on Church RoadTotternhoe, please inform the landlords if you intend to leaveyour car.

Public Transport For information contact Traveline 0871 200 22 33.The closest train station is at Luton, on the Bedford to St.Pancras Thameslink Line contact Traveline orwww.thameslink.co.uk

Ordnance Survey Maps The route is covered on Ordnance Survey Explorer map 192available from local bookshops and some petrol stations.

Countryside Codel Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs

l Leave gates and property as you find them

l Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home

l Keep dogs under close control

l Consider other people

www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk

TOTTERNHOEl

Printed on paper made from 75% recycled post consumer waste

QuarryingThe area has been quarried for centuries and yieldedTotternhoe stone known as ‘Clunch’ a hard form of chalk withproperties that make it suitable for carving ornamentalstonework. Clunch has been used in many local churchesand even as far away as Windsor Castle and insideWestminster Abbey where it has lasted for 900 years.It is only during the last century that the large scale quarryingnow visible has taken place with the quarried chalk usedmainly for cement production.

The Sewell GreenwayPart of the walk runs along The Sewell Greenway a shareduse path created from a former railway embankment andcutting. The railway, opened in 1848, once linked LeightonBuzzard and Dunstable. Following its closure in 1967 it hasbeen managed as a nature reserve with a wealth of wildflowers and butterflies.Sustrans (the sustainable transport charity) worked closelywith the Wildlife Trust and the North Chilterns Trust toenhance and maintain the diverse flora and chalk grasslandof this County Wildlife Site.

Castle HillThe earthworks of Castle Hill are remains of a late 11th orearly 12th century motte and bailey castle. It was probablyonly used for a short period and was known as the castle ofEglemont (Eagle Mount). Little is known about the castle whyit was built, or even its creator.The yard has been used for various activities, includingsheep pasture and as a village sports field and is nowmanaged as a meadow to encourage the growth ofwildflowers which attract butterflies and other wildlife.The castle mound and yard is a scheduled AncientMonument.

Flora and FaunaTotternhoe Knolls is part of the Chiltern Hills, An Area ofOutstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The chalky soil of thenature reserve and picnic site supports a wide variety ofchalk downland plants and wildlife. The reserve is split intothree distinct habitats the Beechwood, a plantation datingfrom about 1870, Castle Mound and Little Hills, sited withinan important medieval quarrying area the resulting spoil tipsare now home to a range of wild flowers, including sevenspecies of orchid, and an abundance of butterflies to beseen during spring and summer.Along with the Beechwood and Castle Mound and Yardareas, Little Hills has been designated a Site of SpecialScientific Interest and a local Nature Reserve, due to the rarechalkland plants to be found there.

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Maiden BowerAlthough only apparent as a circular hedge, this is a trulyhistoric site. The hedge follows a bank and ditch whichmarks the boundary of an Iron Age fort.The site may have originated even earlier (c.4000BC – 2000)as a Neolithic causewayed enclosure. A causewayedenclosure is a roughly circular or semi-circular area enclosedby ditches interrupted in several places by a series ofentrances (or causeways), possibly used as a tribal tradeand ceremonial centre.

St Giles ChurchBuilt from locally quarried limestone St Giles church nestlesin the Church End conservation area. The oldest part of thepresent church is the 14th century chancel. The porch andtower are both 15th century whilst the nave and aisles areearly 16th century, there is also a beautiful Tudor carvedwooden roof above the Nave. The modern stained glasswindow at the east end of the chancel was designed byJohn Piper and depicts the Tree of Life.

There are nature reserves, ancient monuments, wonderful views and historic landscapes

to enjoy on this pleasant walk around Totternhoe.

Approx 4.2 Miles/6.8 kmTime: 2 hours

CIRCULARWALKS

TotternhoeApprox4.2 Miles/6.8 kmTime:2 hours

Tips for enjoying your walkParts ofthe walk can become muddy especially afterheavy rain,so strong waterprooffootwear isrecommended.Takecarewhere conditions are rough anddo let someone know where you are going.Please beaware that much ofthe walk is unsuitable for wheelchairsand difficult for pushchairs.

Did you enjoy the walk? Ifyou have any comments about the walk or encounteranyproblems please contact the Rights ofWaySection,Countryside Access Service,Central Bedfordshire Council,PO Box1395,Bedford MK42 5AN or emailRightsofway@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

This is one ofa series ofcircular walk leaflets producedbyCentral BedfordshireCouncil.For further informationand availability please contact us on 0300 300 8085

Other walksFind out about moreofBedfordshire’swalking andriding routes as well as naturereserves and countryparks byvisiting www.letsgo.org.uk

Planning your walkTotternhoe Knolls Picnic Site is the suggested starting pointand the walk is described in a clock-wise direction.Howeveryou can walk in either direction.

Refreshments, Parking and ToiletsThereisparking at the Totternhoe Knolls Picnic Site.Refreshments areavailable at the Cross Keys Public houseon Castle Hill Road and The Old Farm Inn on Church RoadTotternhoe,please inform the landlords ifyou intend to leaveyour car.

Public Transport For information contact Traveline 0871 200 22 33.Theclosest train station is atLuton,on the Bedford to St.Pancras Thameslink Line contact Traveline orwww.thameslink.co.uk

Ordnance Survey Maps The route is covered on Ordnance Survey Explorer map 192available from local bookshops and some petrol stations.

Countryside CodelBe safe – plan ahead and follow any signs

lLeave gates and property as you find them

lProtect plants and animals,and take your litter home

lKeep dogs under close control

lConsider other people

www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk

TOTTERNHOEl

Printed on paper made from 75% recycled post consumer waste

Climb the steps in the

corner of the picnic

site and turn left to

follow the byway.

Continue along the path

passing the nature

reserve on your left and

slightly downhill.

Before reaching the

road at Lower End turn

sharp right and follow

the fenced footpath

along the field edge.

Continue left then at

the junction with Knolls

View turn right past the

works entrance, then

left at the path junction.

At the Sewell

Greenway, turn right

and continue along the

former railway

embankment to the

bridge.

Leave the Sewell

Greenway, turn right

and continue along the

bridleway.

At the junction with a

footpath turn right,

continue to the

crossroads with Green

Lane, look across to

the right to see the site

of Maiden Bower and

continue straight

ahead.

Cross Dunstable Road

and continue along

Furlong Lane and

Church Road to visit

the Old Farm Inn public

house and St Giles

Church. Alternatively,

on reaching Dunstable

Road turn right and

then continue along

Castle Hill Road.

Take the third turning

on the right to return to

the picnic site.

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Approx 4.2 Miles/6.8 km Time: 2 hours

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The walk

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TotternhoeKnolls

MiddleEnd

ChurchEnd

Castle Hill

Motte & Baileys

Maiden Bower

LLoowweerr EEnndd

TThhee SSeewweellll GGrreeeennwwaayy

The walk Church Picnic area

Footpath Parking Woodland

Bridleway Public house

Byway

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. – Central Bedfordshire Council 100049029 2010

Start point

NN

PoplarFarm

ChurchFarm

ManorFarm

LaneFarm

Honeywick Farm

Eaton Bray

Totternhoe