Objective: park car at Aldbury, cycle to Tring Station, take the train to Milton Keynes, cycle back to Tring Station and Aldbury.
Trip Type: solo cycle
Distance: 26.7 miles cycling
Time to complete: 3 hours 45 mins cycling, 8.5 mph, plus train journey (25 minutes)
Nicholson Guide: Guide 1, pp 56, 59, 67-73
Costs: free parking at Aldbury, £12.60 single from Milton Keynes Central to Tring
Difficulty: moderate
Adjacent Rides: Northampton to Milton Keynes, Aylesbury to Wendover, Tring Station to Rickmansworth
Overview
An interesting ride taking in the sights of Milton Keynes and some nice countryside parks, with a good village pub to finish.
1. Aldbury to Milton Keynes
Park the car by the pond in the village of Aldbury, near the Greyhound Inn, HP23 5RT. Cycle to Tring Station, just over 1 mile down the hill. Take an hourly train to Milton Keynes Central (22 minutes).
2. Milton Keynes to Leighton Buzzard
Coming out of the station go straight on to Midsummer Boulevard, where you can take in the sights of central Milton Keynes. Keep going through Centre:MK to Campbell Park, and onwards until you reach the canal. For a quieter option, use the parallel Avebury Boulevard. You may be surprised at how pleasant an environment the town is if you’ve only ever previously suffered the interminable roundabouts.
Once at the Grand Union Canal turn right. You can follow the towpath, or there is a wide metalled path running parallel all the way to the Lakes Estate. Take care at Bridge 87 – it is easy to lose the path and end up in the housing estate. There is redevelopment at Campbell Wharf (as of 2021) and a new three-way bridge (see picture) so look out for the signs.
Once out of town take care to look for signs as the towpath changes sides regularly – first at Stoke Hammond, then back after Three Locks – don’t go into the car park here!
The quality of towpath drops once out of town – some compacted earth and gravel sections but still ride-able. The quality picks up again once into urban Leighton Buzzard.
3. Leighton Buzzard to Tring Station and Aldbury
Once heading out of Leighton Buzzard, especially once past Church Lock (29) the towpath quality is poor. Some sections are badly metalled, much is rutted, potholed earth, with grass sections at locks. Paths are narrower, with uncut hedges impeding progress.
Look out for potholes in the bank – it is easy to catch your wheel and fall into the water.
At Marsworth the Aylesbury branch heads off to the right (west), and a mile further down, past the locks, the Wendover Arm does the same. These arms are a ride in themselves.
Take care where the towpath changes to the right before Marsworth Locks, at the Anglers Retreat footbridge, as there is still a path on the left but you will have difficulty crossing back over at the locks.
The final section through the cutting is better. There is a British Waterways sign by the wide steps leading up to Tring Station, then it’s a mile ride uphill back to Aldbury. The Greyhound Inn has an all day menu, and a decent pint of Badger.