Founded on 23 January 1967, Milton Keynes was the last and largest of the new towns built in an era of urban development following the Second World War.
The town itself, designated as an area of 89 square kilometres, took its name from a Medieval village, mentioned as far back as the 11th century.
The Borough of Milton Keynes, known to many simply as MK, covers 119 square miles.
The city is based on a North American-style grid road network. All main roads use an H or V which indicates whether they run horizontally or vertically.
Another key feature of the original Milton Keynes plan is the extensive outdoor space, from rolling parks dotted with trees to lakes and rivers.
MK offers more than 5,000 acres of parkland, rivers, lakes and woodland. These are intercected by 343 kms of dedicated bridleways, footpaths and cycle tracks.
Parks and charity
Established as an independent charity in 1992, The Parks Trust cares for many of the thousands of acres of green space in Milton Keynes.
Walks in and around Milton Keynes
A taste of MK
Starts at Milton Keynes Station | 7.7miles 12.3km | Easy
Milton Keynes is one of the ten finalists of the Ramblers’ Britain’s Best Walking Neighbourhood Awards 2019: this walk takes in the old and new of Milton Keynes, using greenways away from the main roads, and great views from the Light Pyramid.
Great Linford Manor Park
This is a figure of eight walk, including a linear section either side of the Grand Union Canal. It starts and finishes at the same point. The walking is easy, along good quality footpaths and red ways. This walk is not suitable for wheelchair users as there is one set of steps.
North Loughton Valley Park
This is an elongated circular walk, finishing back at the Discovery Centre.
The entire route is within The North Loughton Valley Park.
The walking is easy along footpaths and red ways. Please note one section takes you over a stepped railway bridge so is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Ouse Valley – Cosgrove
This is a circular walk, along a footpath and short section of canal towpath via Manor Farm to the Iron Trunk Aqueduct on the Grand Union Canal, then back via a different footpath along the River Ouse.
There is also an option to increase the length of your walk by heading north from the Iron Trunk Aqueduct along the Grand Union Canal towpath to the village of Cosgrove and the Barley Mow pub, then retracing your steps back to the Iron Trunk Aqueduct to rejoin the circular walk.
Throughout, the walking is easy, along well-maintained hard footpaths, and a canal towpath.
Two sets of steep steps must be negotiated, so the walk is not wheelchair friendly.
Some of the walk is through the floodplain of the River Ouse so footpaths may be impassable when river levels are high.
Stony Stratford – Passenham
This is a figure of eight walk, taking in part of the Ouse Valley Park, the small settlement of Passenham and Stony Stratford town centre.
It starts and finishes at the same point.
The walking is mostly easy, along hard core footpaths of reasonable quality, but sections across meadow land make it unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Tree Cathedral – Campbell Park Tree Walk
This is a circular walk, starting by a walk through the Tree Cathedral up to Willen Park and along part of the Grand Union Canal into Campbell Park from the Cricket Pavilion end and walk around the park.
This walk includes the City Gardens, Beacon viewing point, and the Woodland Ridge before returning via Newlands and the Tree Cathedral.
The walk is steep in parts around Campbell Park, sections through Woodland Ridge can be muddy and robust walking footwear is recommended.
Willen Lake North
This is a circular walk with a linear excursion up and down a short stretch of the Grand Union Canal.
It finishes at the starting point.
The walking is along footpaths of varying quality from hardcore to gravel, red ways and bark bridleways.
The nature of some of the footpaths together with one or two inclines means the walk is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Woolstone – Campbell Park Art Trail
This is a figure of eight walk beginning and ending at the same car park in Woolstone, and taking in Campbell Park and much of its art trail.
The walking is along good quality hardcore footpaths and red ways.
There are a few inclines but the walk is suitable for wheelchair users.
Howe Park Wood – Tattenhoe Valley Park
This is a circular walk, finishing at the starting point.
The walking is along footpaths, red ways and bridleways, but in wetter weather some of the route may suffer from muddy conditions or cross very soggy sections of bark path.
Please note: Wheelchair users could find the going difficult at certain times of the year.
Lodge Lake – Loughton – Teardrop Lakes
This is an hourglass-shape walk, with a short stretch in Loughton being retraced on both outward and inward journeys.
The walking is easy along footpaths and red ways, and should be accessible throughout the year – including for wheelchairusers – although there is a short optional climb via a footpath to a viewpoint above the Teardrop Lakes.
Shenley Wood – North Bucks Way
This is a circular walk, finishing at the starting point.
It passes through the Oakhill and Medbourne housing areas, but at all times along routes flanked by trees or hedges.
The walking is along footpaths of varying quality, red ways and bridleways.
In wetter weather some of the route may become muddy, so suitably robust footwear is recommended.
The nature of some of the footpaths together with one or two inclines means the walk is unfortunately not suitable for wheelchair users.
Ouzel Valley Park
This is a circular walk, along footpaths, red ways and a canal towpath.
The walking is easy and accessible year round. It is wheelchair friendly, although there is one incline at the beginning of the trail which could present problems for some manual wheelchair users.
Walton Lake – Caldecotte Lake
This is a “figure of eight” walk, finishing at the same Walton Lake car park.
The walking is easy along firm footpaths.
There is one minor incline, and a single flight of steps to be negotiated if access to the Grand Union Canal is desired.
New Pilgrim Tales of Milton Keynes
The trail takes in the rich medieval landscape along modern city pathways from the earthwork remains of Snelshall Priory on the South-western edge of the city to St Mary’s Chapel at Bradwell Abbey.
Ordnance survey map of Milton Keynes
Northampton & Milton Keynes (inc. Buckingham & Daventry) map – OS Landranger 152