Sustrans and the National Cycle Network

Sustrans is the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity,working on practical projects so people can choose to travel inways that benefit their health and the environment. The charityis behind many groundbreaking projects including the NationalCycle Network, over twelve thousand miles of traffic-free, quietlanes and on-road walking and cycling routes around the UK.We are the charity making a difference today so everyone canlive a better tomorrow.

Support Sustrans. Join the movement.

www.sustrans.org.uk

0845 113 00 65

For more information on the National CycleNetwork, to find maps and guides, or to become a

Sustrans Supporter visit or call:

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The Luton andSouth Beds Way

Luton to Leighton BuzzardL

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More than half of the route is traffic-free and the rest has eithercycle lanes or road crossing provision for walkers and cyclists.There is one short section of temporary route on the A4012Leighton Road between Eggington and Leighton Buzzard wherethere is no provision for cyclists – please take extreme carehere. The route can be ridden ‘end to end’ or in parts, perhapsas part of a local circular route.

From just south of Airport Way, beside the Lower HarpendenRoad (B 653), National Cycle Network Route 6 follows cyclelanes to Parkway railway stationat the south eastern fringe ofLuton.Plans to construct the entire route from Harpenden toLuton are at an advanced stage and works will be undertaken asand when funding is secured; a small traffic free ‘there and back’section at Airport Way will be completed during summer 2008.

In Luton, the route passes directly through the town centrefollowing traffic free paths, bus lanes and on-road cycle laneswhere it forms the central spine of the Luton Area Cycle Network(see associated leaflet 1). To the north of Luton, the route passesbeside Wardown Parkwith formal lakes where an award winningmuseum depicting the social history of Luton will be found,through Fallow Field County Wildlife Siteand along RiversideWay,a riverside parkland where various artworks from theSustrans ‘Art and The Travelling Landscape’ programme can beviewed. Look out for ‘Layering of Time’ milestones with poetryalong the way, and the ‘The Blockers Seaside’ near to Leagraverailway station, both artworks are by public artist IsabellaLockett. There is also an extensive cycle network through nearbyMarsh Farm (see associated leaflet 2).

After passing under the railway at Sundon Arch, where LutonBorough Council and Sustrans hope to construct a dedicatedpedestrian and cycle subway - a scheme within the Sustrans’Connect project – National Route 6 continues through HoughtonRegisand Dunstable.There is a predominantly traffic free link tothe Luton and Dunstable Hospital running in parkland parallel tothe M1 motorway.

To the west of Dunstable, the route joins the Sewell Greenwaywhere this traffic free section provides a delightful route forwalkers, cyclists and horse riders to escape into nature. Builton an old railway line, the land is a County Wildlife site boasting

Welcome to a 37km (23 mile) section of the National Cycle Network through Luton and South Bedfordshire

Useful contacts

Tourist Information Centres:

Leighton Buzzard and Linslade - 01525 631920www.leighton-linslade.org.uk

Dunstable - 01582 890 270www.dunstable.gov.uk

Luton - 01582 401579www.luton.gov.uk

Bedfordshire - 01234 363222www.bedfordshire.gov.uk

Bicycle maintenance/assistance:

Leighton Buzzard Cycle Connection - 01525 852400

DunstableDysons Cycles – 01582665533

LutonHalfords Superstore – 01582 422525

Attractions:

Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway - 01525 373888

www.buzzrail.co.uk

Chilterns Gateway Centre - 01582 500920www.chilternsgateway.org.uk

Luton - Wardown Park Museum - 01582 546722www.luton.gov.uk

Luton - Cycle training and events - 01582 546152www.luton.gov.uk/cycling

Public Transport:

Traveline - 0871 200 22 33

www.traveline.org.uk

This leaflet is a partnership between:

• Luton Borough Council

• Bedfordshire County Council

• Sustrans

Photography © Sustrans staff and David Bolton.Registered Charity No. 326550 (England and Wales) SC039263 (Scotland)

Views towards the Vale of Aylesbury

Other walking and cyclingleaflets for the area:1. Luton Area Cycle GuideThe Cycle Promotions Team, Luton Borough Councilwww.luton.gov.uk/cycling Tel 01582 54 60 00

2. Marsh Farm Cycle NetworkMarsh Farm Community Development Trustwww.mfcdt.co.uk Tel 01582 512555

3. Walking routes on Dunstable DownsThe Gateway Centrewww.nationaltrust.org.uk Tel 01582 500 920

4. Leighton Cycling MapLeighton-Linslade Town Councilwww.leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk Tel 01525 631 920

5. The Grand Union CanalSustranswww.sustrans.org.ukTel 0845 113 00 65

diverse flora and chalk grassland habitats. At Sewell Lane aconnection can be taken via the Maiden Bower AncientMonumentto the new Chilterns Gateway Centreon DunstableDowns which is located at the north eastern end of theChilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and offers terrificviews towards the Vale of Aylesbury (see associated leaflet 3).Whipsnadeand the Safari Parkare located just to the south,and this link will eventually form part of Route 574 within theNational Cycle Network through Ashridge and on toBerkhamsted.

From the end of Sewell Greenway, at Stanbridgeford, the routepasses on road through, Stanbridgeand on to Eggington.From here, extreme care is necessary since this temporarysection of the route uses the busy Leighton Road which linksHockliffe with Leighton Buzzard (A4012). On reaching LeightonBuzzard(see associated leaflet 4), National Route 6 is on trafficfree paths and quiet roads beside the Clipstone Brook andcontinues through Parsons Close Recreation Groundfromwhere a short diversion can be taken to the town centre andthe Leighton Buzzard light railway.

Between Leighton Buzzard and Linsladethe route joins thetowpath and heads north for 9.5km (6 miles) to Bletchleyalongside the Grand Union Canal (see associated leaflet 5)which is close to Stockgrove Country Park. A southerlytowpath link from Leighton Buzzard continues to Black Bridgeand on to Grove Lock.

This leaflet is supported by:

B488

B489

B4506

B4540

B4541

B530

B579

B579

B579

B4540

B4540

B65

5

A4012

A5

A4012

A4012

A4146

A505

A4146

A505

A5

A5

M1

A5065

A5228

A505

A6

A505

A5120

M1

LeightonBuzzard

Heath and Reach

Biliington

Eaton BrayTotternhoe

TilsworthEggington

HockliffeTebworth

Toddington

Chalton

UpperSundon

Streatley

Luton

Dunstable

HougtonRegis

Kensworth

Whipsnade

Sewell

Stanbridge

Northall

Caddington

Markyate

SlipEnd

Luton HooPark

StockwoodDiscovery Centre

StopsleyCommon

LilleyWood

DedmanseyWood

Slapton

StockgroveCountry Park

Kings Wood

Great Brickhill

Mentmore

Cheddington

Harlington

Sundon HillsCountry Park

ToddingtonManor

Wild FowlPark

MarshFarm

Leagrave

NewTown

Stopsley

Parkside

HoughtonHall

DownsideChurch

End

WhipsnadeSafari Park

HighTown

Luton &DustableHospital

Linslade

Cheddington

LeightonBuzzard

Harlington

Luton AirportParkway

Luton

Leagrave

574

John Bunyan Trail

Chiltern

Way

Chilte

rnW

ay

IcknieldWay

IcknieldWay

IcknieldWay

Icknield Way

Sewell Greenway

To Milton Keynesand Bletchley

To Harpenden

Leighton BuzzardRailway

ChilternsGatewayCentre

WardownPark

Museum

Sourceof the

River Lea

The BlockersSeaside Artwork

RiversideWay

Fallow FieldCounty Wildlife Site

Bury Park

ParsonsClose

RecreationGround

Maiden Bower

When you are on theNational Cycle Networkyou will see these signs.

The Luton andSouth Beds Way

0 1 2 3Kilometres

0 1 2Miles

The National Cycle Network is ideal for cyclists and walkers of all abilities.

All users

• Can you reach the start of your journey by bike or public transport?

• Please keep the route tidy and take your litter home

• Please respect other users• Do not wander on to adjacent private

land other than on public rights of way• Respect countryside activities, such as

farming and forestry• Please do not pick wild flowers

Cyclists

• Obey the rules of the road - speed limit is 10mph on the towpath

• Always follow the Highway Code

Be courteous

• Give way to pedestrians and wheelchairusers – please dismount if necessary where the towpath is narrow or busy with anglers and walkers

• Remember that some people are hard of hearing or visually impaired; don’t assume they can hear or see you

• Ring bell twice or politely call out to warn of your approach; acknowledge people who give way to you

Look after yourself

• Take special care at junctions, when cycling downhill and on loose surfaces

• Carry food, repair kit, map and waterproofs

• Keep your bike roadworthy; use lights in poor visibility

• Consider wearing a helmet and conspicuous clothing

You can order a bell for your bike andother accessories from the SustransShop, visit or call:

www.sustransshop.co.uk 0845 113 00 65

Cycling Code

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