As we get older our metabolism slows down. Just a 20-minute walk a day can help you build stamina, burn some calories, and keep your heart strong.
Being outside will also boost your vitamin D levels, and help improve sleep. Here are 5 places for outdoor walks in Luton and Central Bedfordshire:
Barton Hills is part of the Chiltern with a number of footpaths making it easily accessible and a popular destination for family walks or bike rides. From the foot of the hillside, the Spring marks the start of a chalk stream river where people will find streams of water that are very shallow and very clear!
The walk varies in steepness but has many sets of steps that help to reduce the overall climbing effort. This could be a great place to take a client for a walk or a picnic if they are local to the area on a sunny day.
You will find Barton Hills and the Springs on Church Road, Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire, MK45 4LA. If you cannot find parking at this postcode there are parking spots you will be able to find out in adjacent roads.
Maulden Woods is a great outdoor choice with many different walks to choose from as well as top views of the Bedfordshire countryside. The walks can vary on your energy level, ranging from flat surfaces and bridlepaths on grassland to longer walks through the woods with views of the hilltops between Leighton Buzzard and Gamlingay.
In the summer you will be able to find wildflowers blooming and wildlife with a major attraction to butterflies making it a perfect walk to get in touch with nature!
You will be able to find Moulden Woods, MK45 3UZ off the A6 in Maulden Village located near Clophill. There is also a car park to make your journey a little bit easier!
Warden Hills can be found on the edge of Luton, off the A6, and in neighboring areas such as Bramingham and Bushmead. There are a few different routes visitors can try. You can walk along Icknield Way path, avoid climbing the hills by walking from Streatley village, or to make the most of the Luton views, you can climb up Warden Hill. As well as Warden Hills being a fantastic place to walk, it also shares its field with a golf course ‘South Beds Golf Club’ on the flatter sides of in Galley Hill. It has been said that there are over 20 species of butterflies wandering around the hills, great for butterfly spotting!
Although there is no direct parking for the fields, there is a car park on Lancaster Avenue which is only a two-minute walk to the fields.
Dunstable Downs are part of the Chiltern Hills, south of Bedfordshire located in Dunstable Town. If you are looking for the best views in Central Bedfordshire, Dunstable Downs is the highest point in the County! It is a Circular walk with different terrains making it friendly to any age visiting. While you are visiting the Downs, your clients would be amazed to see in the distance Whipsnade Zoo has cut a lion shape in the chalk into the side of one of the hills. A fascinating site to make the walk that extra special!
The Visitor Centre run by the National Trust has a cafe, shop, and information on what to see and what to do at the Downs, there are activity packs and planned activities throughout the holidays and weekends.
You will find Dunstable Downs at Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 2GY.
Putteridge Bury is a Country house on the edge of Luton on the same estate as the University of Bedfordshire. It is perfect if you are looking for more of a scenic walk around the edge of the countryside with more of a flat surface. The estate holds 17.5 acres of land around the Mansion. The Putteridge estate holds a mixture of farmland and woodland that can be seen on clearer days.
You will find Putteridge Bury six miles from the M1, Luton town centre, and London Luton Airport in between Stopsley, Offley and Hitchin. The Estate does offer a car park which you will be able to find on Hitchin Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 8LG.