Walking to Newport Pagnell

Well, strictly speaking, I got the bus to the Oakridge Park Asda and then walked from there, to cut out the initial dull walk through New Bradwell. Newport Pagnell is an older town that’s now part of Milton Keynes. As I’d never yet been there it seemed like a goal for a walk. This walk from and back to Asda was a total of 8.4 miles.

Overall impression: the most direct route to NP by far is along the old railway path, which I don’t particularly enjoy walking along as I find it a bit too secluded for comfort. On the outward route, I began by walking through the Oakridge Park development along Selkirk Drive, coming out further down Wolverton Road. The stretch of Wolverton Road between the Black Horse and the Redhouse Park estate annoyingly seems to have no footpath running alongside it, so I was forced briefly onto the canal towpath and then onto the railway path. I turned off this as soon as I could to come out on Marsh Drive, but then had to resort to Google Maps to find my way and after a short walk through Giffard Park it directed me straight back onto the railway path. I gave it up as a bad job at this point and continued along the path right to its endpoint in Newport Pagnell, passing under the V10 and the M1. Thankfully I did encounter a few cyclists to break up the seclusion.

I couldn't see any evidence on the ground of the former Newport Pagnell railway station, so assume it's been completely built over. There are some old photos of it here. I walked a bit further into NP town centre and had tea and cake at Costa.

Outward route, mainly along the railway path

Decided not to go back the same way and returned by a more circuitous route, firstly leaving NP town centre along Silver Street - some attractive old houses along here including one huge Victorian monster, that appeared to be up for sale when I passed it. A quick Google search suggests it's called Lovat Bank. Walked down Willen Road to join Tongwell Lane, which looks to have been a through road at one point though it’s now blocked to through traffic. It crosses over the M1 via bridge.

Tongwell Lane crossing the M1. Looking back in the Newport Pagnell direction

A bit further on after crossing the motorway you come to Tongwell Lake, seemingly the home of Milton Keynes Water Ski Club.

Tongwell Lake

Walked through Blakelands and across the V10 into Great Linford, then via Linford Manor Park back to the railway path. Turned off the path into Stonepit Field and after a bit of time spent looking for the exit, eventually emerged back onto Wolverton Road where I walked back to Asda.

Stonepit Field

Return route via Tongwell Lake