Start at the Grand Union Canal, off the Old Linslade Road. Take the towpath on the right bank and walk away from Leighton Buzzard, in a northerly direction. At the Three Locks Picnic Area, cross over to the left hand bank of the canal, past the public house and continue along the tow path until a bridge is reached. Leave the tow path here and turn left down the lane into Stoke Hammond.

At the T-junction turn left along the busy A4146 Leighton Buzzard to Bletchley road. Pass some new homes on the left and on the right of the main road. Look for a footpath sign to the right, immediately after the bungalow called “Little Acres”. Cross the road with care and proceed along the well defined track, under the railway bridge. Follow this track round to the left just before the stream. Continue along the track, past some houses into Soulbury. This is 3.8 miles completed!

On reaching the T-junction by a large thatched cottage, cross straight over the road and follow the footpath sign. The path runs parallel with the road behind the rear gardens of some houses. Climb a number of stiles and cross several fields, keeping parallel with the road. Half way along the right hand boundary of a field look carefully for a white thatched cottage and climb over the slightly concealed stile to the right of this, into Chapel Hill. Walk up Chapel Hill and turn left at the T-junction and take the next footpath left, signed The Cross Bucks Way.

Pass through the kissing gate into a field, follow the adjacent track to the gate and cross by the stile into a field. Ignore the stile straight ahead and cross this field at 45° to the left. This waymarked path will take the walker all the way back to the Old Linslade Road.Cross a narrow single plank footbridge over a stream, following The Cross Bucks Way signs. Do not follow any other way-markers. The walker’s goal is Chelmcote Manor Farm – large buildings set amidst tall trees, visible in the distance. Cross several fields bearing slightly left and another narrow footbridge. On reaching the well defined farm track, bear right until the Cross Bucks Way sign is seen on the left. Cross the stile and proceed to the A4146. Cross the road with care, to the waymark opposite.

Follow the Cross Bucks Way towards some buildings which become visible on reaching the brow of field. At ‘Broad Oak’ farm, close to the railway line, keep to the right of the buildings and follow the path towards the railway track. Cross over the high metal railway bridge and head diagonally right across the field towards the Old Linslade bridge, visible in the distance. The walker is now back at the start place, having completed seven miles, visited two delightful villages and enjoyed far-reaching views of the undulating Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire countryside.

Map: Use Explorer 192

Other walks:

The Southcott Stroll  (1.5 miles)
The Stockgrove Strut  (3 miles)
Eggington in the slips  (4 miles)
The Bluebell Polka  (4.5 miles)
The Canal-side Canter  (4.5 miles)
The Greensand Gambol  (5.5 miles)
The Bragenham Bash  (6.5 miles)
Mentmore Vistas  (7 miles)
The Soulbury Saunter  (7 miles)
The Leighton-Linslade Loop  (20 miles)