Grand Union Canal & Papermill Farm
This is a walk of just under 4 miles, which is easy to navigate and follows varied terrain and surfaces, apart from one stile which larger dogs have to be lifted over it is very dog friendly. The route is described starting from the church.
Walk down Church Lane for approximately 200 yards to a metal gate and Public Footpath (FP) sign on the right. Pass through the gate and down a wooded path for ~75 yards to a stile (this is the only one on the walk where larger dogs have to be lifted over but smaller dogs can pass through). Head across the field towards the wall and two tall Scots Pines. Follow the wall down the hill to a metal gate with a stile next to it. Pass through the gate or stile and continue down the hill ~50 yards to a stile. Go over the stile and down the hill to reach The Jubilee Wood, where you turn right passing over a small stream and carrying straight on until you reach the corner of a field. The footpath heads straight over this field in the direction of Westfield Farm, but if ploughed, it may be preferable to turn left and follow the field boundary until you reach the get through the hedge which allows access to Mill Lane.
Turn left and follow Mill Lane, passing The Old Dairy Farm on your left, until you reach the canal bridge. Here you go down the steps on the left and onto the tow path where you turn left. (Distance from start;1.2mi).
Carry on the canal towpath, passing the Stoke Hammond lock, and some classic lowland river meanders in the River Ouzel until you reach the next bridge over the canal. You will see a blue finger sign up on the road above signing Gt Brickhill to the left. Turn left off the towpath and go through the gates to Paper Mill Farm. Pass over the river Ouzel and go past Papermill Farm carrying straight on, now on a gravel track.
At the large cattle sheds, turn 90° left, distance from start; 2.6 miles to this point (As an alternative route from here, you can go straight on up the hill, following a loose sandy path, pass over Ivy Lane and then down the bridleway into Stockgrove Park).
Follow the steepening gravel track and eventually into the bottom end of Stoke Lane where a small bench by the entrance to Haines Farm affords a rest and vista over the Ouzel valley, before finding yourself back in the village by the Old Red Lion for R&R or back along Lower Way to finish at the church.