Welcome to Central Bedfordshire's Countryside sites.  We have over 1000 hectares of countryside which we manage for public access and wildlife.  Our sites are managed in house by our Countryside Sites Team, or in partnership with the The National Trust, Greensand Trust and Wildlife Trust.
 
We have woodlands, meadows, wetlands, chalk grasslands and moors.  So whether your interest is walking, wildlife, picnicking or just getting out and exploring, there really is something for everyone.
 
If you're new to the countryside, or want to learn more about a site, Country Parks such as Rushmere and Dunstable Downs are a good place to start.  Here you will find a car park, site information, toilets, and waymarked paths.  

If you want to explore your countryside closer to home look on the map (PDF 301KB) and find our what's near you.  Many of our smaller countryside sites are real hidden gems just waiting to be discovered!   

The Chilterns Gateway Centre is situated on the top of Dunstable Downs at Bedfordshire's highest point, 798 feet above sea-level. The visitor centre offers spectacular views over Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire. Dunstable Downs is owned and managed in partnership with the National Trust.

The visitor centre and cafe are open daily from 10am - 5pm, with the exception of Christmas Day.  Further information can be found on the National Trust website.

Rushmere covers an area of 210 hectares and is situated at the western tip of the Greensand Ridge, an elevated feature that runs across Central Bedfordshire and is recognised as an area of high landscape value. 

The main car park is at Rushmere where there is a small visitors centre with toilets, a picnic area and lots of paths to explore.  At peak times there is a mobile refreshment facility. The site is under continuous development with plans for a new cafe and other visitor facilities. 

At present there is a cafe at the Stockgrove entrance.  Please note that parking here is limited.

The site is owned in partnership with the Greensand Trust.