We’re spoilt for choice with places to take the kids for a walk in Milton Keynes, but one of the fun walks we’ve now done several times is around Linford Wood. There’s an art trail there, and if you go late April / May the bluebells are out too, making it picturesque for photos. Watch our video below, filmed in April 2017, before scrolling down for more information.

What does the art trail in Linford Wood consist of?

There are a number of wooden sculptures that make up the art trail. They were carved by Jack Stephenson and have been there since 1987. Over time, some have become weather worn, others have been sadly damaged. There are still enough good ones to see including Rupert the Bear, E-T, an owl and a snake. But those that are damaged include a bird and a giant head that was made up of other heads. My boys weren’t upset about the damaged ones, we just moved on to the next ones, but I thought I’d give you a heads up in case your kids might ask questions about them. You can see a variety of the sculptures in a gallery at the bottom of this page if you want to know what to expect. Some are visible from the path. Others you have to walk into the woodland a little bit. The trail is set in Linford Wood – the largest and oldest of the Parks Trust’s three ancient woodlands in Milton Keynes. The trust would do well to remove or replace the damaged ones.

 

 

What else can we find in Linford Wood?

In late April / May it’s a fab time for bluebells. Deer, badgers and foxes are among the creatures you may catch sight of if you visit at a quiet time of day, but Linford Wood is especially noteworthy for its bird and insect life.

 

Is Linford Wood good for buggies?

Kind of. The paths around the wood are absolutely fine. If you do the art trail it is buggy accessible but it is over wood-chip so make sure it’s an all-terrain type buggy as it takes a bit of effort to get around it. The art trail itself only takes about 20-30 minutes depending on how much you stop, so had we not been walking further around the wood I could have done a very slow walk with my 21 month old without the buggy. We have visited the woods in winter before and it’s been really muddy, I wouldn’t have taken a buggy to do the art trail then.

Where can I find Linford Wood?

Linford Wood falls within the grid square bordered by the H3 Monks Way, the V7 Saxon Street, H4 Dansteed Way, and H8 Marlborough Street in Milton Keynes. The car park is next to the BP garage. The best postcode is MK14 6PB. It’s free to park. At the entrance you’ll see a map which shows where the art trail is. If you do struggle then we found most of the sculptures by walking down the path, turn right and then left at the sign for art trail and walk in an anti-clockwise square. The Rupert the Bear is up slightly from the top of that square.

Linford Wood April 2017

I'm Laura, mum of two boys - aged six and four. I started this website at the end of Sept 2015 whilst on maternity leave. I now work four days a week and do this blog late at night once the little boys are sleeping. It's won several awards over the last four years and I continue to run it for free and mostly focus on free, cheap, and good value days out. Do drop me an email laura@miltonkeyneskids.com if you want to contact me. Don't forget to follow all of our latest adventures on facebook, instagram and twitter and have a look at all of the videos of the places we visit on the Milton Keynes Kids YouTube Channel - subscribe to it for notifications every time I add a new place. And remember... you may been reading this post months after we visited, do check with the destination you're visiting for up to date opening times and prices. If you find this blog useful then please do comment on my posts and leave me a Facebook review - it makes doing this all the more worthwhile.

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