Waddesdon celebrates Greenway launch
Mass departure: Sunday 23 September 2018, 11am–12 noon set off from the Greenway accessible from Aylesbury Vale Parkway station
To celebrate the opening of the Waddesdon Greenway, a new accessible 4km pedestrian and cycling path linking Aylesbury Vale Parkway with Waddesdon, Waddesdon Manor will be holding a launch event on Sunday 23 September. Free grounds entry for the day will be offered to those who pick up Grounds admission stickers from Aylesbury Vale Parkway departure point between 11am-12 noon, and then walk or cycle the Greenway route to the Manor.
As John Grimshaw from Greenways & Cycleroutes points out, “Waddesdon Village is tantalizingly close to Aylesbury Vale Parkway station but the heavy traffic on the A41 prevents all but the most experienced people cycling to the station.” The Waddesdon Greenway has therefore been devised as a solution to this issue, offering a new, safe pedestrian and cycling path set away from the busy roads.
Funded by the Cycle Rail Working Group and the Department for Transport, the Greenway is part of a scheme to connect rural communities to their nearest rail station, and is the outcome of a £1 million partnership between Buckinghamshire County Council, the Greenways and Cycle Routes charity, the Cycle Rail Working Group and the Waddesdon Estate.
With work having begun in spring this year, construction is on schedule, with an estimated completion date of early September. Volunteers have played a crucial role in ensuring the timely completion of the project, offering hours of their time to aid with the construction of benches, the laying of sandbags and the building of bridges.
Set away from the A41, following a route that coincides largely with the old roman road Akeman Street, the Greenway will offer a wide, smooth path suitable for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users. The scheme coincides with Waddesdon Manor’s attempts to reduce car usage to the site, having already implemented a shuttle bus system to and from Aylesbury Vale Parkway, and opened up the grounds to cyclists. Three new bike shelters have been placed on site, found in the Visitor Car Park, the Staff Car Park (situated close to the North Fountain), and in the Stables. The grounds have also recently been adapted to allow cyclists to follow the one way system along the main drive to access the Manor.
It is hoped that the Greenway will enable both local and London visitors to enjoy a ‘car-free’ day out to Waddesdon, and allow novice and advanced cyclists alike to make the most of the Buckinghamshire countryside.
For more information about the Waddesdon Greenway, visit https://greenwaysandcycleroutes.org/ and follow @Waddesdon_grnwy on Twitter.