Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Estate

Our dog-friendly area has been open since September 2018 and, on the whole, has been a great success. However, we do appreciate that not everyone is happy with dogs in the cafe so we have done some research and hope everyone will be reassured by the results.

Take your choice of our downloadable walks. Lace up your walking boots for a really long trek or enjoy a relaxing stroll through the stunning countryside close to the café. There are interesting historical sites created by humans living here over thousands of years. Take your pick.

Enjoy our beautiful new meadows - open to the public for the very first time. Check on them as the months go by to see what wild flowers are in bloom as the seasons change. Don't miss our ranger-led walks full of interest and natural history.

See how many sports you can play at Dunstable Downs during our Summer of Sport events in July and August. Play football, cricket or badminton as well as games and bike balancing - take your pick!

Would you like to learn how to take super photos of wildlife? Well, now is your chance - professional wildlife photographer, Rosalind White, will be running workshops here during May and June. Places are limited so book online now!

Excercising in the fresh air is the best way to get - and stay - fit. Where better to do that than at Dunstable Downs where you can take in the wonderful views as you run or walk. Some of you already know about our monthly 10K runs and now we have our weekly parkrun, but for those who want something more gentle we are introducing 'Walking Wednesdays' too. These are graded to suit each person. Find out more in our 'What's on' section.

After a brisk walk across the Downs, come inside for lunch or a tasty snack, like this freshly made soup. While you tuck in you can enjoy the wonderful view.

Visit our shop where you will find everything you could possible need for a picnic

If you enjoy being outside come and join our band of countryside volunteers. Make new friends and have some fun as you help our countryside team with their conservation work

If you are looking for something different to do, look no further. We have a variety of volunteering roles for anyone with a few hours to spare who would enjoy meeting new people and helping us give our visitors the very best experience whenever they visit.

Come and look for signs of wildlife making changes for spring. You might see birds building nests in trees and hedges or badgers changing their bedding to keep their new babies warm and dry.

The Red Kite is quite possibly the most beautiful bird of prey in Britain. It is certainly a wonderful sight as it wheels above the Downs.

Look out for the skylarks soaring above the meadow as they sing to show ownership of their territory. They have been known to sing for over one hour at a time.

The view may be tranquil these days, but Dunstable Downs is home to a wealth of history. From Neolithic burial mounds to a Saxon execution site and much more...

The forerunners of today's Territorial Army would train at the rifle range at the foot of the Downs.

Find out why hundreds of visitors would gather on the downs to roll their oranges!