Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Estate

Bring your four-legged friend with you when you visit the View Cafe. look for one of our special tables and settle down to enjoy your meal. You will find water bowls outside - in the courtyard and along the terrace. We also have special doggy ice cream to buy as a treat on warm summer days.

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. Come along and 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.

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.

As summer begins to fade it might be an idea to learn new crafts and meet new people ready for the shorter days ahead. Whatever your own particular favourite craft, you might be interested in learning a new skill such as hand-spinning. The group meets every Monday (except Bank Holidays) at the far end of the View Cafe and is free, so why not give it a try?

Have you visited Whipsnade Tree Cathedral? It is made up of trees which have been planted to form the layout of an actual catherdral. It was 'built' between 1930 and 1939 as a memorial to two friends of the creator - Edmund Blyth - who died in the first world war

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

Our summer sale is underway. Don't miss out on a bargain - come and visit us now.

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 throughout the summer. Our mammals are very shy so you will need to be quiet and stealthy if you want to see them.

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.

If you visit our beautiful meadows you are sure to see lots of butterflies. Pictured is a Marbled White but there are many, many more. See how many different ones you can spot.

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!