Rushmere Country Park: Walks, Parking and Tips (2026)

Updated November 2026

Rushmere is still our go-to local park and it is just as lovely for a family walk. However, parking now costs more and works differently, so check the details below before you go.

Parking: Number plate recognition at both entrances. Pay before you leave at the machines or in the visitor centre (card or coins, no change). Up to 1 hour £3, 1–3 hours £5, over 3 hours £7.
Parking pass: The annual Greensand Parking Pass costs £77 and covers both car parks. Your number plate is recognised, so you don't need to show a card.
Opening times: In late October 2026 the main entrance (Linslade Road, LU7 0EB) was open 8 am – 5 pm, last entry 4:30 pm. Stockgrove (Brickhill Road, LU7 0BA) opens by 9:30 am. Hours change with the seasons and the park is closed on Christmas Day.
Food and toilets: Tree Tops Restaurant and The Deck at the main entrance, and an independent café at Stockgrove. There are toilets at both visitor centres.
Cycling: The bike trails need a Greensand Cycling Pass (day, 6-month or annual). It doesn't include parking. The pump track is still free.
Rules: No BBQs, drones, kites, model aircraft, camping or open fires. There are no general waste bins, so take your litter home.

What has changed since this post was written

The original says there is a £3 fee payable on exit. As of November 2026: parking costs £3 for up to 1 hour, £5 for 1–3 hours and £7 for over 3 hours, and you pay before you leave.
The original says the Stockgrove car park has a cash-only machine. As of November 2026: both machines take bank cards and coins.
The original lists opening times of 9 am – 5:30 pm with last entry at 5 pm. As of November 2026: the main entrance opens at 8 am and the Trust lists last entry at 4:30 pm.
The original lists BBQs at an allocated place. As of November 2026: BBQs are not allowed in the park.

We were really pleased when we discovered that there were so many stunning countryside walks near Leighton Buzzard. Ivinghoe Beacon is a great option, however, if we want something even closer, then we head to Rushmere Country Park. It is only a 10-minute drive from us. It will probably become our favourite local place for a walk. You can easily spend several hours here exploring different trails and paths. The park is part of The Greensand Trust, which consists of several nature reserves, visitor centres, woodlands and lakes. It is definitely a must-visit place in Bedfordshire!

Things to do at Rushmere Country Park

Mountain bike
Hike
BBQ at the allocated place (2026 update: BBQs are no longer allowed in the park.)
Walk your dog
Discover the Sculpture Trail
Have fun at the playground
Spot birds from The Deck
Take a picnic
Find the Sundial
Horse ride
Eat at the cafe

Stockgrove Lake

This is a lovely little lake with remnants of an old Boathouse. You can walk around the lake and see loads of wildlife from ducks to squirrels.

Walking routes

You will find plenty of woodland walks with links to Stockgrove lake, Greensand Way and even Milton Keynes Circular walk. So you can end up with a big hike if that’s what you are after.
For families with children, I suggest the sculpture trail. It starts at the visitors centre. You can spot fairy doors, benches, a giant chair and spider. There is also a sculpture trail in the Oak Wood. The sculptures are not signposted, so see how many you can find. It is quite fun trying to spot new ones. You can easily take an all-terrain pushchair on these paths.

Cycling at Rushmere Country Park

You can cycle to the park from the nearby villages on free public access paths. See details on the Rushmere Bike Routes Map. However, if you want to use the downhill trails and bike jumps you will need to purchase a ticket. There are day tickets and annual passes available. You can buy tickets online. There are trails for people with different abilities and you can improve your skills here while having fun. There is a great network of volunteers who manage the trails and keep it tidy. You can get up to date information on their Instagram.
The Pump Track near the entrance to the Downhill Zone is available to use free of charge and is ideal for younger riders as well.

Facilities at Rushmere Country Park

Toilets: You can find toilets at both entrances.

Cafes: You will find a cafe at both entrances.

There are a number of benches throughout the park, where you can rest or have a picnic, however you will need to take your rubbish home as waste bins are not provided.

Rushmere Country Park Parking

There are two parking areas. £3 fee is payable on exit. (2026 update: parking is now £3 for up to 1 hour, £5 for 1–3 hours and £7 for over 3 hours. Pay before you leave.) Consider buying an Annual Greensand Parking Pass if you are a regular visitor. Both car parks can get busy on weekends, but once you’ve walked a few kilometres it’s really peaceful.

Main entrance: Accessed via Linslade road. This is a big car park. You can pay by cash or card.

Stockgrove entrance: access via Brickhill Road. Smaller car park with cash only machine. (Or you can get a token at the cafe) (2026 update: this machine now takes bank cards and coins.)

Rushmere Country Park Map

There is a map located at the car park, which shows the whole area. Once you start exploring the park, there will be signs showing the way to different attractions.

Rushmere Country Park Opening Times

They close the parking area every evening, so make sure to visit during the opening hours if you don’t want to get locked in. Last entry is 5 pm.

9 am – 5:30 pm (2026 update: in late October 2026 the main entrance was open 8 am – 5 pm with last entry at 4:30 pm. Times change with the seasons, so check the Greensand Trust website.)

Rules to obey

No drones, kites or other model aircraft
No camping or open fires are permitted in the country park
Only use the bike park and horse paths with a valid ticket
Take your litter home! The park doesn’t have any general waste bins. However, you will find dog waste bins for bagged dog waste only.
Certain areas of the park might be closed down to help social distancing. If that is the case, please don’t attempt to use closed down facilities. eg. playground. (2026 update: this was a COVID-19 rule when we wrote this post in 2021.)

Sources for the November 2026 update

Activities England Europe Hiking Travel United Kingdom

Exploring Rushmere Country Park