- Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs
Infobox SSSI
name=Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs
aos=Bedfordshire
interest=Biological
gridref=gbmappingsmall|TL005205
area=73.36hectare (181.27 acre)
notifydate=1987
http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?
]The Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs (usually known as the Dunstable Downs) are a 73.36
hectare (181.27 acre)Site of Special Scientific Interest which are part of theChiltern Hills , in southernBedfordshire ,England . The site was notified in 1987 under theWildlife and Countryside Act 1981 . [cite web | publisher=English Nature | url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1004427.pdf | title=Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs | accessdate=2008-02-23]The site consists of a
chalk escarpment forming the north-eastern reaches of the Chilterns. At 243 m (797 ft), Dunstable Downs are the highest point of thecounty of Bedfordshire. [cite web | publisher=Bedfordshire Libraries | url=http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.yoyo/yyc_facts_geography.htm | title=Geographical Facts, Figures and Statistics about Bedfordshire | accessdate=2008-02-23]Because of its elevation, Dunstable Downs hosted a station in the shutter telegraph chain which connected the
Admiralty inLondon to its naval ships in the port ofGreat Yarmouth during the years 1808 to 1814. [cite web | publisher="Great Yarmouth Mercury" | url=http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/content/yarmouthmercury/content/porthole/story.aspx?brand=GYMOnline&category=Porthole&tBrand=GYMonline&tCategory=porthole&itemid=NOED03%20Jan%202008%2015%3A17%3A31%3A957 | title=Shutter telegraph signalled new era | accessdate=2008-02-23]Whipsnade Zoo has cut an enormous lion shape into the chalk into the side of one of the hills. The lion can be seen from the B489 (Aylesbury toDunstable road).The downs are used by
glider s,kite fliers, hang gliders and paragliders in the area because of their height. TheLondon Gliding Club is based at the foot of the downs.Much of the downs are managed by the National Trust as part of the Dunstable Downs, Countryside Centre & Whipsnade Estate property, and the downs are also home to a wide variety of wildlife including many rare wild flowers, such as the
Bee Orchid , and different butterfly species, like theMarbled White and theChalkhill Blue .Ascents
The National Trust have recently built a
visitor centre known as The Chilterns Gateway Centre, on the very top of Dunstable Downs. The summit is right next to theB4541 road that crosses the hill, and so an ascent of the hill requires nothing more than getting out of a car at the highest point and walking across to thetrig point .For those who wish to climb the hill from the base, it is possible to do a circular walk from the village of
Whipsnade by following theIcknield Way andChiltern Way , both of which are marked onOrdnance Survey maps. This circuit can be extended to take in the northern top of Five Knolls. The hill can also be ascended fromDunstable to the north.Location map
Bedfordshire
lat=51.874005
long=-0.539255
width=180
float=right
caption="Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs shown withinBedfordshire "
(gbmapping|TL005205)See also
*
Dunstable
*Geology of Hertfordshire
*Luton References
External links
* [http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-dunstabledownscountrysidecentrewhipsnadeestate/ Dunstable Downs, Countryside Centre & Whipsnade Estate at the National Trust]
*The lion is very clear on mmuknr photo|499800|217800|5|this aerial photo
* [http://www.londonglidingclub.co.uk/ London Gliding Club]
* [http://www.carrotworks.com/photos/airfields/dunstable.html Panoramic photo of the London Gliding Club and Dunstable Downs]
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