are part of the
Chiltern Hills , in southern
Bedfordshire . They are a chalk escarpment forming the north-eastern reaches of the Chilterns. At 243m/797ft, Dunstable Downs are the highest point of
Bedfordshire .
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
Aylesbury to
Dunstable road.
The downs are used by
Glider s,
Kite fliers,
Hang Gliders and
Paragliders in the area because of their height. The
London 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 the
Marbled White and the
Chalkhill Blue .
