Peace Pagoda Walk
This walk will take you on a 1-and-a-half-mile route through part of the north side of Willen Lake, taking time to pause at the Peace Pagoda which is nestled in the western part of the park. The route is entirely on paved paths however, it does feature some inclines with almost 50% of the route being uphill which may not be suitable for all park visitors.
Starting from the Peace Pagoda car park located just off the V10 Willen Lake, we head south joining up with the redway system and following alongside the H5 Portway. You will be able to see on your left-hand side, the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist temple placed between the trees.
Continue down the small slope on the left joining up with the path just in front of the Medicine Wheel. This large arrangement of stones was inspired by the legends of the Hopi Nation in North America. You can then follow the path alongside the lake before arriving in front of the Peace Pagoda itself.
The first of its kind in the Western hemisphere, the Milton Keynes Peace Pagoda was built by the monks and nuns of the Nipponzan Myohoji whose temple we passed earlier. The Pagoda frieze is of traditional design and tells the story of Buddha from his birth 2,500 years ago at the foot of the Himalayas to his death at Kusinagara after 50 years of teaching. While this route should only take around 40 minutes, you should add additional time to stop and examine this unique piece of Milton Keynes history.
Continuing north the route continues alongside the lake before turning left and passing the Willen Labyrinth and up along the high treeline which encases the park. Finally, the right turn as you enter the wooded area will take you down a set of stairs or gentle slopes back down to the car park where the route started.
The route should take approximately 40 minutes, but extra time should be added to examine and explore the multitude of interesting and unique structures along the way.
Length: 1.5 miles
Time: Allow 1 hour
Car parking: Paid parking is available at the Peace Pagoda Car Park, Willen Lake.
