T is for tracks and trails

Bedfordshire is full of opportunities for walkers, whatever distance or level of challenge you’re looking for, there’s something for everyone. This instalment of our A-Z series brings together lots of resources to help you find your perfect walk.

Long distance walks

A number of long distance trails and walks pass through Bedfordshire.

The John Bunyan Trail is a long-distance walk of around 86 miles which takes in places connected with his life and works. The Trail takes in Bedfordshire’s varied landscapes, as well as some of its towns and villages. The guide helpfully divides the walk into ten shorter sections of between 5 and 11 miles each. https://bunyansbedford.weebly.com/bunyan-trail–other-walks.html

The Greensand Ridge Walk covers the 40 miles of the Greensand Ridge, starting in Leighton Buzzard and ending in Gamlingay. The walk has been split into five sections so that it can be easily done in stages.

https://www.greensandcountry.com/explore/walk/

The North Bedfordshire Heritage Trail passes through 23 villages over the course of its 70 miles. It connects with the Greensand Ridge Walk at Sandy, Old Warden and Everton and also with the John Bunyan Trail at Bromham Mill.

https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=North+Bedfordshire+Heritage+Trail

The Ouse Valley Way Long Distance Path follows the river Great Ouse for 142 miles from its source in Buckinghamshire to Kings Lynn in Norfolk where it meets the sea.

https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Ouse+Valley+Way

The Icknield Way Trail follows an ancient path running from Oxfordshire to Suffolk via Bedfordshire.

https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Icknield+Way+Trail

Walks where you live

All three of our local authorities, Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, and Luton Borough Council provide information, routes and maps about walking in their area.

https://www.bedford.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/walking-cycling-and-riding/walking-routes

https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/82/countryside/434/walking

https://m.luton.gov.uk/Page/Show/Transport_and_streets/sustainable-travel/Pages/walking.aspx

Explore Bedfordshire’s varied landscapes

In the south of the county, the National Trust and the Chilterns National Landscape both provide information about walks and trails. In the Greensand area, the Greensand Country website has a section dedicated to walking, and the RSPB have several marked trails on their reserve at Sandy. The Forest of Marston Vale covers 61 square miles, and you’ll find a large selection of walks in the area on their website.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/essex-bedfordshire-hertfordshire/walking?type=outdoor-activity#top-walks-in-bedfordshire

https://www.chilterns.org.uk/visit-chilterns/walks-rides-countryside-activities/great-walks/

https://www.greensandcountry.com/explore/walk/

https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/the-lodge

https://www.marstonvale.org/walks-and-routes

Collections of walks

If you’d rather browse a selection of walks from across the county, then the LetsGo! Website provides a searchable list of walks that can be filtered by length, whether they are linear or circular, start and end points or area of Bedfordshire. If you like video content, then the Bedfordshire Walks website includes a short video with each of their walk descriptions.

https://www.walkinginbedfordshire.org/

https://bedfordshirewalks.co.uk/

Walks on our website

There are lots of features on our website that include walks. You can browse them all in our days out and walks section. Two of our most popular walking features are Winter walks in Bedfordshire villages which includes short walks in a variety of villages across the county, and Walking through history, which looks at twelve places that shine a light on our local and national history.

https://www.cprebeds.org.uk/category/days-out/

https://www.cprebeds.org.uk/discover/winter-walks-in-bedfordshire-villages/

https://www.cprebeds.org.uk/discover/walking-through-history/

Groups

If you’d like to find out more about walking with a group, then BRCC have lots of information about their Wellbeing walks and the Ramblers have four groups in the county. Details of upcoming walks can be found on their website. There are also lots of smaller walking groups across the county so it’s worth investigating if there’s one near you.

https://yourwellbeingbedfordshire.org.uk/improve-your-quality-of-life/walking-for-health/

https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/ramblers-groups/areas/bedfordshire-area

Access for all

Central Bedfordshire Council provide information about accessibility at their countryside sites, including maps and information about paths. The National Trust’s Dunstable Downs Five Knolls wildlife and heritage walk is described as suitable for buggies, motorised scooters and wheelchairs. Priory Country Park in Bedford and the Forest of Marston Vale also have accessible paths.

https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/83/countryside_sites/422/access_for_all_to_countryside_sites

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/essex-bedfordshire-hertfordshire/dunstable-downs-and-whipsnade-estate/dunstable-downs-five-knolls-wildlife-and-heritage-walk

https://www.bedford.gov.uk/leisure-parks-and-sport/parks-and-open-spaces/parks-bedford-borough/priory-country-park

https://www.marstonvale.org/faqs#:~:text=Accessibility%20in%20the%20Millennium%20Country%20Park&text=There%20are%20over%208km%20of,01234%20767037%20or%20email%20us.