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Y is for Youngsters
In this feature we are looking at some places across Bedfordshire to explore with children
We all like to inspire children to explore and enjoy the great outdoors. With school holidays to fill, here are a few ideas for places to explore with children and as families across the county. Some venues offer family-friendly activities such as pond dipping or other nature-related sessions. Many of them are free, some may have a parking charge to help fund the site. Most venues have the all-important café and toilet facilities.
In touch with nature
Getting children to just go for a walk can be difficult, but add some fun and things become more interesting and engaging.
Rushmere Country Park has a sculpture trail. Look for fairy doors in the trees, wooden sculptures and climb on the giant’s chair. This large woodland has a café for after adventure rewards, and at some times of year it’s possible to look across to the treetops and see the unusual sight of herons nesting.
For easy-going paths and cycleways, Priory Park, in Bedford offers a flat varied landscape of meadows, lakes and woodland nestled in the bend of the River Great Ouse. It has a designated duck feeding area on the lakeside. The National Cycle Network route 51 also runs through the park and gives opportunities to explore further afield.
Altogether more open, Dunstable Downs is ideal for big views and wide landscapes. It is the highest point in Bedfordshire, and the escarpment is a prime site for kite flying. There are networks of paths to explore the grasslands and to look out for the varied wildlife, such as slow worms and orchids.
The Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park in the Marston Vale has walking and cycle paths around the 225-hectare site. The surfaced paths are suitable for all and take visitors through a variety of landscapes, from tree-lined tracks to lakeside viewpoints. Bicycle hire is available, and the café overlooks the wetland lake and playground. The forest school offers outdoor activities for children and adults.
At the RSPB nature reserve The Lodge at Sandy, various trails wind through the largest stretch of heathland in Bedfordshire. Head along the main path from the car park to fine natural play areas and pond viewing. The more ‘off road’ trails venture through different habitats with sandy paths and sometimes steps. Maps of the trails are available to download.
We are blessed with many parks and outdoor spaces in the county. Other places to visit include:
Bromham Water Mill and Mill café, with a cute fairy trail through the woodland setting. The mill is only open and operates on certain days throughout the year.
Harrold Odell Country Park with lakes and river meadows walks, including through the regenerated woodland Nature Reserve.
Hidden in the centre of Houghton Regis, Houghton Hall Park offers wooded and parkland walks, with play features along the way. More formal gardens can be found near Houghton Park Hall (private).
With Wildlife in Mind
For more self-led open space exploring, the Wildlife Trust manages a range of wildlife-rich countryside sites. Many will involve a bit of ‘off-road’ exploring and more rugged terrain. These sites are managed for wildlife, so please respect the environment and plan the visit considerately – designated car parking may not be available.
Blow’s Down covers the steep chalkland near Luton and Dunstable, with flower-rich grassland and views from the top.
Tottenhoe Nature Reserve is an old quarry which has evolved into a chalk-rich habitat for wildlife. It’s easy to lose yourself along the range of paths through valleys and grassland, but there are plenty of plants to spot and grasshoppers to surprise along the way.
For more climbing and wonderful views, Pegston Hills offers wildflower-rich grassland walks. Set within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it also has signs of ancient chalk quarrying.
More details about all the Wildlife Trust sites can be found on the Wildlife Trust website (see Find Out More – below)
History and open spaces combined
Stotfold mill and nature reserve offer indoors and outdoors interest. Flour grinding is explained during the mill tour, and children can have a go with hand-operated grindstones. There are things to spot and information sheets to help explore the mill and outside. The extensive nature reserve around the mill has paths, information boards and places to stop and enjoy the surroundings. Bookable school holiday activities include pond dipping and kitchen science.
More about the restoration of the nature reserve, which started in 2009, can be found in our feature:
Celebrating Stotfold Watermill Local Nature Reserve
A different milling process can be experienced at Jordans Mill. The more industrial Victorian system can be seen operating on mill tours, with belt-driven rollers and shaking machines. The mill is set amongst gardens, with a wildflower meadow and woodland trail on the River Ivel.
Explore the Bedfordshire’s natural history and hear historical narratives of local inhabitants at the Stockwood Discovery Centre. It also houses a permanent collection of carriages and temporary exhibitions covering topics from the Vauxhall motor industry in Luton to the British Wildlife Photography Awards display. The Centre has a mixture of outdoor spaces including formal gardens, open parkland and a playground. Plenty to provide a range of experiences and interest.
More to explore
For a look at three of our urban public parks, our P for Public Parks has more information on Houghton Hall Park, Bedford Park and Wardown Park in Luton:
And if it is wet, check out our suggestions for museums and places to visit with indoor spaces to explore:
Find out more about Bedfordshire history with our feature:
Find Out More
Website links for places mentioned in this feature:
Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park
Bromham Water Mill and Bromham Mill café
Bedfordshire Wildlife Trust Reserves
