Bedfordshire Walking Festival

The 12th annual Bedfordshire Walking Festival starts at 8-00am on Saturday 10th September and fi nishes on Sunday afternoon 18th September. There are walks every day across the county ranging from short informative heritage walks of between 90-180 minutes to morning and afternoon half day walks of between 5-8 miles and to long walks of twelve miles up to the 40-mile Greensand Challenge over the last weekend. This year, following a number of enquiries, a one-day practical training course on how to use apps and maps on Sunday 11th has been included.

If you have ever thought about getting out into the countryside but feel it would better to go with others, or if you are new to Bedfordshire and want to see what the county has to o er the festival is an ideal opportunity and one of the great things about living in this part of the county is the accessibility to the countryside and its network of well-maintained paths. The festival has sixteen walks within the boundaries of the Borough and almost certainly one to suit you.

This year the festival has teamed up with the award-winning John Bunyan Boat for a day out mixing walking with cruising and is ideal for both groups and individuals. On Thursday 15th September a morning informative walk from Priory Marina to Great Barford is followed by an afternoon cruising back to Bedford. If the walk is too far for you there are options to join or leave at Willington and whatever you decide to do the cost of the trip is the same at just £20 per person. Booking necessary. www.johnbunyanboat.org.

More informative heritage walks are at Bedford Bedford Cemetery Foster Hill Road on Sunday afternoon 11th and on Tuesday 13th “The Jewel in the Crown” starting from

outside the Swan Hotel at 11-00am. On Sunday afternoon 18th starting at 1-30pm come and see and hear how Stewartby has changed from Pollution to Picturesque with a tour entitled A village in the heart of the vale.

Those who prefer to stride out and cover the miles taking all day may like to come to Harrold on the fi rst weekend with an Ouse Valley exploration of 12 miles on Saturday and a Village Meander of 18 miles on the Sunday. On Wednesday 14th join the Slow Ways linear walk from Bedford to Riseley of 11 miles and on Thursday a 16-mile circular gallop from Riseley taking in parts of north Bedfordshire often overlooked. To end the week, take up the challenge of the Greensand Ridge Path 40 miles,19 miles on Saturday and 21 miles on Sunday. certifi cates for all those who complete the challenge. The Festival’s half day walks of 2.5 to 3 hours are split into morning and afternoon. The morning walks are starting from Little Staughton, Mowsbury Park, Turvey, and Willington. The afternoon walks starting from Pertenhall, Mowsbury Park and Roxton and Great Denham.

These are just the walks in and around the Borough there are plenty more across the county. Almost all the walks are free and do not require booking enabling you to just turn up a short time before the start but if you have a query, please contact the walk leader. Some walks require booking so please book and not just turn up.

Several walking events have a cost involved and this is shown to avoid hidden surprises. Programmes are now available both in printed form and on the festival web site www.bedswalkfest.co.uk.