North Bedfordshire Heritage Trail
A 69-mile long-distance walk in Bedfordshire visiting 23 villages on a circular route beginning and ending in Bedford. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: TL 049 496
Distance: 69 miles (111 km)
Time: 28–35 hours
Duration: 5–7 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
208 Bedford and St Neots
224 Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and Rockingham Forest
225 Huntingdon and St Ives
Summary
The North Bedfordshire Heritage Trail is a long-distance path exploring the town of Bedford and the county that bears its name. The route was devised by Gordon Edwards of the Ivel Valley Group of the Ramblers around the year 2000 with the aim of encouraging walkers to discover the underrated area of North Bedfordshire and its heritage.
The trail passes through 23 villages in Bedford and Bedfordshire — including Bromham, Odell, Riseley, Wilden, and Sandy — along with two country parks and passing approximately 30 public houses. It connects with the Greensand Ridge Walk at Sandy, Old Warden, and Everton, as well as the John Bunyan Trail at Bromham Mill. Overall, the walk visits, in order of passing through: Church End, Biddenham, Bromham, Thistley Green, Stagsden, Turvey, Carlton, Harrold, Harrold Odell Country Park, Odell, Odell Castle, Sharnbrook, Riseley, Keysoe Row, Colmworth, Wilden, Roxton, Tempsford, Everton, Potton, Sutton, The Lodge Nature Reserve, Sandy, Northill, Ickwell Green, Ickwell, Old Warden, and Willington before finishing in Bedford.