Bedford to Fenlake Meadows

River Great Ouse Let's Go guide to Bedfordshire walks and cycle rides

This description should be read in conjunction with the route map. A link to the map is given below.

Route Map (PDF, 173kb)

Introduction

These are two 2 mile walks which take in some of Bedford's most attractive landscapes. They can be combined to form a longer walk.

Start/Finish Point

The suggested starting point is by the boating lake on Bedford Embankment. The nearest station is Bedford St Johns. Leave the station via the Town Centre exit to the left, and walk diagonally across the car park. Head to the left along Melbourne Street. At the end of the road, head to the left along Kingsway. Cross at the traffic lights, and head to the right along Cauldwell Street. At the traffic lights, cross over, and head to the left up St Mary's Street. On the other side of the Town Bridge, take the first right onto The Embankment. The starting point of the walk is the second footbridge on the right.

You can buy tickets to Bedford St Johns station on our website.

Access and General Information

Distance: 2 miles (both walks)
Time: 1 hour
Access Information: Pending update
Refreshments: There is a small cafe by the boating lake and a public house/restaurant at Priory Park.
Public Toilets: There are toilets near the boating lake and by the Visitor Centre in Priory Park.
Picnic Tables: There are picnic tables in Priory Park.
Seats: There are many seat on the Embankment and in Priory Park.

Directions

Bedford Embankment to Fenlake Meadows walk

From the road side of the Embankment, cross the new footbridge and turn left along the edge of the boating lake. Before the next bridge (Newnham Bridge) turn right and go underneath the road bridge and over the footbridge towards the pyramidal building. Turn left before this building (A) and onto the grass beside the river. Follow the river around its bend until the wooden fence on the right turns at a right angle (B) away from the river. Turn right, following this fence and continue on this path to the car park. At the car park bear right across the grassy area, keeping near to the fence by the road and follow the path down the bank (C) and on the path parallel to the road. The path crosses a small ditch and out into a field, continue until a gap in the hedge (D) leads to a gate to the road. Turn right before this gap, keeping the hedge on your left and continue straight back to the river. At the riverside turn left and retrace the path back to the Embankment

Bedford Embankment to Priory Park walk

Cross another old railway bridge and before the path forks left into a large car park, turn right down the bank and follow a narrow path across this grassy area (F). Continue over the Marina footbridge and along by the river's edge. Look out for a gap in the hedge on the left where a path goes past a pond (G) and follow this before turning right across the ditch bridge at the end of the pond and then immediately left along the edge of the trees with an open meadow area on your right hand side.
At the end of the meadow (H), turn left across the ditch bridge and bear towards the lake side path, keeping the lake on your left hand side. Follow this surfaced path all the way around the lake until you come to the Visitor Centre building (I).

Turn right past the building and through the car park towards the Park entrance. At the wooden height barrier turn left onto the old railway track path. Follow this back until it returns to the footbridge over the river where you retrace your route back to the Embankment.

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