An excellent route, and thanks to the previous reviewer for clarifying the detour under the A1 on the approach to Biggleswade. No navigational issues, totally stile-free, and whilst there is a fair amount of tarmac only a small portion of this is on a rural road, and that was very quiet. However, there are warning notices along Wood Lane (the bridleway out of Willington) of a proposed solar farm, so this section of the route may lose its sweeping views across to the airship hangers and beyond, and be "upgraded" for vehicular access....

KB

From the crest of the hill, at the northern tip of Sheerhatch Wood, you can see both Bedford and Biggleswade on a fine day. On the eastern side of Sheerhatch Wood, you have about a mile of road-walking on a very quiet road, which takes you to the Cowshed Cafe (currently open Thursday to Sunday from 10.00 to 15.00) at the junction with the Bedford Road. When you emerge from the culvert on the east side of the A1 you need to turn north (left) and walk alongside the A1 embankment for about 250 metres to meet the footpath which takes you to the weir and mill on the western edge of Biggleswade If you are walking from Biggleswade to Bedford, the A1 crossing is more problematic because: (1) you can’t see the culverts I have described above as you approach; (2) the footpath takes you straight up the embankment and onto the A1; and (3) if you turn south towards the five culverts you may soon see a single culvert which looks tempting, but isn’t worth the trouble it leads you into ( a 6 footer will need to stoop to get through it, then battle through a ditch and hawthorn thicket to get to the permissive path)....

Brian Pinsent

A point to note though is that parts of the ‘snail loop’ sometime flood (autumn/winter) & the straight line diversion would be needed....

Matt Burgin

It is 100% tarmac or concrete, 90% dead-straight and almost completely flat. As a walk, if you want a 100% tarmac or concrete, 90% dead straight, almost completely flat route on which cyclists can ride llike stink... The cycle track (National Route 51) is very well signed and easy to follow through a series of late 20th century housing estates, before turning east, under the A1 on meeting the line of the old Cambridge to Oxford railway....

Brian Pinsent

I started at the Riseley end, and you reach the fence about a mile south of Riseley as you turn left (east) along the edge of Galsey Wood. When I finally escaped the fence I ran into the problem that the line of the footpath across open fields east of Blackburn Hall, had not been reinstated since harvesting....

Brian Pinsent

The route follows National Cycle way 51 out of Bedford and picks up route 12 in Blunham so you will be sharing the path with cyclists and sometimes with horse riders too but no cars for most of the way. There are car parks on the route at Priory Park and Willington (Danish Camp). This route can get busy at weekends and sometimes parts near Priory Park and the Grange estate are used for running events such as Race for Life and the Bedford Half marathon but the path is not closed then just very busy....

Tom Campbell

Leaves Bedford by a pleasant route - not long before the traffic is left behind - but once outside Bedford there are no refreshment opportunities or bus stops until Riseley. The signage is poor across the golf course (but maybe the golfer I annoyed by asking for directions will ask the committee to rectify this). The tedium of the long tramp around the airfield perimeter is alleviated by sweeping views across the Great Ouse valley; definitely the highlight....

KB

Note - along the Great Ouse, the footpath near Queens Bridge can be walked right along the river, there is no need to dog leg here as the route suggests. This could be revised if needed, but the current meeting place does help in the fact it isn't miles away from connecting a little triangle of routes between Kempston, Bromham and Bedford....

andy_mackay

The bus station is a good final destination, it seems to serve more locales than the train station (which is easily reached anyway from the route)....

andy_mackay

We choose to walk along the river when going from Oakley to Pavenham as there is no need to walk on the road. Its a little bit confusing at the golf club but soon picked up the route again. Came across 2 stiles that were not very dog friendly just outside of Sharnbrook....

Selena Ibbott

Starting in Bedford town centre it's a pavement all the way from Bedford to Clapham through to Oakley until you reach the train tracks and go through a field to reach a bridge leading to an exit near the memorial. Instead of following the road you can go through the fields next to the river and road (a sign said there were bull in the fields but when I walked through there weren't any) Past this its mostly just clear fields between the villages until you reach sharnbrook...

Jacob

The bridge at Bromham has no path, but there are passing places for walkers to use to allow cars to pass safely. Not sure how easy this would be for pushchairs/wheelchairs....

Helen

At one point in Bedford the path passes below a bridge which had a height restriction of 1.4 meters....

Helen

It would be easier if the route followed the path all the way, though this route is more attractive in Bedford following the Ouse and the Priory park....

Jujones2

Footpath all the way apart from Bromham Bridge. There is a nicer way, but you'll need to get wet ....

James Adams

It passes mostly through farmland, both pasture and arable, as well as a golf course. In places it is not clearly signposted....

Liz Cox

The footbridge at Kempston Mill is currently closed, so this route cannot be completed....

Liz Cox

The first 5 miles are rural and the final 4 miles are urban and involve walking alongside roads....

Liz Cox

Difficult access in places for less mobile people and busy in places with cyclists especially at the weekends Beautifully quiet in the evenings...

watsonp63

3) At GR 043585 (Blackburn Hall) the route shows you walking through a farm yard when in fact the footpath goes right round the edge and then heads NE across the field and then sharply west back to the main path. 4) At GR 035606 (Park Farm) the download shows a route across the field to GR 033608 (Red House Farm). This path doesn't exist and you need to turn sharp right at the farm and follow the route along the field edge....

Tom Barwood

The majority of the walk is on good quality pavements alongside roads....

Liz Cox

Only slightly dodgy bit is the bridge across the Great Ouse at Bromham Mill - pedestrians need to dive between regularly spaced passing places to avoid passing cars (see photo), easy enough though and the cars do have good visibility of walkers....

Heidi