Ouse Valley Area Amenities
- Country Parks
- Harrold & Odell Country Park
This park is on the north bank of the Gt. River Ouse to the East of Harrold. It extends to the east to Odell so hence the name. The area is pock marked with gravel pits that were excavated for building materials for the first phase of the construction of the "new" town, Milton Keynes. Nature has now taken over again and the gravel pits are now lakes making the whole area a nature reserve It's a prime bird spotting location with all sorts of birds to be seen from Buzzards and Cormorants to Kingfishers.
There is plenty of car parking so it's a good starting point for a walk especially with three Good Beer Guide listed pubs within easy walking distance. If the car park at the road entrance is full the overflow car park is usually open. Take special note of the closing time of the overflow car park as a late return will be rewarded with locked gates. This is not a problem with the smaller car park at the entrance. Car parking here is free although there are notices everywhere requesting a £1 donation.
The country park has free toilets and a tea room which is open Sundays. On Saturdays and Sundays in the summer there is usually an ice cream van in attendance. - Priory Country Park
This is located on the eastern outskirts of Bedford but within easy walking distance of the town centre. It is a strip of open lakes and surrounding land lining the River Gt Ouse on it's journey to Gt. Barford. This area is a haven for bird life being on a major migration route north/south. In the summer nights, if you are lucky, nightingales can be heard singing.
- Harrold & Odell Country Park
- Museums
- The Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Museum
This museum is to be found in Bedford not far from the river and next to the White Swan Hotel. It contains many artifacts reflecting the history of the area as well as a collection of paintings and furniture. Entrance is free - The John Bunyan Museum
John Bunyan was a religious leader whose influence has been felt throughout the whole world through his books the most famous of which is The Pilgrim's Progress.
Bunyan Meeting house was founded in 1650 during the time of the commonwealth and Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate. The house today includes a unique museum presenting the life, times and works of John Bunyan in an accessible and relevant manner.
- Shuttleworth Trust
Farther afield is the Shuttleworth Trust Transport Museum which is located some 10 miles southeast of Bedford at the very pretty village of Old Warden. This is a world famous museum renowned for it's collection of vintage aeroplanes. Additionally there is a collection of vintage cars and motorcycles all displayed in aircraft hangers. Although the museum is open all year (except Christmas Day) the best days to go along are the flying days. The ethos of the Shuttleworth Trust is all their aircraft should, where ever possible, be airworthy and fly - and fly they do. During the summer there are flying days on Sunday when a selection of aircraft are put through their paces. There are also some "sunset" flying evenings held on Saturdays. Check with the Shuttleworth Trust for details of the flying days as they are not every week. However, the first Sunday in September is the "Shuttleworth Pageant" in which they try (and often succeed) to fly everything in the collection. This ranges from a pre WW1 Blackburn monoplane through to the WW1 fighters (inc the Bristol Se5a and Sopwith Pup) on to the inter-war years and the Tiger Moths and in to the Gloster Gladiator. Then the WW2 fighters of which they have a Sea Hurricane, Spitfire and a Lysander. If you are interested in aircraft history then this day is not to be missed.
......and for a Rainy Day
- The Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Museum
- Cinema
- There is only one cinema in Bedford, the multi-screen UGC located in a leisure complex at Barkers Lane on the banks of the River Gt Ouse. Also in this complex is a (closed) nightclub, a ten pin bowling alley and a couple of fast food outlets if you enjoy heartburn.
- Stately Homes
- Woburn Abbey - This is one of two stately homes in Bedfordshire and still the home of the Dukes of Tavistock. This is to be found near Woburn, not far from the M1 motorway junction 12. It is more famous perhaps for the wildlife park with a range of monkeys and lions.
- Wimpole Hall - Although this is not even in Bedfordshire (it's in Cambridgeshire) it's easy driving distance (25 miles by country lane) to this large hall and it's gardens. Owned by the National Trust it boasts extensive grounds (inc a working farm), stables and it's own folly (a fake ruined castle keep). If the shop has some pork sausages then they are well worth trying. Made from the pork meat (not offal or offcuts) of the rare breed pigs raised at the farm they are excellent - how pork sausages should taste.
This page last updated on the 17th of January 2006
