Click to view map

How to get there

You can access the route by car and public transport.

• Public transport - You can get the train to Bedford or Bedford St Johns stations (click here for timetables) - please note that trains do not run to St Johns on Sundays. You can also get buses (click here for timetables).
• Car - Bedford is located on the junction of the A6, A421 and A428, about 15 miles from Milton Keynes and 18 miles from Luton. It is around 40 miles north of London and can be reached via the A421, from junction 13 of the M1 motorway. There are various car parks in Bedford town centre.

Start/finish points

Cycle path on Home Lane, Bedford beside the Market Place

Length

27 miles

Route description 

1 - Follow the cycle path to Kempston then join the main road, leading past the Saxon Centre and fork right at the roundabout into the High Street.

2 - Follow this road for 2 miles to Wootton and continue for 2 miles. Turn left to Lower Shelton and make sure to take the subway on the right, leading under the A421.

3 - At the end of Lower Shelton Road turn right into Marston Moretaine. Take the left turn to Millbrook and in 2 miles, just past Millbrook Proving Ground, turn right through Millbrook. At the roundabout turn left towards Ampthill. After about a mile, turn left again into Ampthill, passing Ampthill Park (which is a good place to stop and explore).

4 - In Ampthill, go left over the first mini roundabout and then straight over the second one into Church Street and continue for 1 mile to Maulden. Turn left at The Brache which is signposted to Haynes.

5 - Follow this lane to a t-junction and turn left towards Haynes - take care crossing at the A6 junction.

6 - Continue on this road through Haynes Church End and head towards Old Warden and Ireland. Pass across the A600 and then turn left and left again, following signs to Cardington. From the A600 to Cardington is approx 5 miles.

7 - In Cardington turn left and then in just under half a mile take the first left towards Harrowden. Take care and watch the traffic on the A600 as you turn right on the A507 at the end.

8 - Go straight across the roundabout into Eastcotts Road and then turn left into Cardington Road. Follow this road for about three quarters of a mile, going across the Beach Pool roundabout and following signs for the town centre. Turn left down Fenlake Road and join the signposted cycle track leading back to the town centre. Take care crossing Cardington Road and Longholme Way.

9 - The cycle route follows a path to the left of the Riverside Car Park - follow the signposted route, staying on the south side of the river and eventually passing under Town Bridge. Take a sharp left here to come out on St Mary’s Street. Join the traffic and follow the one-way system back around St Paul’s Square to Home Lane.

Pit stops/points of interest

Ampthill Park

Cardington Sheds

Bedford