Walking in Bedfordshire

A detailed guidebook to walking in Bedfordshire’s lowland landscapes, from chalk downs near Dunstable to clay country and marsh and fenland in the east. 32 circular full- and half-day walks for all seasons along rivers and higher ground, with copious local-interest information for both visiting and local explorers.

‘Alan Castle is probably better known to LDWA members as the Registrar of the Hillwalker’s Registers. Having trekked over twenty countries within Europe, Asia, Africa and Australasia, he has not only ‘come down to earth’ but has produced a book of walks that are almost at his back door. Although not primarily a book for the long distance walker – all 32 of the walks featured vary between 5 and 12 ml – with a little bit of map work it is possible to link a few of them to make a longer walk.
    Basically he has subdivided the county into three distinct areas – North, East and South Bedfordshire. The book contains the usual Introduction, sketch maps, OS maps required, points of interest on each walk and also places where refreshment is available. The walk directions are clear and explicit; I would expect nothing less from a man of his experience. Having done some walking in Bedfordshire I was able to relate to some of the points of interest featured.
    He gets off to a good start by making his first walk in the Dunstable downs area, where the highest point in the county can be found – all 797ft of it. This walk also passes the Whipsnade Tree Cathedral, a unique feature owned by the National Trust. If the kids are with you, they may want you to take them to see ‘Who’s Who at the Zoo’ at Whipsnade. On the subject of ‘Who’, on walk two there is a chance to visit Luton Hoo. It is enough to confuse the wisest of owls, who probably couldn’t care a wit.
    Other walks take one to the Warden, Galley, Barton and Pegsdon Hills. With the highest point being under 800ft these summits would be no problem for a long distance walker although a mole might struggle. To whet the appetite even further, the book contains some colour photographs and in the appendix at the back Alan lists 13 long distance paths that run, in part, through Bedfordshire although for one of these – Oxbridge Walk – the guidebook mentioned in the text is out of print and may not be re-issued. If you enjoy the occasional shorter ramble, why not give Bedfordshire a try? There is a possibility that the 2005 Chiltern Hundred may just creep into South Beds – though as the route is not yet devised that is pure speculation at the moment.’
(Les Maple, Strider August 2002)