Other Cycle Rides
Routes North of Bedford
A circular route (33 miles) visiting thirteen villages starting from Harrold Country Park and visiting Harrold, Hinwick, Podington, Wymington, Newton Bromswold, Yielden, Swineshead, Riseley, Sharnbrook, Pertenhall, Keysoe, Chadwell End, Green End, Hatch End, Thurleigh and Bletsoe.
A looping route (16 miles) going north from Bedford via Bromham, Oakley, Pavenham, Felmersham, Odell, Chellington, Carlton, Stevington and back to Bromham.
A 39km (26 mile) circular route starting in Bedford and taking in the villages of Salph End, Wilden, Honeydon, Staploe, Duloe and then St Neots before returning via Colmworth, Wilden, Ravensden and back to Bedford.
Routes South of Bedford
The Marston Vale Country Park in Marston Moretaine contains a 8km (5 miles) circular off-road ride around Forest Valley Centre. Access if necessary from Bedford can be obtained using the Marston Vale Bedford to Bletchley railway line and dismounting at either Stewartby or Millbrook. Please note there is no Sunday service.
A 40km (27 mile) circular route starting in Bedford and taking in the villages of Cardington, Ampthill, Maulden, Millbrook, Marston Moretaine, Lower Shelton, Upper Shelton, Wootton, Kempston and back to Bedford.
A 46 km (28 mile) circular cycle ride on quiet roads starting from the attractive Georgian market town of Ampthill, situated on the sandy soils of the Greensand Ridge, around the most industrial brick-worked landscapes of Stewartby and Marston Moretaine, through the county town of Bedford on the River Great Ouse and across the Estate-owned landscapes around Cardington and back up onto the Greensand Ridge to Haynes and Maulden. Cardington is famous for its two airship ‘sheds’, built in 1915 by the Short Brothers and housing the famous R101 airship.
A 35km (21 mile) circular cycle ride on the quiet lanes and roads of East Bedfordshire and around the villages of Potton, Gamlingay, Steeple Morden and Wrestlingworth.
A 37km (23 mile) circular route which includes 5.5 miles around the lakeside and parkland of Marston Vale. On leaving the park, the remainder of the cycle trail uses a series of ‘B’ roads and country lanes that meander through the villages of Wootton, Wood End, Stagesden, Astwood, Bourne End and Cranfield.
Old Warden - Cardington - Cople
A 25km (16 mile) circular cycle ride along quiet country lanes across the rolling hills and fine parkland of the Greensand Ridge and the Shuttleworth Estate.
A 37km (24 mile) circular route starting at Bedford Priory Park and taking in the villages of Cardington, Ireland, Southill, Old Warden, Ickwell, Northill, Moggerhanger, Blunham, Great Barford, Willington and back to Bedford.
A 34km (21 mile) circular cycle ride - a mixture of on and off roads - amongst the rolling hills of the Greensand Ridge taking you through the villages of Shefford, Meppershall, Gravenhurst, Shillington and Barton.
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Other Maps
Explore Route 51 - The University Way
A 51km (32 mile) section of the National Cycle Network Route 51 between Milton Keynes, Bedford and Sandy. The leaflet was reprinted in 2007 by CCNB. The current route goes over the new A421 dual carriageway between Marston Moretaine and Wood End Lane.
Although the National Cycle Network Route 51 continues on to Cambridge, from Blunham it is an extended route via St Neots, Huntingdon and St Ives. Two shorter more direct routes exist, one via Toft and the other via Cambourne.
The National Byway is a 5,311km (3,300 mile) sign-posted leisure cycling route round England and parts of Scotland and Wales. The section through Bedfordshire runs in an arc from Everton in the east to Woburn in the the west. This section of the route was signed in 2004 using the brown finger sign with a cycle.
The Sandy Green Wheel is being developed as a 9.5km (6 mile) walking and cycling route around the town, passing through and beside areas of landscape, heritage and wildlife interest. The entire Green Wheel is now in place and able to be used as a walking route. Further works are planned for the coming years to enable paths to be upgraded and promoted for cycling too.
A map of the Sandy cycle netwotk can be seen here.
The Biggleswade Green Wheel is being developed as a 12.0km (7.5 mile) walking and cycling route around the town, passing through and beside areas of landscape, heritage and wildlife interest.
A map of the Biggleswade cycle netwotk can be seen here.
A 38km (24 mile) ride across the open, hilly landscape around Potton, Sandy and Everton follows the escarpment between Sandy and Gamlingay where the Greensand Ridge meets the Oxford Clay. Hassells Hedge is an old Roman Road linking Baldock to Godmanchester and Tempsford Airfield (now disused) was used by the Special Operations Executive during WWII. The areas of sandy soils around Potton were once heathy commons and at The Lodge, the RSPB’s UK headquarters, much heathland has been restored to attract rare birds and other wildlife
Bridleways
Bridleways are designed for horses and walkers. Cyclists can also use them, but the surfaces are only likely to be usable by mountain bikers (and not always even for those bikes). Within Bedford Borough there are a total of 350km with an additional 34km of Public Byways (BOATS) which can also be used by cyclists. A number of historic long distance and short bridleways pass through Bedfordshire.
The Skylark Ride crosses the gently rolling countryside in the east of Bedfordshire, typical habitat for the Skylark and one of the few places where the songbird is still commonly seen. The full route is 32km (20 miles) long and there are shorter circuits starting from 10km (6 miles). 80% of the route is off-road making use of the bridleway network. The road sections, where possible, follow quiet country roads.
Three Shires Way is a long distance bridleway which runs for 60km (37 miles) from Tathall End and the Swan's Way in Buckinghamshire, through Bedfordshire, to a circular route around Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire. It traces outlines of ancient trackways, skirts several historic villages and meanders through remnants of ancient woodland.
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St Neots
There are a number of cycle routes from St Neots namely;
A 30-38km (19-24 mile) circular route to Kimbolton
A 13-30km (8-19 mile) route to The Gransdens
A 14-29km (8-18 mile) circular route to Yelling
A 24km (15 mile) circular route to Buckden
as well as ones for St Neots itself and the surrounding area which can be accessed from the St Neots Cycle Routes site.
Huntingdon
Huntingdon Cycling and Walking Network
A map showing the existing and proposed network as of 2009.
Other cycle routes from Huntindon and the surrounding area can be accessed from the Huntindon Cycle Routes site.
Cambridge
Cycle routes in Cambridge and the surrounding area can be accessed from the Cambridge Cycle Routes site.
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes Council Heritage Unit in 2008 published four cycle maps for people to discover some of the magnificent scenery and hidden heritage that Milton Keynes has to offer. All of them can be accessed from Bedford, if necessary using the Marston Vale Bedford to Bletchley railway line.
A 24km (15 mile) circular cycle route starting from Willen Lake south.
A 35km (22 miles) circular cycle route starting from Willen Lake south. A shorter 19km (12 mile) route is available.
A 20km (12.6 miles) circular cycle route starting from Willen Lake south. A shorter 7km (4.5 mile) route is available.
A 34km (21 miles) circular cycle route starting from Furzton Lake north side. A shorter 13km (8 mile) route is available.