Footpaths of the River Great Ouse
Along the Ouse River valley in East Anglia, England.
1. Upstream of Bedford.
2. Bedford to Great Barford.
(Ouse Valley Way Extension)
3. Great Barford to Roxton.
(Ouse Vally Way Extension)
4. Roxton to Eaton Socon.
(Ouse Valley Way Extension)
Your help is needed.
5. Eaton Socon to Earith.
( Ouse Valley Way)
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1. Upstream of Bedford (OS Map Explorer 208).
Public footpaths exist going upstream from Bedford Town Bridge on both banks of the river, with connections across the river by footbridges at intervals. After about 2 miles the footpath on the North bank ends (at a footbridge). After a further half mile, the footpath on the South bank reaches the pretty hamlet of Kempston Church End where it leaves the river and joins the road.
Upsteam of this point there is no connected footpath along the Ouse, although some small stretches of the Ouse are served by public footpath. A circular walk leaflet giving walks along the Ouse in Bedford are available from Bedford Tourist Office, St Pauls Square, Bedford. Walk 1 of
Bedford's Riverside Walks gives a 5 mile walk upstream of Bedford.
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2. Bedford to Great Barford (OS Map Explorer 208).
Footpaths run from the Town Bridge downstream on both sides of the river.
On the south side of the river the path follows the recently opened Ouse Valley Way Extension from Bedford to Eaton Socon crossing to the north side as it leaves Bedford. Leaflets are available on the route from the Ivel Valley Countryside Project, e-mail Ivelvalley@cix.co.uk.
The walks leaflet Bedford Riverside Walks (available from Bedford Tourist Office, St Pauls Square, Bedford) describes the route along the embankment through Bedford and across Priory Park on the outskirts of Bedford to Cardington Lock. Beyond Cardington Lock the waymarked footpath follows the Ouse Valley Way to Great Barford arriving at Barford Bridge opposite the Anchor Pub.
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3. Great Barford to Roxton (OS Map Explorer 208).
Although a Public Right of Way follows the North bank of the Ouse downstream from Barford Bridge, it is not possible to continue towards Roxton this way. This footpath crosses the lock bridge some 200m downstream and proceeds away from the river towards Blunham. Unfortunately the Ouse Valley Way has to follow the road East passing the Anchor Pub and Church on your left, to find a waymarked footpath on your right by the Sewerage Works after about 1/2 km. Follow the left and right turns in this path to the river bank and then turn left to follow the bank all the way to a fingerpost pointing left (North) to Roxton Village. Note that on the way the right of way passes on the river side of a house by the river, crossing the lawns which run down to the river. To get to Roxton Lock, follow the sign at the finger post pointing straight on.
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4. Roxton to Eaton Socon (OS Map Explorer 208).
The connection between Roxton and Eaton Socon cannot be made along the banks of the River Ouse. Although public footpaths exist for part of the way along the Eastern Bank, both downstream from Roxton and upstream from Eaton Socon, they do not connect and require extensive road walking. The Ouse Valley Way is to be extended from Eaton Socon into Bedford, but the section between Eaton Socon and Roxton Lock requires walking along part of the A1 and on a minor road through Wyboston village. There are public rights of way which would significantly reduce the road walking and eliminate the part of the route along the A1 trunk road. Unfortunately these paths are blocked and Bedfordshire County Council has deemed them "not needed for public use" on the grounds that you can walk along the road. If you would prefer to walk along a footpath, please write or e-mail Bedfordshire County Council and tell them you would like to use the public rights of way across Rookery Road Wyboston, between points 7 and 8 on the Ouse Valley way extension brochure or details from A10E & A9 Roxton Footpaths. Your letter could be important in improving the route. If you want more details of the woeful attempt to extinguish these footpaths please e-mail me, jackpike@bigfoot.com.
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5. Eaton Socon to Earith (OS Maps Explorer 208 & 225).
The Ouse Valley Way Footpath runs from Eaton Socon to Earith. Walk leaflets are available from Tourist Information Centre, Huntingdon Library, Prices Street, Huntingdon, Cambridge (telephone (01480)-425831). The set of 7 leaflets describe the route in approximately 5 mile sections.
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Last modified 21 Oct 2001.