Guide to Rural England – Bedfordshire
It may be the third smallest county in
England, after Rutland and the Isle of Wight,
but Bedfordshire offers multifarious delights.
It’s a county of picturesque villages and
historic houses, mills and farms, woodland and
nature reserves, great views from the Chilterns
escarpment and with well-established walking
and cycle routes. In the Bedfordshire
heartlands are to be found two of England’s
leading animal attractions, Woburn Safari Park
and Whipsnade Wildlife Park.
The Great Ouse and the Grand Union
Canal, once commercial arteries, are finding a
new role as leisure attractions, with miles of
scenic walks or leisurely cruises to be
enjoyed. The south of the county is
dominated by the towns of Luton and
Dunstable, while the central region of
Bedfordshire is an area of ancient
settlements and a rich diversity of places to see. Here is perhaps the most impressive
dovecote in the country, with nests for 1500
birds, while just outside Sandy is the
headquarters of the Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds.
At nearby Cardington,
the skyline is dominated by the huge hangars
where the R100 and R101 airships were built.
Houghton House at Houghton Conquest is
widely believed to have been the inspiration
for the House Beautiful in John Bunyan’s
The Pilgrim’s Progress. Bunyan was born in the
village of Elstow, a little way south of
Bedford, and many of the places most closely
associated with the writer can be visited, in
both the town and the village. Bedford, the
county capital, offers a blend of history and
modern amenity, all set against the backdrop
of the River Great Ouse, which passes
through the town and many pleasant villages
on its journey across the county.
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