Further Afield

An All Year Venue

At all times of the year you will see Swans, Canada and Greylag geese with a multitude of the indiginous duck population. You will see many keen exercisers, dog walkers and people who have come to feed the ducks and swans. There are also a number of facilities and cafes along the water front where you can pick up some refreshments. A place to enjoy and be closer to nature and open spaces.

The Bedford River Embankment on the bank of the River Great Ouse which runs down the centre of the town and the walkway goes through the majority of the middle of the town but there are areas of open green land to the west of the Bridge near Bedford College and to the east of the Bedford Town Bridge towards the boat club and the bandstand. It runs from the busy town centre further east towards the priory marina on the edge of town.

 

There are a number of older and more modern bridges to cross the river at chosen points. There is ready access for disabled crossing points too towards the town centre.

 

There are generally paths both on the north and the south side of the river in the town and bridges which cross the river onto the open grassland towards the boating lake.

Bedford River Festival

During the summer the embankment becomes the home and central focus for the Bedford River Festival

 

The river front is also the central point for the River Festival in the summer. The Bedford River Festival is held biannually in Bedford, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was founded in 1978 to celebrate the completion of a navigable route, by water, between Bedford and the coast and is held over a weekend, normally in July (originally it was held annually on the late May bank holiday). It is the main tourist-attracting event in the town.

• The 2008 Festival on the 12 & 13 July 2008 was the 30th anniversary festival.
  

It has several events and attractions over the two days, usually including bands on at least two stages, a road parade, boat shows/races, a raft race for local teams and a firework display. On the last occasion, it also had a salsa stage and a base jumping demo. Along with the normal attractions of the fun fair, the River Festival also hosted the sports village, where local sports clubs could come and demonstrate their wares.