2015 is also Discover Bedfordshire year (well in Jillworld, it is). It is all part of my cunning plan to conduct a Grand Tour of Britain. Deciding not to wait 2950 days till my retirement, I'm starting at the beginning of the alphabet in tiny little Beds. On my to-do list are walks, historic houses, museums and industrial heritage. I also hope to find some interesting but less well known sites and scenes.
Waltham Abbey, Essex
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Lee Valley Park - acres of lakes for birdlife, canoeing, wild water rafting, great for walking or cycling, plenty of pubs and cafes. Easily accessible by public transport. The Lee Valley Walk is one of the capitals strategic routes and well worth exploring.
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Epping Forest, Essex
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| View from the View |
Epping Forest stretches from Newham in the south, through Waltham Forest to Epping in Essex. Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge where we based our walk is easily accessible by public transport from Chingford.
Hanningfield Reservoir, near Chelmsford, Essex
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A short walk from the Pathfinder book a few miles west of Bedford.
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Pavenham, Bedfordshire
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| A view across the Great Ouse Valley south towards the Chilterns |
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Bedford, Bedfordshire
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| View from the Castle Mound |
I've just spend two of the chilliest days this or any other year exploring the delights of Bedford, former county town and charter borough since 1166. Day one was spent following the town trail and the second a walk around the southern part of the town from the Pathfinder book. Bedford has a most attractive river front and the Higgins Art Gallery and Museum was more interesting than I expected.
