Bedfordshire Festival of Autumn Walks 2026

The Bedfordshire Festival of Autumn Walks 2026 has yet again delivered a great event across the county. Feedback from last year was that there were too many walks in 2025, so this year a deliberate stance was taken to host fewer walks to ensure a good spread and attendance on those offered.

Support from walking groups

Firstly, we had the usual wonderful support from the four Bedfordshire Ramblers Groups, Leighton Buzzard, Lea & Icknield, Ivel Valley and North Beds. On top of the 33 walks we put on, we welcomed the following Ramblers Groups from across the county border – Stag Walkers, Hunts Ramblers, Northampton Ramblers, North Herts Ramblers and West Herts Ramblers who all contributed walks to the programme. We also included in the programme walks hosted by other non-Ramblers groups – various Wellbeing Walks, Forest of Marston Vale, Parish Walking and Wildlife, Bedford Tour Guides, Social Walking, Friends of Bedford Cemetery, Toddington Rambling Club, and Mindfulness and Massage, who taught us to "Walk like a Buddhist Monk"! New to the festival this year, we welcomed Wixam Walkers and Harrold and Odell Well being walks. Sadly the walk and sail boat trip with the John Bunyan Community Boat had to be cancelled due to staff shortages, but we hope it will feature in 2027. All this contributed to over 60 walks and events with over 820 walkers over the 9 days.

Walkers from far and wide

Behind the scenes we track attendance and how far people travel to walk with us – the winners for travel this year are walkers from as far afield as Belgium, India and the Falkland Islands, plus a canal boat resident – so a very mobile walker!

Training and challenges

Finally, what would our walking festival be without a training course and the regular Greensand Ridge Challenge (40 miles in 2 days). Thanks to Nick Markham for running the Introduction to Map Reading course and Ivel Valley and Roy Carter for the Greensand Ridge Challenge.

Thank you and looking ahead

All in all, it was a massive team effort with a number of shared interests – but at the heart of what we do, we all want to share our beautiful unsung county with as many people as possible and help to get people out walking! Thank you to all who contributed. See you in 2027.

Sandra Kelsey – Bedfordshire Area Publicity Officer

Photo – Sandra Kelsey