Walking has many benefits, from keeping you fit to improving your well-being. It’s also the best option for travel journeys that are fewer than two miles and can be combined with other methods to cover longer distances.
There are over 2,200 kilometres of public rights of way throughout the Bedfordshire countryside to be enjoyed, whether by footpath, bridleway or byway.
For more on walking and walking routes in the local area:
- walks, rides and countryside activities – Chilterns National Landscape – news and information about walking in the Chilterns area
- Living Streets – UK charity for everyday walking
- Sustrans – UK charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle
Report an issue
If you spot a maintenance problem whilst walking, you can report an issue.
Local Access Forum
The Local Access Forum is an independent advisory body working with us and Central Bedfordshire Council to improve your enjoyment of Bedfordshire and Luton's countryside whilst safeguarding its future.
Rights of way
Landowners can take steps to prevent rights of way being established across their land or their land being registered as a town or village green.
Safer travel to school
Not only is walking to school a fun and healthy way to get to school, it helps prepare children with the basic life skills they need such as personal safety and road safety skills.
Go to safer travel to school.
Walking clubs
We're lucky enough to have areas of beautiful countryside in Bedfordshire, and lots of groups that organise regular walks for you to join.
Some groups may require membership and/or fees.
- Meetup – walking groups in Bedfordshire
- Bedfordshire Walking Club
- Bedfordshire Ramblers
- Walking in Bedfordshire
- The Bogtrotters
- Leighton Buzzard Ramblers
Our challenges
Just a 30-minute walk, cycle or wheeling once a day can make a huge difference to your health and wellbeing, reducing stress and improving productivity.
We are inviting all businesses and voluntary organisations in Luton to challenge their staff to join in and support our Stride and Ride walking, wheeling and cycling challenge. Get in touch and start the challenge!
You need to form a team of three or enter individually
The eligibility criteria is:
- you work for a Luton-based business or voluntary organsation
- you can provide evidence of recorded daily and weekly step count totals
The prize categories are:
- most improved average group step/point count
- most improved individual step/point count
- highest accumulated group step/point count
- highest accumulated individual step/point count
- best “Spring into wellbeing” photo entry taken out and about on your activity
Email: Sustainability@bedsft.nhs.uk