GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

John Bunyan Trail

77 miles (124 km)

Follow in the footsteps of John Bunyan, the Puritan Evangelist and author of the book 'Pilgrim's Progress'. The walk visits many historic villages associated with Bunyan. It starts at Streatley and visits Sharpenhoe, Harlington, Westoning, Steppingley, Flitwick, Ampthill, Millbrook, Ridgmont, Cranfield, Bromham, Stevington, Pavenham, Oakley, Clapham, Bedford, Elstow, Shefford, Meppershall, Shillington, Hexton and Barton le Clay before returning to Streatley. There's some beautiful Bedfordshire countryside to enjoy including Sharpenhoe Clappers, the Barton Hills, the Pegsdon Hills and views of the Chiltern Hills for much of the walk.
The walk is waymarked with a white disc featuring a silhouette of John Bunyan.

John Bunyan Trail OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

John Bunyan Trail Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

One nice place to stop off at on the trail is the delightful village of Barton le Clay near Sharpenhoe. Here you'll find the 19th century Royal Oak which has good facilites with a car park and a lovely garden area to relax in on warmer days. There's also a good menu and fine selection of real ales. Highly recommended are their delicious pizzas! You can find the pub on the Bedford Road with postcode of MK45 4JX for your sat navs.
The Swan is located close to the river and mill in the pretty Bedfordshire village of Bromham. The Georgian Inn serves a good Sunday lunch and has a good selection of ales. You can find them at Bridge End with postcode MK43 8LS for your sat navs.
In Flitwick you can stop off at The Crown. They have a good menu and a lovely large garden area for warmer days. You can find them on Station Road at postcode MK45 1LA for your sat navs. The village is also worth exploring with a medieval church and the Georgian Flitwick Manor, which is Grade II listed. Just to the east there's also the Flitwick Moor Nature reserve to explore. The Site of Special Scientific Interest is the largest area of wetland in Bedfordshire. The circular walk from the village also visits Flitton where you'll find the De Grey Mausoleum. The English Heritage run site is one of the largest sepulchral chapels in the country. The Grade I listed Mausoleum contains over twenty monuments to the de Grey family who lived in nearby Wrest Park in Silsoe.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Some of the trail is suitable for cyclists with decent off road paths. See the video below for more details.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Bedfordshire Walks and Chilterns Walks pages.

Photos

Across The John Bunyan Trail - geograph.org.uk - 400451

Across The John Bunyan Trail near Shefford. Looking down to a river/irrigation canal from Rowney Warren Wood with the trail in the foreground. This area is also near to Chicksands Wood. There's lots of flora and fauna here with pretty bluebells in the spring and a variety of woodland birds.

Looking south on the John Bunyan Trail - geograph.org.uk - 81008

Looking south on the trail near Warden Hill and Galley Hill in Luton. Taken right in the middle of the grid square looking south. The square is almost entirely cultivated farmland, so I've added a splash of colour from the hedgerows!

Between Steppingley and Flitwick from near John Bunyan trail - geograph.org.uk - 430599

Field of poppies between Steppingley and Flitwick from near the trail. Steppingley road in the distance; electric pylon gives a link to the OS map; white building on right is part of Maulden Road industrial estate in Flitwick.

John Bunyan Trail and River Ouse - geograph.org.uk - 507354

River Ouse at Stevington. The wood on the left is called "Wood Craft" on the 1:25000 map.

John Bunyan Trail enters Wootton - geograph.org.uk - 474346

The trail enters Wootton. View from the footpath as it comes into Hall End, Wootton

John Bunyan Trail towards Sharpenhoe - geograph.org.uk - 437900

Towards Sharpenhoe. Sharpenhoe Clappers in the distance

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

John Bunyan Trail.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')

Memory Map Route

John Bunyan Trail.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Share>Save to Files)