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Priory Country Park

2.61 miles (4.2 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Explore 360 acres of lakes, meadows and woodland, in this park situated on the river Great Ouse in Bedford. The park includes the pretty Priory Marina and lake which are perfect for a peaceful waterside walk or cycle. National Cycle Network route 51 passes through the park so you can continue your cycle on the Bedford to Sandy cycle route. For walkers the John Bunyan Trail passes through Bedford if you wish to continue your walk.
On the opposite side of the park there's also the Fenlake Meadows nature reserve. The meadows are the largest and best preserved flood plain grazing meadows in Bedfordshire. There's a circular footpath around the site though it can sometimes be flooded.

Priory Country Park OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Priory Country Park Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head into nearby Sandy and you can visit lovely Lodge Nature Reserve on the Sandy Walk. The reserve is notable as the headquarters of the RSPB and includes an excellent visitor centre with formal gardens and lots of wildlife.
Just to the east there's the delightful village of Great Barford. There's nice river trails along the Ouse, an ancient arched bridge and a notable church with a 15th century tower to see here.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Priory Country Park Visitor Centre - geograph.org.uk - 956743

Priory Country Park Visitor Centre. A plaque records that the country park was officially opened in September 1986 by Valerie Singleton on behalf of the RSNC British Wildlife Appeal, the park development having been grant-aided by the Countryside Commission.

Finger Lake at Priory Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 956720

Finger Lake

River Great Ouse, Priory Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 809291

River Great Ouse. The south of the country park is bounded by the River Great Ouse which here has a hotel on its bank.

Inverted Comma - geograph.org.uk - 956712

Inverted Comma. A Comma butterfly [Polygonia c-album] preferring an upside-down perching position near the lake at the coutnry park.

Duck feeding beach at Priory Park - geograph.org.uk - 3682973

Duck feeding beach at Priory Park

Path within Fenlake Meadows Local Nature Reserve - geograph.org.uk - 2605155

Path within Fenlake Meadows Local Nature Reserve

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Priory Country Park.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Priory Country Park.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)