Best in Bed(fordshire) is restricted to the River Great Ouse. Its the main river in the county and flows quite near to where Digger lives. Despite the fact it flows through Milton Keynes and Newport Pagnell it is a “wild” swimmers paradise.
River Great Ouse (Clapham)
(a THREE TRUNK location)
Location
At the southern end of the village of Clapham (c. 1km north of Bedford). Park in the car park of the Horse and Groom (or any nearby side road) and take the track called Ford End c. 300m to south of pub. Walk 20m and you reach the river because there is a ford! There are good stretches of deep water to the north and a rope swing to the south of the ford. Not sure why its taken me so long to find this spot!
Grid ref
TL 034/523
Features
Easy parking, easy access and nearby pub.
Hazards
None really (probably should mention swans and that it does get shallow very quickly near the ford).
Date of swims
- First: summery 2005
- Last: May 2019
River Great Ouse (at Felmersham Bridge)
(FOUR TRUNK location and that’s me being very mean!)
Location
By the bridge at Felmersham, near to the Church (approx 9 miles north of Bedford). If you swim downstrean or upstream of bridge its usually quieter!
Grid Ref
SP990/578
Features
Shallow and deep water, “arch swimming”, “bridge” jumping (with extreme care) and the ability to park next to the location (record entry time is 6 seconds from parking to entry into river). Nearby pub “The Sun” good for beer (but rubbish for veggie food) is only 5mins walk away.
Hazards
Locals generally friendly but can get fed up if people park badly and leave rubbish (sadly this has been quite common). Fishermen can be hostile on the downstream stretch if they are “doing their thing”. Watch out if you are swimming by the bridge as it has been known for occasional projectiles to be thrown into the river from passing cars (they can’t actually see you and presumably think the river is a litter bin!).
Date of Swims
- Summer 1996
- Last: ongoing (2023)
River Great Ouse (at “Felmersham Bend”, approx. halfway between Sharnbrook and Felmersham)
(A former FOUR TRUNK location but which has been downgraded to TWO TRUNK as access not good at the moment due to undergrowth and difficulty getting out of the river etc)
Location
In-between the villages of Sharnbrook and Felmersham (approx 8 miles north of Bedford).
Grid Ref
SP993/582
Features
Reasonably deep water and you can find slow or slow currents depending on what you prefer. There is good shade from trees and good stretches of swimming water. Also for a spot only 5m from a public footpath its surprisingly secluded!!
Hazards
Increasingly difficult to access due to river side undergrowth. Also, can be tricky to get out so save some energy incase you need to use alot of your reserves to get out or swim to another exit.
Date of Swims
- First swim: summer 1996
- Last swim: July 2023
River Great Ouse (at Odell Mill)
(2020 UPATE: This was once a FIVE TRUNK location, but sadly now is a NO TRUNKS location- some nasty people erected a substantial fence a decade or so ago which hinders access for swimmers (anglers have their own gate).
Location
Immediately behind the Bell pub in Odell village (c. 9km north of Bedford)
Grid Ref
SP966/576
Features
Shallow and deep water, easy parking, fast flowing water and the pub.
Hazards
The pub can be a hazard (please visit it AFTER your swim, you know it makes sense). “Bizzy bodies” telling you that you should’t be swimming in a river!
Date of Swims
- First: summer 1997
- Last: September 2011
River Great Ouse (at Red Barn nr Daisy Bank)
(This was once a FOUR TRUNK location but is now a ONE TRUNK location as the river bank is so overgrown that access is nearly impossible)
Location
There is a 1km stretch where a footpath is directly adjacent to the river. This is c. 100m from the road between the villages of Felmersham and Carlton near Daisy Bank (a dog kennel you will hear!). If you pick your time right (no anglers and vegetation low) there are plenty of spots to access the river. At worst, there are usually two spots that I give grid references for where access is ok (but not necessarily great). 
Grid Ref
SP981/577 (to East) and SP975/577 (nearer Red Barn)
Features
Both swim spots feature shallow and deep water, easy parking and at the western one there use to be what appeared to be diving boards (see photo), but this has now gone!
Hazards
Fishermen can be hostile and Swans are always hostile (or is that the other way round!).
Date of Swims
- First: summer 1996
- Last: summer 2020 (thats if you can call it a swim!)
River Great Ouse (at Pinchmill Islands nr Sharnbrook)
(This was once a FIVE TRUNK location but got downgraded due to difficult access so its currently a THREE TRUNK location)
2023 UPDATE: The annual duckweed coverage has arrived meaning that while you can still swim, when you get out you will look as green as the incredible hulk!
Location
0.5 km south of Sharnbrook (approx 8 miles north of Bedford)
Grid Ref
SP996/588
Features
Shallow and deep water, fresh running water input (although this has usually stopped by mid summer) and small weir under the foot bridge for exciting sounds (and swimming). Use to have adjacent attractive grass area for sun bathing (but only available when cut which rarely occurs these days). Access is variable due to overgrown banks but has been good in 2020.
[There is a nearby swim spot that I view as being allocated to the local youth. Details only available on the Dark Web version of this site (joke)]
Hazards
Access has changed over the years so the best “way in” currently is via the bridge or one of the fishing spots (watch out for hooks and wire).
Date of Swims
- First: summer 1996
- Last: ongoing (2022)
River Great Ouse (Radwell)
(a TWO TRUNK location, higher if you are a trainspotter!!)
Location
Walk along the footpath upstream of Radwell. The are only really a couple of “easy” access (and therefore all important exit) points to the river. The best swim is probably next to the railway bridge.
Grid Ref
TL 008/570
Features
Great for trainspotters (I would imagine!!)
Hazards
I guess there is a 1 in a billion chance that one of the trains will come off the bridge! Also the current can be quite strong downsteam of the bridge. But other than that watch out for fishermen and Canadian Geese. Neither are necessarily friendly.
Date of Swims
- First: summer 1996
- Last: August 2020
River Great Ouse (at Hollow Farm nr Milton Ernest)
(A ONE TRUNK location as access is increasingly difficult)
!!! PHOTO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST !!!
Location
Approx 0.5km north of Milton Ernest adjacent to the A6. Park by the entrance to the sewage works (!) and follow footpath or just hop over fence.
Grid Ref
SP017/572
Features
Reasonable flow of water, but its main merits are that it is approx 1m walk from the A6 (but hidden from it).
Hazards
The only one of worthy of a mention are the large number of biting insects, that assuming that you go upstream of the Sewage Works!!).
Date of Swims
- First: summer 1996
- Last: May 2022
River Great Ouse (near Pavenham)
(A FOUR TRUNK location)
Location
Take the footpath that goes south of Pavenham towards Stevington. A good swim spot is just before the “muddy area” (understatement) to the north of Tuckers Islands.
Grid Ref
TL 983/548
Features
Shallow and deep water, good place for a clean (of self and clothes) if you got stuck in the mud.
Hazards
The cows looked interested in our clothes but they never stole them.
Date of swims
- FIRST SWIM: Summer 1996.
- LAST SWIM: July 2022
River Great Ouse (on Biddenham Loop)
(A FOUR TRUNK location.)
Location
Theres a river walk on the east bank (Biddenham Loop side) from which access is relatively easy. I used a fishermans area just opposite Kempston Box End.
Grid Ref
TL 003/492
Features
Good stretches of deep water and the knowledge that people have lived next to the river here for 10,000 years (buy the book “Prehistoric and Romano-British landscape at Biddenham Loop”, when it come out).
Hazards
Watch out for fishing line and hooks (AND anglers) as this is a popular stretch of river for fishing.
Date of Last Swim
August 2006
River Great Ouse (at The Embankment, Bedford)
(A real TWO TRUNK location.)
Location
Centre of Bedford with best access from the road called The Embankment.
Grid Ref
SP055/494
Features
Handy for last minute High Street shopping especially cheap towels from Wilkinsons (should you have forgotten!). There is also an hotel called The Embankment which has a bar which is fine for ordinary people to go in.
Hazards
I suppose it would be negligent to mention the deaths and the deep cuts on legs from “underwater obstructions” (usually shopping trolleys). Best to go in under the cover of the bi-annual raft-race (see photo above).
Date of Last Swim
Early July 2002
River Ivel, Langford Mill, nr Biggleswade
(THREE TRUNK location)
Location
Take road (possibly called Mill Road) off B659 in centre of village of same name. At end of the road you are at the mill and there is even soom adjacent parking.
Grid ref
TL 183/413
Features
Put simply. You can park you car and be in the water in 30 seconds. There is deep and shallow water. There is slow and fast water (subject to time of year). Apparently Zoe (a Swim the Door veteran) has swam here and although she showed me the place I have never actually seen her in the water…………….
Hazards
Be careful near the mill as the water can be fast and there are some underwater obstacles (possibly concrete!)
Date of swims
- First: summer 2012
- Last: summer 2019
