A. Park in the free car parking spaces on Mill Lane and put in beside the bridge, turning right to begin your journey. The river is small and pretty above Bedford.

B. At just over 2 miles two railway bridges mark the approach to Bedford town. Paddlers should keep to the right side of the river to avoid the many rowers.

C .There are two road bridges, then your first weir at Bedford Town Lock, with a portage on the right side. There is parking here on the Embankment, the south side of the river.

D. At the next weir stream, there is a landing for public toilets and refreshments (café open summer weekends), near to the boating lake. This is a popular recreational area, and very busy on a summer’s day. The river is split by a major island, and portaging around the right side soon after the bridge avoids another portage further down, where there is a weir on the left side.

E. The river splits further down. This is a constant feature of the Ouse, where ‘cuts’ were built in former days to by-pass weirs, and insert a lock for boats. The New Cut leaves on the left side, and the original river course takes a large loop to the right around Priory Country Park.

F. After this point, motor cruisers are encountered much more. At 4.5 miles is Cardington Lock, with the river splitting again. The main river goes left through the lock, the right branch being the natural river. Facilities for stopping here, with picnic tables.

G. The New Cut re-joins after half a mile and at around 6.5 miles is Castle Mills Lock, with a portage right at the canoe platforms.

H. The river leaves Bedford behind, passes under the main A421 road, and becomes more rural, with flooded gravel pits, and woodland. The river valley shows plenty of former occupation by both the Danes and Jutes, with earthworks on the banks.

I. The river winds to the right, near to the village of Willington and at 8 miles is the Danish Camp cafe on the right bank, near to the ancient site of old Danish docks.

J. Willington Lock has a portage right at canoe platforms. It is only a short distance to Great Barford, about a mile. The village is announced by a beautiful bridge, a long affair over the floodplain. The landing is just after it on the left bank. It is only a short distance up the grassy bank to the road for parking.