Bedfordshire

October Half Term in Dunstable 2023

October 12, 2023 by Penny Leave a Comment

With the Half Term fast approaching I’ve been pulling together a local guide for October Half Term in and around Dunstable. There’s an obvious Halloween slant to some of the events being held, but it’s also possible to find some non-spooky attractions to take your little ones to.

In Dunstable

Pumpkin Party at The Quadrant Shopping Centre

Organised by Dunstable Town Council there is a FREE Pumpkin party taking place in The Quadrant Shopping Centre on Wednesday 25 October from 11am to 2pm. There’s a pumpkin trail, arts and crafts, face painting and spooky golf. Full details here.

Dunstable Library Halloween Party

Promising ghoulish games and creepy crafts, Dunstable Library is hosting a Halloween Party for children aged 8+ on Thursday 26 October from 6.30 – 8pm. Call the library on 0300 300 8056 to book your FREE ticket. There’s also a prize for the best fancy dress. Further details here.

Houghton Hall Park Halloween Potion Trail

Taking place on Sunday 29 October from 11am to 3pm Houghton Hall Park is hosting a Halloween Potion Trail for children aged 3+. “Houghton, the witches cat, is on a mission to find the missing recipe for his mistresses’ magic potion which has been jumbled up by the naughty Halloween ghost. With the aid of your magical spy glasses help him decipher the recipe then come back to the Visitors Centre to claim your prize and make your own potion!” The trail costs £6 per child and you must book a timeslot in advance vis their website here.

A Witch In the Woods at the Dunstable Downs

Running all week from Saturday 21st to Sunday 29th October The National Trust team at the Dunstable Downs is running a Witch in the Woods trail and craft activity for children. “Our resident witch needs a helping hand to bring the magic back to her woodland home. Make your very own wand and join us on this mystical trail down to Chute Wood”. This costs £3 per trail and craft and no booking is necessary, just turn up at the Visitors’ Centre. Full details here.

Spooky Afternoon Tea at the Dunstable Downs

Children can enjoy a scary sandwich, spooky sweet treat and spell-binding soft drink at the Dunstable Downs visitors’ centre from Monday 23rd to Friday 27th October from 12 noon to 3pm. This costs £8.95 per child (and £5.95 per adult – for coffee/tea and seasonal cake) and you need to book in advance which you can do here.

The Sooty Show at the Grove Theatre

Sooty, Sweep and Soo are celebrating 75 years in show business with a special party performance at Dunstable’s Grove Theatre at 2.30pm on Saturday 28 October. With tonnes of laughter and audience participation The Sooty Show is the perfect family trip out to round off half term. Tickets are available via The Grove Theatre’s Box Office here.

Forest School Session for SEND Children

A FREE Forest School session of activities and a hot chocolate and a biscuit for SEND children aged 3-7 and their families (siblings welcome up to the age of 12). CHildren must be accompanied by a parent/carer. This session will take place in all weathers so please make sure you are all dressed appropriately.

This event is run by Dunstable Children’s Centre, Oakwood Avenue, Dunstable and takes place there on Wednesday 27th October between 10.00am and 11.30am. Numbers are limited so please contact the children’s centre to book, or for any other enquiries. Call 0300 300 8104 or email dunstablechildrenscentres@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Sketch and Paint at Dunstable Library

A FREE event for children aged 5+, led by library staff that will include a range of different materials to use as well as guidance books and sheets. Book via the library. Either in person or on 0300 300 8056. Full details here.

Spooky Movie Night at Dunstable Library

Children ages 8+ are invited to Dunstable Library for a spooky movie night on Saturday 28 October from 4.30pm – 6pm. Tickets are FREE, but book via the library on 0300 300 8056. Full details here.

Just outside Dunstable

Boo at the Zoo at Whipsnade Zoo

Boo at the Zoo returns to Whipsnade Zoo from 21st to the 29th October with a theme of unseen animals – children will get to learn all about the animals who prefer nighttime. There are loads of activities including a halloween disco, a monstrous magic show, a costume contest, spooky storytelling, a ghoulish ghost tour, creepy crafts and pumpkin painting (an extra charge for this), a ghostly trail on The Great Whipsnade Railway (again, an additional charge for this), and animal talks about those nighttime preferring animals.

Normal zoo tickets are required (book here) and as pointed out above, some of the activities do have a separate charge. Full details of Boo at the Zoo are here.

Halloween Fun at Woodside Animal Farm

From Saturday 21st through to Sunday 29th October there is Halloween fun at Woodside Animal Farm in the form of finding witches and ghosts hidden around the farm to win a spooky treat, make a halloween decoration to take home and decorate a yummy spooky cookie. In addition, if you find the golden pumpkin hidden at the farm you can also win a super special prize. For an extra charge you can also pick your own pumpkin from their pumpkin corner. Tickets are £15 each for adults and children, and £5 for child members. Tickets for the Halloween Fun can be booked online here.

Freaky Fun Fest at Mede Open Farm

Running for the whole of half term week (21st to 29th October) the Freaky Fun Fest at Mede Open Farm gives you a Spooktacular family day out all included in your ticket price. There is a new new Freaky Flamenco Fiesta Circus and three spooky walkthrough attractions. Each child can pick a free pumpkin in their pumpkin patch and there’s a Monster Mash Mission to complete too. If you book your tickets online you also get a 20% discount on the gate price. Full details of the event are here, along with a link to book tickets.

In Luton

The Unscaredy Scaredy Cat Book Launch at Luton Hat Factory

Formy Books is holding a party to celebrate the publication of their new picture book – The Unscaredy Scaredy Cat. This FREE event is taking place at the Hat Factory Arts Centre on Saturday 21st October from 1 – 4pm and promises books, activities and goodie bags for the children. Full details here.

Hotel Transylvania at Luton Hat Factory Arts Centre

As part of the Family Film Club the Luton Hat Factory Arts Centre is showing the PG rated film Hotel Transylvania on Saturday 21st October at 10.30am. Tickets are £3.50 each (adult or child) or you can buy four tickets for £12. Tickets need to be booked in advance and you can do so here.

Steel Pan Workshop at Stockwood Discover Centre

Ever wanted to learn to play Steel Pan? This is your chance with a workshop at the Stockwood Discovery Centre on Tuesday 24 October. With a guidance of being suitable for children aged 6+ there are two workshops (11.30am and 2pm) but tickets are selling fast. They need to be booked in advance here.

Wow! Said the Owl at Stockwood Discover Centre

Based on Tim Hopgood’s picture book, Wow! Said the Owl is a magical combination of storytelling, puppetry and music for 2 to 5 year olds at Stockwood Discovery Centre. There are two performances on Sunday 22nd October (11.30am and 2pm) and tickets should be booked in advance here.

African Drumming Workshop at Stockwood Discovery Centre

A child only workshop for children aged 6+ at Stockwood Discovery Centre on 26 October gives children the opportunity to the beautiful djembe drums and learn the intricacies of playing West-African rhythms. The costs £6 per child (plus booking fees) for a 1 hour workshop and you can book in advance for either the 11.30am or 2pm sessions here.

All Aboard! Ship Inspired Carnival Costume Making at Stockwood Discovery Centre

The UK Centre for Carnival Arts is running a ship inspired carnival costume making session at the Stockwood Discovery Centre on Wednesday 25th and Friday 27th October. All ages are welcome and there is a charge of £4 per child for the 1 hour session. There are four different time slots each day (11.30am, 12.30pm. 1.30pm and 2.30pm) and you can book in advance here.

In St Albans

The Big Draw at St Albans Museum and the Verulamium Museum

The St Albans Museum and Gallery and the Verulamium Museum in St Albans are both taking part in The Big Draw during October half term. The theme is “drawing with senses” so pick up a pack at the front desk and try some of the suggestions as you explore and draw. At the St Albans Museum head up to the Assembly Rooms where on Monday – Friday there will be some drawing activities for your to try. Admission to the St Albans Museum is free. There is a charge to visit the Verulamium Museum if you are not a St Albans resident. Suitable for all ages. At the St Albans Museum The Big Draw is available Monday 23rd to Friday 27th October from 11am to 5pm. At the Verulamium Museum it is 12 noon to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and additionally 11 am to 3.30pm on Saturday 28th October.

Paint your own Mug at the St Albans Museum

To fit in with their Time for Tea exhibition children age 8+ are invited to paint their own mug on Tuesday 24th October at the St Albans Museum. All materials and instructions will be provided at a cost of £7.50 per child. You will need to place your mug in the oven at home afterwards to make it dishwasher proof. The sessions run either at 1.45pm – 3pm or 3pm – 4.15pm. Pre-booking is essential here.

Make your own Tea Pet at St Albans Museum

Apparently in the Gong-Fu tea ceremony there is often a small figurine on the side of the tray, made from leftover clay, to keep the drinker company, meaning they never drink alone. This is a tea pet. Children aged 5+ will be able to learn all about tea pets before making one of their own out of polymer clay. You’ll then need to take your pet home and pop them in the oven to make them hard. Sessions run from 1.45 – 2.45pm and 3 – 4pm on Wednesday 25th October at the St Albans Museum. Pre-booking is available here.

Make a Roman Oil Lamp at the Verulamium Museum, St Albans

Children aged 4+ are invited to the Verulamium Museum in St Albans on Thursday 26th October to make a clay lamp, just like those the Romans used to use to light their homes, fuelled by olive oil. Sessions run at 10.30am, 11.30am and 12.30pm at a cost of £5 per lamp. Please note that you will need to pay museum admission on top of this charge. Pre-book here.

Toddler Tales at the Verulamium Museum: If I had a Vampire Bat

Part of the monthly Tots Tales session at the Verulamium Museum on Friday 27th October the focus story is If I had a Vampire Bat. Children between the ages of 2 and 4 are invited to enjoy the story before learning all about vampire bats and take part in some seasonal spookiness. £5 per child(ren) attending. Sessions at either 10.30am or 1.15pm. Pre-booking is available here.

Further afield

Nocturnal Animals at the National History Museum, Tring

A half hour session for children aged 5+ to immerse themselves in the world of nocturnal animals and get hands on with the museum’s specimens. Tickets cost £2 each and can be purchased from the shop on the day. Sessions run at various times on Tuesday 24th, Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th October. Full details (including session times) are available here.

Apple Pressing and Juice Tasting at the National History Museum, Tring

As part of Tring’s famous Apple Fair, visitors get the chance to peel, core, cut and squeeze apples to make tasty apple juice, before giving it a taste test in the museum’s outdoor area for FREE on Friday 27th October from 10am to 3.30pm. Full details here.

Museum by Torchlight at the National History Museum Tring

On Friday 27th October the National History Museum at Tring is opening its doors after hours for children aged 5+ to explore the galleries by torchlight. Fancy dress is encouraged and children can also create their own scary animal to take home. For £1 there is an additional spooky challenge they can complete. Tickets are FREE buy need to be booked here.

Waddesdon Manor’s Haunted Half Term

For all of half term children get into the house and grounds at Waddesdon for free with a paying adult. There’s a Trick or Treat Skeleton Trail (£3 per child) where children have to find spooky skeletons around the grounds and work out if their skeleton facts are trick (false) or treat (true). There’s a sweet treat from the Waddesdon chef as a prize at the end for correct answers.

On the 21st and 22nd October Zoolab allow you to get up close end hands on with exotic animals in they Creepy Critters show. Suitable for all ages the shows take place at 11.00am, 11.55am, 12.50pm, 2.20pm & 3.15pm. A small event charge is advised and pre booking is essential.

There is a face painter on site on the 28th and 29th October to help children have a spooky makeover. Separate charges apply for this.

Details of all the Waddesdon Haunted Half Term activities are available here along with details of (a rather pricey!) Spooky Afternoon Tea in the Manor Restaurant.

Half Term activities at Milton Keynes Museum

In addition to the regular hands on activities for kids at the Milton Keynes Museum they will also be open all week with spooky Halloween themed crafts and pottery workshops. The Concrete Circus will also be returning to the Museum to keep everyone entertained with workshops throughout the week. Full details here. Usual ticket prices apply, but remember that you pay once and then can return for a year at no additional cost. If you go now your ticket will also cover Christmas opening and all next summer holidays!

All details were correct at the time of writing, but please do go and check with the event organiser beforehand. Penny Travels takes no responsibility for changes that take place after the publication of this article. October Half Term in Dunstable.

If there’s a local event that I haven’t included here then please drop an email to penny@pennytravels.co.uk

Family Day Out Post Covid – Woodside Animal Farm

August 4, 2020 by Penny Leave a Comment

Everything’s changed.

Those two words pretty much sum everything up from a travel point of view since Covid-19 came to be a thing.

It’s hard as a travel writer to know what to write about now as travel has changed so much. For weeks we weren’t even allowed to go anywhere. Now places are opening up again, but things are different. In some cases very different. Lots of people are (understandably) nervous about heading out, and everyone is clamouring for information about what places are now like in this post-Covid world. I see plenty of people online asking what going on a train, or even just into a specific shop, is like now. Some places have really got it right. Others are still trying to find the balance in this new world.

What I plan to do here though is start to share our findings of what the world looks like with Covid in the hope that it helps some of you get out again. In as safe and enjoyable way as possible.

Woodside Animal Farm

Our first proper family day out post lockdown was to Woodside Animal Farm. A small farm attraction just down the road from us on the outskirts of Luton. We visited towards the end of July, at a time when Luton itself had a rise in Covid cases and everyone locally was on high alert, despite not being in a lockdown situation.

Now, my eldest two kids have been to Woodside before, but for us adults and 20 month old Tube Stop Baby this was our first trip. I asked the kids to compare it to life before, but to be honest they were just so excited to be back at a place like this that I didn’t get much sense out of them!

Before our trip

Now, this is where an attraction’s website really is important. Before going to Woodside Animal Farm I went onto their website to book tickets (something you must do now) and also see what they had to say about how things are running at the moment.

I’m delighted to say that there was loads of useful information on there. Not only things about regular cleaning etc, but also details like needing a face mask as the exit from the farm is through the farm shop where they are compulsory. It also explained how tractor rides are operating at the moment. A fact that is vitally important for visitors with kids.

Arrival at the Farm

With a pre-booked time slot we arrived at Woodside and only had one other family in front of us in the queue to enter. There were signs about social distancing and plenty of reminders about hand washing. Staff on the gate were behind a plastic screen and entry just required them to scan a QR code that I’d been emailed when I booked.

We had booked to arrive after lunch, but you can choose time slots throughout the day easily enough and there is no time that you need to leave the site by.

Inside the Farm

Once inside the farm, it generally felt much the same as these places normally do. With the exception of hand cleaning reminders everywhere. I was pleased to see how many places there were to use hand sanitiser and old fashioned soap and water hand washing dotted around the place. Another delight was the fact that there was also hot water to wash your hands with! Not something that all farms manage.

Visitors inside the farm were generally pretty good. Some were choosing to wear face masks for the whole of their visit. Some didn’t. There was plenty of stepping out of people’s way in places where paths narrowed, but generally there weren’t that many people on site so social distancing was easily possible.

Play areas

My kids were all delighted to find that the play areas were all open at the farm. Again, it was down to parents to make sure the kids social distanced as much as possible on the play equipment, but this seemed to be working well.

Two children on the jumping pillow at Woodside Animal Farm

On the jumping pillows (there is one for over 5s and one for under 5s) there were signs up for maximum capacities due to Covid. There was no one there enforcing these and many parents either didn’t seem to be bothered, or simply hasn’t seen the signs. Whatever the reason though, the pillows didn’t seem too crowded and the kids were no closer together than they were on other bits of play equipment.

A girl sat on a small balance bike at Woodside Animal Farm

The ride on tractors and bikes were also open, but once again overall visitor numbers meant that this wasn’t a problem in terms of overcrowding and children were encouraged by signs to wash their hands when they’d finished on them.

The tea cup ride was operating with just people from one bubble allowed in a tea cup at any one time. Again, hand sanitiser was positioned right on the gate so people could use it on their way in and out. The carousel was closed with the sign (and website) explaining that this was because it was impossible to social distance on it.

A ten year old girl posing on teh crazy golf course at Woodside Animal Farm

I enjoyed a round of crazy golf with the kids. There was a separate place to leave used clubs and golf balls when we finished so that they could be cleaned for the next people going round.

The indoor play barn was also closed as per current government rules.

Animals

It can be easy to come to places like Woodside these days and forget about the animals as there is just so much other fun to be had. For TSB though the animals were a highlight. With lockdown, this was her first visit to a farm since she’s been talking properly and so she was in her absolute element shouting out animal names as we walked round. Goats confused her a bit as she thought they were dogs and Alpacas blew her mind Sheep, cows and chickens though went down an absolute storm with her.

A ten year old girl feeding goats at Woodside Animal Farm as a toddler in a pushchair looks on

It was also nice that you can still buy animal food at Woodside and feed the animals as you go around. The only thing that I felt was missing (and this is a non-Covid thing) was signs telling you that it is OK to feed them. My elder two are so used to places where it is very clear to tell you what you can and can’t feed that they felt a bit nervous at first in case they fed something they shouldn’t.

Tractor Rides

A tractor driving round Woodside Animal Farm

All three kids were delighted to see that tractor rides were still running. The only difference was that it was one bubble at a time. If anything I felt this made the whole thing far nicer than being squashed in with strangers. Again, hand sanitiser was there for you all to use on the way in and out and everyone I saw was doing this. The queue was nicely socially distanced and the staff members driving the tractors were always wearing face masks.

Food and drink

As we only visited for the afternoon we just took a few snacks with us and plenty of water as it was a hot day. The kids did visit the kiosk though and we had ice creams there. They also seemed to be selling various snacks and hot and cold drinks from the same kiosk. I believe there was also some food available inside from the cafe area that is normally next to the soft play. There were plenty of spaced out picnic tables and again it was easy to socially distance whilst enjoying something to eat and drink.

Staff

To be honest I didn’t see many staff in our time at Woodside Animal Farm. There were a couple going round emptying bins etc and making sure that the hand washing stations were well equipped, but the only other we saw were either driving the tractor, manning the entrance, running the tea cup ride or serving food and drink at the refreshment kiosk. All that I encountered were friendly and professional. I heard a couple talking over their walkie talkies about someone needing to go and clean up some tissue paper that was blowing around near one hand washing area and saw one guy going round checking toilets periodically.

Overall Vibe

One comment that I made to Bonn as we went round was about how much I actually preferred our post-Covid farm visit over others that I’ve done before. Maybe lockdown has made me realise how much I don’t like other people and the way some of them behave, but our visit to Woodside was lovely as it wasn’t too busy at all, but yet the farm had a lovely relaxed vibe about it too. There was space to see and do things and we liked not being jostled by other people all the time as often happens at family attractions in summer holidays.

We certainly felt safe at Woodside, and as our first real trip out since lockdown this was particularly important for all of us. The older kids described it as being “like a normal trip” which I think is possibly one of the most important things. I don’t want them feeling scared to go out anywhere, but they’re also children and I want them to be able to have fun. That’s exactly what they did.

A family group of two adults and one toddler on the tractor at Woodside Animal Farm

Disclaimer: We paid for our own visit to Woodside Animal Farm and I decided to write about our visit as a way of sharing information with readers. I was not compensated in any way for this post.

For more inspiration for family days out take a look here.

Riding an upcycled D-stock from Ridgmont to Bletchley – the Martson Vale Line

May 27, 2019 by Penny Leave a Comment

The idea of needing to recycle and upcycle is everywhere at the moment. And understandably so. What not everyone realises though is that it’s not just things at home that can be recycled. Have you ever thought about recycling a train? Those people at Vivarail have. That’s exactly what they’ve done with their new Class 230s. They’re upcycled D-stock trains that previously used to run on the London Underground.

Upcycled trains

It’s really a fascinating bit of engineering where they have been converted from electric trains that take power from a third rail into diesel two car units.

The Marston Vale line, a community rail partnership run by London Northwestern that goes between Bedford and Bletchley, has three of these two car units (one to go in each direction, and a spare). I’m pretty sure any London Underground fan wants to go and ride them, just as much as they do the Island Line vintage trains down on the Isle of Wight.

We decided to take a trip along part of the Marston Vale line with the kids, partly as as way of making a trip to Bletchley Park more attractive to my six year old, London Underground and train loving son. It did the trick. The idea of an upcycled D-stock, or as he put it a “recycled underground train” made it a very attractive option. We decided to start our journey at Ridgmont Station, which is conveniently located extremely close to the M1 at junction 13.

Ridgmont Station

I’d heard of Ridgmont before and wanted to go and suss the place out before a return trip with less children. It is an unstaffed station, but one with a small heritage centre and shop, as well as a well respected tea rooms. We will be back to do the place justice in the future.

The other thing that made me choose it as a place to start our journey was the convenient car park just across the tracks. It may not be large, but by the time we returned to our car we were the only ones parked there. And it was free too!

At the moment you can’t buy tickets at the station (the Heritage Centre don’t sell them, but the staff there are incredibly useful at answering any train related questions you might have) but we spotted a ticket machine under wraps on one of the platforms, so I’m guessing it’s coming soon. For now though you buy tickets on the train itself from the onboard staff. They can accept credit cards and railcards on board much as you can at any ticket office.

What’s a class 230 like?

The trains themselves look incredibly smart, and although their basic structure is recognisable from the District Line, the differences are remarkable.

Firstly, the ability to squeeze in a Diesel engine. I guess it makes you realise just how big all the electric motors originally were. The new livery looks incredibly smart though, and to those not in the know I don’t think you’d guess that you were on something up cycled.

Inside the train there are a few hints to what went before. The doors between the two units are obviously to anyone that has travelled on older underground trains. The sideways seating that is used in part of the train is also a bit of a giveaway. Elsewhere in the train though they’ve put in usual “airline” seating and even a few tables too. A far cry from what people used to put up with on the District Line.

Another nice addition is charging points. The tables and airline seats have proper three pin plugs, but the sideways seating has USB ports at the base of the arm rests. Perfect for commuters who needy to give their phone a quick burst of charge.

The other thing they’ve squeezed in is an on-train toilet. Even though I have to admit that it did seem to smell a bit on the train we were on!

The outside of them all has been very artistically decorated with images of Bletchley Park, not just the Manor House, but also the Bombe computer too. How they’ve managed it though is quite impressive. The D-stock feels a whole lot more spacious than it ever used to and you really do feel like you are travelling on more than just a two car unit.

Bletchley Park

The real purpose behind our trip was to get to Bletchley so that we could do a family trip to Bletchley Park. This amazing slice of WW2 history is located just a short walk away from Bletchley Station and is well worth a visit. Bletchley played a pivotal, very secret, role in the war and it’s only over the last 20 or so years that the full truth has come out as to what went on there. The museum itself is incredible. Full of fascinating information and making full use of modern day technology to tell the story of Bletchley Park. We feel like we only scratched the surface after a couple of hours there and we will definitely be back for a return visit. Especially since your ticket is valid for a whole 12 months. If you’re an English Heritage member you can even get 20% off the admission price. Once we’ve been back expect to see a much more detailed account of our visit here on Penny Travels.

Once our visit was over though it was back on the train to Ridgmont. It seems the Marston Vale line is actually far busier than I expected it to be, with many people using it as part of their regular commute to and from work. As a visitor though it felt well worth the trip to see just how it is possible to upcycle a train and surely it’s somewhere you just have to visit if you’re a proper London Underground fan.

Leighton Buzzard Railway

October 9, 2018 by Penny Leave a Comment

I have a completely train mad son. And if I’m honest Bonn and I are pretty big train fans too. It therefore goes without saying that we tend to visit quite a lot of train lines around the country. Both in terms of the visitor attraction heritage railways and also just exercising our family railcard. We’re plotting a little train related challenge for when our baby arrives later in the year, but until then I thought it about time to start documenting some of the lines that we visit. Our “local line” is the Leighton Buzzard Railway here in Bedfordshire, so it seems the right place to start documenting things.

This narrow gauge railway describes itself as England’s Friendly Little Line and I think it’s quite a fitting description. At just under 3 miles long, it was originally built to serve the various sand quarries to the north of this market town, but when they switched to using road transport it was handed over to volunteers and opened as a heritage line.

The route

The thing about the Leighton Buzzard Railway that makes it slightly unusual is what it runs past. For a large proportion of the route you’re going past 1970s style housing stock, and whilst that’s interesting in its own way, I certainly wouldn’t call it a view for typical tourists! The last half a mile or so to the Stonehenge Works, where the line currently ends, you are in the countryside, but this feels quite different to the housing estate before.

The route also features several level crossings where the train has to stop for staff to go and stand on the road and stop traffic with little flags to let the trains pass. It’s very quaint and one of the most exciting things in the world for six year old train addicts like my son!

More to see and do

At both ends of the route there is plenty to see and do. You start your journey at Pages’ Park where there is an impressive modern souvenir shop in the new station building, along with tours of the engine shed itself. In the latter you can find out all about the railway and the engines that they now run on it. Leighton Buzzard Railway actually has one of the largest collections of narrow-gauge locomotives in the UK, and some of them have previously worked all over the world. It’s definitely an eye-opener to find out all about them.

Pages’ Park also features the 1940s themed Buzzrail Cafe, although shockingly I’m yet to actually manage a visit there.

At the far end of the route, Stonehenge Works features a cute craft shop that also serves light refreshments before your return journey. The works also house all the locomotives and rolling stock that aren’t in current passenger service, along with various exhibitions about narrow gauge railways through history. There are also engines for children to clamber all over, which they obviously love.

Extending the line

There are also plans for the line to be extended further. The group running the Leighton Buzzard Railway have now secured the full length of the original line – meaning that they should be able to run an extra half a mile into the countryside beyond Stonehenge Works. The first part of this (to Mundays Hill) is hoped to be open in late 2019. In time for us to make a return trip with baby in tow!

Visiting the Leighton Buzzard Railway

You can find all the latest opening hours and timetables on the Leighton Buzzard Railway’s own website, where you can also book tickets. At various times of the year they run special services whether that be for Christmas, Easter, Fathers Day or some other event.

Pages’ Park station, where you start your journey on the Leighton Buzzard Railway is situated on the south side of Leighton Buzzard. It is well signposted with tourist Brown Signs, many featuring a steam engine logo on them. There is a car park available on site and it is next to a park which features a nice children’s playground. Full directions are available on their website.

Rushmere Country Park – woodland, heathland and meadow in Bedfordshire

August 13, 2018 by Penny 2 Comments

Sometime you stumble upon somewhere that’s just perfect for the day out you had in mind, and that’s exactly what happened for us when we went to Rushmere Country Park in Bedfordshire.

We were on the lookout for somewhere for a nice walk. Somewhere where the kids could run off a bit of steam. And somewhere where we could appreciate nature and the countryside around us.

I’d initially heard of Rushmere Country Park as someone local had told me that it was the ideal place for kids with some decent bits of playground equipment. I’d managed to find their website, but as with so many places like this, you only really get a feel for them when you visit.

Where to find Rushmere

Located in Heath and Reach, just outside Leighton Buzzard, Rushmere Country Park is 400 acres of woodland, heathland and meadows, managed by the Greensand Trust on a not for profit basis. It is free to visit, with visitors just being asked to pay to park in the park.

Things to see and do

The main car park is located off Linslade Road and there you will also find the Herons View Visitors Centre and the ‘Tree Tops Cafe”. From here you can look down on the heronry. Established over the last 16 years this provides a secure breeding ground for approximately 10+ pairs of breeding grey herons each year. There are binoculars available to use, along with remote cameras. It’s an excellent opportunity to see the herons up close.

The main thing that we liked about Rushmere Country Park is that there was plenty of opportunity for children to just enjoy being children. As well as several play spots around the park – encouraging children to have a go at balancing, climbing, hiding, exploring, listening and looking – there are also loads of naturally occurring play areas too. Along the main path several fairy doors have been put in, which are perfect for younger children.

Our three kids spent ages just exploring the rhododendron bushes and the den like areas created under them. You know you’re on to a winner when your five year old (who didn’t want to go out originally!) describes it as “the best day out ever!”.

Finding your way around

Maps of the site are available from the visitor’s centre, and these show the different footpaths, bridleways and trails around the country park. There is also an access for all footpath that is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.

The Woodpecker Trail is a circular walk of around an hour to the Stockgrove Lake and Visitor Centre (where there are also toilets and refreshments) and back. Not all of this is on the access for all route, although with a decent off-read pushchair I think you would manage. Although you might build up some good muscles in your arms in the uphill sections!

Our kids took their scooters with them, and although they needed to pull them in certain sections they did manage to get them all around the trail. Having the Stockgrove Visitor Centre at the half-way point of the trail was perfect for re-fuelling, especially since when we happened to be there there was an ice cream van parked up waiting for us.

A whole day of fun

There’s plenty at Rushmere Country Park to keep visitors entertained for a whole day. Especially families. As well as the refreshments available on site, there’s a decent sized picnic area and BBQs are allowed if raised off the ground. Dogs are also welcome at Rushmere.

There are cycling trails around the park, and some of these are really quite challenging in places, appealing to more experienced cyclists. Horse riders can also access the site along the public bridleway marked on the maps and on permissive horse routes (a Greensand Pass is required for this in advance).

Rushmere Country Park, Heron View Visitor Centre, Linslade Road, Heath and Reach, Bedfordshire, LU7 0EB. Tel: 01525 234260 www.greensandtrust.org