Nearest train station: Bedford
You’ll see the words “wild swimming” and “River Great Ouse” pop up quite a lot across this website, as the large river that snakes across East Anglia and into Buckinghamshire has its fair share of great spots for a swim.
The stretch of the river that passes through Bedfordshire has plenty of spots, and this one near the village of Pavenham is one you check out if the neighbouring swimming spot in the village of Clapham is too busy.
There’s a bend in the river between the village of Stevington and Pavenham whih features a rope swing (fun!) and water deep enough for a good swim. Follow the John Bunyan Trail from Mill Lane in Pavenhem (past the Cock pub) and follow the footpath towards Stevington to get there.
How to Get to the River Great Ouse at Pavenham
We’ve provided detailed instructions on how to get to this great Bedfordshire wild swimming spot on the River Great Ouse by various means of transport below, as well as general travel information nearby.
By car
Enter the postcode MK43 7NL into your sat nav, which will take you to Mill Lane, just past the Cock pub and by the footpath on the way to the river. You can try street parking here or elsewhere in the village of Pavenham. Follow the footpath out of Mill Lane and you’ll see the river: continue westward around the bend of the river towards Stevington and you’ll come across a great spot just before the footbridge.
Pavenham is located off the A6 if you take the exit at the nearby village of Oakley.
By public transport
The nearest train station to Pavenham is Bedford. From here, you can get the number 25 bus and get off at Weavers Lane stop, which takes about 15 minutes from Bedford Bus Station (about a 10 minute walk from the train station.
Walk down the road beyond the Cock pub and down through Mill Lane until you reach the aforementioned footpath to the river.
By bike
The villages north of Bedford along this section of the River Great Ouse (including Bromham, Stevington, Pavenham and Clapham) are great for cycling (see a suggested route here) and you get easily follow the winding River Great Ouse onward to find even more wild swimming spots.
What else is nearby Pavenham?
Follow the John Bunyan Trail in Bedfordshire – an epic 81 mile stretch (or perhaps just part of it!).
You can also continue along the River Great Ouse to find other neighbouring wild swimming spots, such as another popular location in the village of Clapham.