Stevington nestles in the Great Ouse Valley where the river meanders under lovely old stone bridges.

Sights in Stevington

  • The Mediaeval Cross in the centre of the village
  • The Royal George PH
  • The Red Lion PH 
  • The Windmill (key available in Royal George PH)
  • The Holy Well below the Church with its stream of crystal clear water
  • The Blue Bell Wood along the footpath by the river Great Ouse to Pavenham
  • St Mary the Virgin Church down Church Road has Saxon origins
  • The Baptist Church at West End Stevington has its origins in 1655
  • Ramblers will really enjoy the quiet walks along the many village footpaths including -: *The Bunyan Trail, now Ouse Valley Way passes through the village from Oakley to Pavenham.
  • The Stevington Country Walk along the old railway line from Bedford to Northampton with extensive views over the valley and windmill.

 John Bunyan connection

The Holy Well

Parts of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrims Progress are thought to be based on the various landscapes of Stevington including the mediaeval cross in the centre of the village and the Holy Well down below the Church.

Kathy invited Clare Balding to join her on BBC Radio 4’s Rambling to walk the literary landscape around the village and it was aired in May 2002. The Cross, the Sepulchre/Spring, House Beautiful, Echo Valley are among various associations which can be drawn with the village. We have the Bunyan Trail now the Ouse Valley Way passing through the villlage and along the river bank.

Sights in Bedford (5 miles away)

Bunyan Museum and Bunyan Meeting Free Church Mill Street Bedford MK40 3EU . The John Bunyan Museum celebrates the life and work of our famous local author John Bunyan writer of The Pilgrim’s Progress amongst his 60 published works. www.bunyanmeeting.co.uk/museum

Two hour cruise on the River Great Ouse through Bedford on the John Bunyan boat

Sights in Harrold (3 miles away)

Harrold-Odell Country Park offers beautiful walks around former gravel pits. Also has a café serving hot and cold food.

Sights in Odell (5 miles away)

In Odell (5 miles away) Peter Bulkeley left as vicar of the parish of Odell in 1635 fleeing from Archbishop Laud. He took his children to found Concord near Boston in Massachussetts. The Wheeler family and the Odells also went with him, all part of his congregation. His sisters, various neices and nephews also went to the New World. Also really good local pub called The Bell 01234 910850      Odell is close to one end of Harold Country Park with café.

Sights in Olney (7 miles away)

Olney town is full of attractive shops and eating places, and you can walk along the Ouse. It has a market on Thursdays. 

The Cowper and Newton Museum with Garden. You can explore the house and gardens where 18th century poet William Cowper lived and worked, and find out about the town’s history in the Olney Rooms of the museum. A short walk around the corner will take you to the Vicarage where Cowper’s friend John Newton wrote ‘Amazing Grace’, the church where he preached, and the grave where he and his wife are buried.