PWWG Monthly Walk Report October 2025

A circular walk of about 7.5 miles from Tempsford via Blunham and Great Barford with some sections along the River Ivel and River Great Ouse with a pub stop at Great Barford

Walk Report by James Bonfield (leader)

4 walkers set off from Tempsford Church at 10am along the Rivel Ivel to Blunham, walking through the churchyard there before crossing fields to Great Barford with a pint and a light bite in The Anchor pub. After a quick admire of our third church (all 3 of which are built using different building materials) before a walk back along the River Ouse to Roxton Lock and into Tempsford once more. A distance of some 7.66 miles (miraculously in agreement on two different devices).

We saw plenty of birds (a full list to come later), but the highlight was watching the Kingfisher fishing at Great Barford bridge. It was on the far bank and quite hard to see or photograph, so sorry about very grainy photos, but enough to admire it still.

Sightings

Birds:

• Cettis Warbler (2 heard)

• Heron

• Mallards

• Robin

• Dunnock

• Mute Swans

• Red Kites

• Jackdaws

• Magpie

• Long tailed tit

• Skylarks

• Starling

• Buzzard

• Kingfisher

• Jay

• Rooks

• Crows

• Wood Pigeon

• Pheasant

• Kestrel

• Moorhen

• Tufted Duck

• Collared Dove

Mammals:

• Black Squirrel - seen along the river Ouse

Route Map

You can find the route for this walk on OS Maps via this link

Map of our route

Photos

Photos taken by James and Bill

Tempsford High Street

Church at Tempsford

Tansy - photo credit James Bonfield

River Ivel - photo credit James Bonfield

River Ouse - photo credit James Bonfield

Canoeists and paddlers having fun on the River Ouse at Great Barford

Kingfisher and perching location - by James Bonfield

Lunch stop at The Anchor Pub Great Barford - by James Bonfield

Roxton Lock