What’s going on already?

Walking routes:

National trails, interpreted walks, long or short distance, circular…

·          Greensand Ridge

·          Ivel Way

·          Icknield Way

·          Chilterns Way

·          Awareness

·          Attitudes of ramblers & horseriders/ relationship with landowners

·          Publicity

·          More Information

·          Parish Path Partnerships

Cycle routes:

Local routes, interpreted routes, on or off road, cycling for softies, activity mountain biking, electric bikes, guided cycle rides, hire shops…

·          Priory Marina

·          Bedford to Sandy

·          Creating in Luton/Bedford

·          Very few of these

·          Awareness

·          Cost

·          Political will

·          Prioritise cycle lanes in towns

·          Cycle hire

·          Publicity

·          Make more use

·          Get more tourists involved

Horse Riding - bridleways, stables, horse hire, Riding schools with accommodation, equestrian events, racing, eventing, show jumping, dressage, polo…

·          Many bridleways

·          Not promoted strongly to tourists

·          Few horse riding businesses re tourism

·          Public [ liability?]

·          More promotion

·          More providers

·          Create a racecourse!

Arts and cultural activities - theatre, art galleries, museums, sculpture parks…

·          Cecil Higgins

·          Luton

·          Woburn Abbey

·          Corn Exchange, Bedford

·          Not well known beyond Beds (except Woburn Abbey)

·          More signage

·          More publicity

Heritage attractions - National Trust/English Heritage properties, buildings, churches, castles, monuments…

·          Wrest Park

·          Willington Dovecote

·          Priory House, Dunstable

·          Woburn Abbey

·          Whitbread/

         Southill Park

·          Not all associated with Beds

·          Publicity

·          Church Open Days

·          Tourist Information Centres

Nature based attractions – gardens, wildlife reserves, safari parks…

·          Churchyards

·          Birds of Prey

·          Whipsnade

·          Woburn Safari

·          Gravel pits

·          Dunstable Downs

·          Forest Centre, Marston Vale

·          Commercial/”ethics”

·          Level of awareness in tourists

·          Lack of tea rooms/refreshments

·          Niche markets

·          Website development

·          Tourist Information Centres

Local events – festivals, open days, arts and craft fairs…

·          River festival

·          Luton Carnival

·          [Farm?]Sunday

·          Dunstable Tudor

Other activities - Water based (canals, rivers, lakes), family activities, sports

·          Tea rooms as both attractions & overcoming barriers

·          Farmers Market

·          Ouse/Ivel/lakes-gravel pits

·          Canoeing

·          MK-Bedford canal & railway

Public transport – trains, bus, coach, community transport (e.g. ramblers bus, bike express…), other…

·          Electric bikes

·          Midland Mainline

·          Leighton Buzzard special

·          Translink

·          Marston Vale bikes

·          Priory Park

·          Bus E & W

·          Speed

·          Non-drivers

·          No East/West

·          Rowing Lake!

·          Costs/usage

·          E/W rail (but) Transport ↑→growth

·          Public ↑

·          Rural connection to urban- Methods?

Accommodation - Small hotels,

Pubs, Self-catering, B&B, B&B for horses, Mobile homes

Campsites, Walkers, cyclists, riders welcome?

·          Low except town

·          Villages/rural

·          Pubs

·          No campsites?

·          No youth hostel?

·          Ampthill?

·          Emberton?

·          Lack of customers

·          Information/risk

·          Day trippers

·          Reducing risk

·          Increase income stream, information & communication

·          Overnight events

·          Open Air concerts

Accessibility – access/ provision for the disabled, less able and carers.

·          Attractions OK

·          Hotels poor

·          Restaurants could do better.

·          Lack understanding

·          Needs versus constraints of listed buildings etc.

·          Improve education

·          Info to visitors

Food and drink – Restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, bistros, tea rooms, other…

·          Tastes of Bedfordshire

·          Big Barn started here (virtual farmers market)

·          Organic Food

·          BuyLocal.Net

·          Bedfordshire Clanger

·          Jordans

·          “Use Local”

·          Knowledge

·          Increase local food

·          More restaurants/pubs to use local food

·          Distinctive name

·          Tell visitors

·          Food mark

Shopping - farmers markets, local food and produce (Eg, Farm shops, vineyards), Local crafts, locally owned speciality shops…

·          Farmers Markets

·          Gourmet Market

·          Knowledge

·          Parking poor

·          Communications

More…

·          Tourism Steering Group

·          Carefree Tourism (via Chilterns AONB website)

·          Bunyan

·          Too much info

·          One place for info

·          More prominence for Bunyan