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Discover a hiiden cultural corner
Get on the bus and explore some rural gems south of the county
What better way to spend a Sunday than to explore some of the
delightful rural locations south of the county and discover some of the cultural gems on our doorstep?
To make it even more enjoyable, you can leave the car at home and go on a voyage by train and bus for a different perspective of our beautiful countryside. To reach the destinations featured, first take the train from Bedford to St Albans.
Trains run every 15 minutes between the two towns with a journey time of 40 minutes, but it is important to check that there is no engineering work on the line before travelling on Sundays.
The first of our destinations is Shaw's Corner in Hertfordshire. Home to the famous Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw for over 40 years, the house is now owned by The National Trust and has been preserved almost exactly as Shaw left it.
Constructed in the Edwardian Arts and Crafts style, the rooms are filled with Shaw's personal effects and at the bottom of the garden can be found the 'writing hut' where he penned many of his famous works.
There is a gift shop where ice-creams and drinks are on sale. Alternatively, take your own picnic to eat in the pleasant grounds of the house. To reach Shaw's Corner, take the number 304 or 320 bus from St Albans railway station (Stop D) to Wheathampstead. From there, change onto the number 904 taxi bus service direct to Shaw's
Corner.
Please note that the number 904 will only run if booked in advance by telephoning 01582 822 822. Bookings must be made at least 30
minutes before the scheduled arrival time of the bus at Wheathampstead. People arriving by taxi bus receive half price entry into Shaw's Corner.
The second journey features the number 343 bus service which runs from St Albans railway station to Whipsnade Zoo, passing through green and pleasant countryside before ascending the spectacular Dunstable Downs. Places of interest along the route include the historic town of
Dunstable with its magnificent Priory Church.
Also a must, is a visit to the new Chilterns Gateway Centre which sits on top of the Downs and gives commanding, panoramic, views.
The centre is run by the National Trust and there is a gift shop and caf which sells a range of local produce including the famous Bedfordshire Clanger.
The bus continues past the Whipsnade Tree Cathedral to Whipsnade Zoo; buy tickets from Bedford Tourist Information Centre at 2 cheaper than the gate price. The number 343 leaves every two hours from St Albans railway station.
B
oth bus routes featured run on SUNDAYS ONLY during the summer months.
For timetables for both train and buses visit the Bedford Tourist
Information Centre (TIC) in St Paul's Square, Bedford. Train tickets to St Albans cost 12.50 adult, 2 for children or 30 for a group of up to four people travelling together.
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Weather for Bedford
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
