Along the river to Grantchester
Route map for Along The River To Grantchester by Nicola Foley on plotaroute.com
Distance: 2 miles
Start on the bridge outside the Mill Pub and pick up the path that runs alongside the river. It’s a busy stretch of the Cam so you’re likely to see plenty of punters navigating the river traffic – with varying degrees of success! Follow the path until you reach the Fen Causeway, then cross over onto Sheep’s Green. A local nature reserve, this large grassy meadow is home to grazing cattle from April to October.
Keep walking past the learner pool then take a right over the small bridge which leads over to the Lammas Land carpark, continuing to follow the river into the Paradise Nature Reserve, where you’ll find a peaceful woodland trail that takes you right up to Grantchester Meadows. Once there, you can follow the river until you’ve found a nice spot for a picnic, or turn right at the end of the path into to explore Grantchester village.
City Loop
Route map for City Circular Route by Nicola Foley on plotaroute.com
Distance: 5 miles
Beginning at Cambridge Train Station, this route takes in some of the city’s most beautiful architecture and green spaces, as well as the cosmopolitan Mill Road. Once you enter the city centre, you’ll pass the famous Fitzwilliam Museum on Trumpington Street, and see the historic ‘Backs’, to the east of Queen’s Road, where several of Cambridge University’s colleges back onto the river. From there you’ll cross the Garrett Hostel Bridge, which offers stunning river views, and snake through the city centre – passing Trinity and St John’s Colleges – before crossing through Quayside and onto Jesus Green, a popular city centre park.
If you need a mid-ramble stop, the walk passes the Fort St George on Midsummer Common, which you can pause at before picking up Victoria Avenue and heading back to the station past picturesque Parker’s Piece. The route concludes with a walk down Mill Road, which has plenty of restaurants and shops to explore on your way.
St Ives and The Hemingfords
Route map for Houghton Mill, St Ives & The Hemingfords by Nicola Foley on plotaroute.com
Distance: 5.6 miles
If you fancy heading out of town, this lovely walk takes in a historic mill, ancient churches, gorgeous riverbanks and charming villages. You’ll park up at Houghton Mill – a National Trust property which is the last surviving watermill on the River Great Ouse – walking through picturesque meadows and the unspoilt Ouse Valley, and heading back via charming St Ives and the chocolate box Hemingfords.
If you’re looking for somewhere to eat and drink, there’s a tearoom at Houghton Mill, or you can pay a visit to The Cock in Hemingford Grey, which is an excellent country pub.
Cambridge To Ely
Route map for Cambridge To Ely by Nicola Foley on plotaroute.com
Distance: 18 miles
In search of a longer walk? At 18-miles in total this route is more effort (and you’ll almost certainly want to get the train back to Cambridge when you’re finished!), but you’ll be rewarded with beautiful river views, pretty marinas, wildlife and lesser seen parts of the Cambridgeshire countryside.
It begins at Cambridge Train Station, taking you through the city up to Midsummer Common, where you pick up the River Cam, following up the Towpath which takes you to Waterbeach. From there, you join the scenic Fen Rivers Way, trail, which leads you all the way up to the city of Ely.
