Cambridgeshire

When one thinks of Cambridgeshire it is usually the fine city of Cambridge with its glorious colleges that first springs to mind. Cambridge is indeed the jewel in the county, a destination everyone should plan to visit sometime and a facinating and rewarding city to discover on foot. But spare some time to discover the charming countryside which provides a wealth of interest and beauty with its peaceful villages, historic towns, leafy lanes, ancient hilltop tracks and open vistas of the fertile fenlands, and is home to an abundance of wildlife.

There is a rich heritage to be found within the market towns and pretty villages, and peaceful idylic scenery to be enjoyed along the riverbanks of the Cam and Great Ouse. In the north east the fenland around the Bedford Levels, with its dead straight roads and grid of dykes and drainage ditches, its peat coloured soil and isolated windmills, can seem strangely empty, but has a minimalist beauty. This contrasts with the upland areas of the south, where the landscape is gentler and more hospitable, home to pretty, peaceful villages with thatched and timbered houses and interesting churches.

The walking guides listed below will enable you to discover and explore all that is best in the Cambridgeshire countryside.

Long Distance Paths Traversing Cambridgeshire
The Icknield Way
An Oxbridge Walk

	Guide Books: [For further information or to purchase]
	Village Walks in Cambridgeshire by: Jean and Geoff Pratt. Within Cambridgeshire's villages, or close by, lies a rich heritage of old abbeys, half-timbered manor houses, thatched cottages, parish churches, rivers, byways, tracks and footpaths. The twenty routes in this book introduce the walker to some of the most picturesque villages in the county, such as Ufford, Easton, Little Thetford and Lode. There is also a brief history of the village on which the walk is based and a seperate section about other places of interest to visit nearby. The walks vary in length from 1.5 to 6 miles, and there is information on the buildings to be seen en route.
	100 Walks in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. compiled by: Katherine Appleton, Bob and Celia Wallace An omnibus of local walks covering the whole of Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. The book is ideal for family outings and as a valuable reference book for residents. It is, of course, equally valuable for visitors to the region. The wide choice of routes covers the whole region, with 70 of the walks in the larger county of Cambridgeshire and 30 in Bedfordshire. The walks vary in length from 2 to 12 miles, the majority being in the 4/6 mile range. In addition to the route descriptions, details are given of points of interest along the way, places to eat and drink and where to park the car. Sketch maps and route descriptions are on facing pages.
	Cambridgeshire and the Fens Walks compiled by Brian Conduit.This Jarrold-Ordnance Survey Pathfinder Guide makes the ideal companion for country walks throughout this varied region.The walk locations are: Barnack, Helpston and Ufford; Buckden and Offord Cluny; Castor Hanglands; Elton; Ely and Little Downham; Ely and Little Thetford; Ferry Meadows, River Nene and Peterborough; Gog Magog Hills and the Granta valley; Grafham Water; Grantchester Meadows; Isleham; Kimbolton; Linton, Hildersham and the Roman Road; Lolworth, Knapwell and Boxworth; Mepal and the Hundred Foot Drain; Ramsey and Bury; Reach, Swaffham Prior and the Devil's Dyke; St Ives; Houghton and the Hemingfords; St Neots and Little Paxton; Sawtry and the Giddings; Stilton and Folksworth; Stow cum Quy Fen; Swavesey and Over; Wansford, Sutton and Upton; Wicken Fen; Willingham and the Great Ouse; Wimblington and Stonea Camp; Wimpole Park.
	50 Walks in Cambridgeshire & east Mids by: Andrew McCloy. Includes 50 themed walks of between 2 and 10 miles, each with fascinating background reading. There are clear, easy-to-follow route descriptions, including detailed sketch maps The walk locations include: Caistor; Tealby; Donnington on Bain; Wainfleet; Saltfleet; Belchford; Bardney; Bloxholm; Daneshill Lakes; Clumber Park; Sherwood Forest; Southwell; Newstead Abbey; Eastwood; Lambley; East Bridgford; Belvoir; West Leake Hills; Bradgate Park; The National Forest, Donisthorpe; Market Bosworth; Foxton Locks; Medbourne; Burrough Hill; Frisby on the Wreake; Rutland Water; Exton; Stamford; Gedney Drove End; Oundle; Manea; Ely; Badby; Castle Ashby; Rockingham Forest; Rockingham; Paxton Pits; Wicken Fen; Ampthill; Harrold Odell; Wimpole Hall.
	Pub Strolls in Cambridgeshire by: Ady Collier. The 30 walks in this all-colour guide combine some of the most beautiful scenery in Cambridgeshire. The strolls vary in length from 2 to 5.5 miles (most are under 4 miles). There is the beautiful cathedral city of Ely, once home to Oliver Cromwell; Leverington, near Wisbech, surrounded by orchards and rich farmland; Helpston, where poet John Clare once lived and wrote; historic Cambridge, with its rich architecture; Eaton Socon, with its pleasant marina; and the village of Brampton, retreat of diarist Samuel Pepys. Other places to discover en route or close by include Wicken Fen, the oldest nature reserve in the country; Houghton Mill on the River Great Ouse; and Stilton, home of the eponymous cheese.
	Pub Walks in Cambridgeshire by: Jean and Geoff Pratt. The walks vary in length from 2.5 to 7 miles and each route is described in detail with its own accompanying sketch map. Includes the nature reserves at Barnack, Waresley Wood and Wicken and places of historic interest such as the river walk at Grantchester, home of the poet Rupert Brooke. The walk locations are: Barnack; Kimbolton; Castor; Marholm; Grafham; Stilton; Broughton; Godmanchester; Graveley; Waresley; Houghton; Ramsey; Litlington; Bourn; Arrington; Earith; Grantchester; Mepal; Wisbech; Whittlesford; Purls Bridge; Stretham; Clayhithe; Fulbourne; Hildersham; Wicken; Littleport; Burwell; Castle Camps; Woodditton.
	Short Walks from Cambridgeshire Pubs by: Jean and Geoff Pratt. The 20 routes in this guide have been chosen with care for simplicity as well as spectacle. They vary in length from 2.5 to 4.5 miles. Many of the walks pass interesting places such as Elton Hall; Soham Meadows, a Wildlife Trust nature reserve; Chishill windmill; and Eaton Socon lock on the river Ouse. The walk locations are: Elton; Helpston; Ferry Meadows, Peterborough; Sawtry; St Neots; Brampton; Croydon; Fenstanton; Swavesey; Great Eversden; Colne; Great Chishill; Leverington; Witcham; Fen Ditton; Hinxton; Ely; Soham; Horseheath; Kirtling.
	Walking Close to Peterborough by: Clive Brown. Carefully chosen routes full of interest. The directions are clear and precise and the pencil drawn sketch maps are particularly attractive as well as practical. This guide focuses on the Nene at Peterborough with eight varied and interesting circular walks, mainly about 6 miles in length. The walk locations are: Milton Park, South Bretton and Castor; Castor and Splash Dike; Ailsworth and Castor Hanglands; Blind Lane, Castor and Sutton; Ailsworth and Sutton Crossway; Ferry Meadows Country Park, Landy Green Way and Alwalton; Orton Mere, Ferry Meadows and Nene Valley Railway; Orton Mere - Bluebells and Boardwalks.
	Walking Close to the Torpel Way by: Clive Brown. The nine circular walks in this guide follow sections of the Torpel Way, a waymarked trail of 11 miles linking Peterborough with Stamford. The routes include some of the best countryside to be seen locally; serene agricultural land and charming villages. The walk locations are: Torpel Manor, Helpston and Ashton; Helpston and Maxham's Green Road; Ermine Street, Wittering and Thornhaugh; Casewick Park, Uffington, Barholm and Tallington; Burghley Park, Stamford and Barnack; Welland Canal; Barnack and Southorpe; Ufford Oaks, Barnack, Bainton and Ufford; Peterborough and Belsize Wood; Stamford and River Gwash.
	Walking Close to Wansford by: Clive Brown. This guide focuses on the Nene at Wansford with eight varied and interesting circular walks, mainly about 6 miles in length. The walk locations are: Wansford, Yanwell and Old Sulehay; Wansford and the Nene Horseshoe; Mostly Nene Way - Wansford, Yarwell, Elton, Warmington and Fotheringhay; Elton Park and Warmington; New Sulehay and Nassington; Yarwell Mill and Nassington; Wansford, Stibbington and Bunkers Hill; Water Newton and Elton.
	Walking Close to Cambridge by: Clive Brown. The directions are clear and precise and the pencil drawn sketch maps are particularly attractive as well as practical. This guide focuses on the rivers Cam and the Granta near Cambridge with ten varied and interesting circular walks, mainly about 6 miles in length. The walk locations are: Via Devana - Stapleford; Cole's Bridge, Fulbourn; Fleam Dyke, Fen Ditton; Rowley Lane, Whittlesford and Sawston; Heath Road, Great Wilbraham and Bottisham; Coldham's Brook, Cherry Hinton and Fen Ditton; Shepreth, Meldreth and Barrington; Barrington and Haslingfield; Grantchester; Quy Water, Teversham.
	Walking Close to Huntingdonshire by: Clive Brown. This guide focuses on the Great Ouse in 'Huntingdonshire' with nine varied and interesting circular walks, averaging about 6 miles in length. The walk locations are: Cook's Stream, Godmanchester and Hemmingford Abbots; Hinchingbrooke Park, Huntingdon and Brampton; Hawkesden Leys, St Neots; Paxton Pits, Little Paxton; Diddington Brook and Diddington; Little Paxton Wood and Little Paxton; Hemingford Meadow, St Ives and Hemmingford Abbots; Offord Cluny and Offord D'Arcy; Holywell Ferry, fen Drayton and Fenstanton.
	Walking Close to Grafham Water by: Clive Brown. The directions are clear and precise and the pencil drawn sketch maps are particularly attractive as well as practical. This guide covers the area around Grafham Water with nine varied and interesting circular walks, mainly about 6 miles in length. The walk locations are: Madders Hill, Grafham; Midloe; Great Staughton and Staughton Moor; Spaldwick and Cockway Lane; Diddington and Buckden; Kimbolton and Fiddler's Acre; West Perry and Dillington; Hartham Street; Great Staughton, Stonley and Gimbers End.
	Cambridgeshire Rambles by: Liz Moynihan The countryside of Cambridgeshire provides a wealth of interest and beauty with its peaceful villages, historic towns, leafy lanes, ancient hilltop tracks and open vistas of the fertile fenlands, home to an abundance of wildlife. The fourteen circular walks in this book reflect this diversity and offer a safe and exhilarating morning or afternoon in the open air. Each route has been chosen because it has a particular point of interest. Every walk is accompanied by a sketch map and a special section of historical notes. Liz Moynihan is an enthusiastic rambler who is the author of several walking guides. This book is now out of print, but may be available at local libraries - ISBN 1-85306-072-0