Sunday walks
Walk 1: Past Vicar’s Brook & Brooke’s Vicarage (am)
Circular route, 8 miles
Grading: Leisurely
Leaders: Al and Lindsay
Start time: 10:30
(Estimated finish time: 14:00)
This is a leisurely eight mile walk from Cambridge to Grantchester and back, giving the opportunity to spot bird life at three nature reserves, plus a mosaic folly and a nuclear bunker!
The route first heads south from the station and takes a pleasant shaded footpath by Vicar's Brook, the stream diverted to supply the city's water supply in the 17th century. We then walk through the modern Hobson's Park, which visitors to Cambridge from the south may recognise from the train window, passing its small lake.
After going through Trumpington we visit Byron's Pool nature reserve, where the poet would swim while studying at Trinity College, before we enter Grantchester from the south - passing the Old Vicarage where another poet Rupert Brooke lived for a time and borrowed the name of the house for his tribute to the ‘lovely hamlet’.
In the village we’ll pass the church and pubs (looking out for Sidney Chambers) then it’s into the famous meadows, following the river Granta before it flows into the city and becomes the Cam. We return through Paradise Nature Reserve and along a quiet side road towards Cambridge station, where at the end of the walk there may be the chance for a pub stop before going our separate ways.
As this is a longer walk we’ll have a picnic stop along the route, so please bring a packed lunch or snacks.
Walk 2: Deep Meadows & Immortal River (am)
Circular route, 5.5 miles
Grading: Easy
Leaders: Andy and Sam
Start time: 10:30
(Estimated finish time: 13:30)
This easy morning walk takes a direct route from Cambridge railway station for a visit to the ‘lovely hamlet’ of Grantchester as described by the poet Rupert Brooke.
It’s not long before city gives way to country as the walk goes through Paradise Nature Reserve, past Skaters’ Meadow - which used to be flooded and frozen for ice skating - then follows the winding river Granta upstream and into the lush Grantchester Meadows, as paid tribute to by Brooke and by Pink Floyd.
We’ll wind through the village, looking out for TV filming locations, before walking back along the path named less poetically by students as "the Grantchester Grind".
At the end of the walk there may be the chance for a pub stop near the station before going our separate ways!
Walk 3: Deeper Meadows & More Immortal River (pm)
Circular route, 6 miles
Grading: Leisurely
Leaders: Lynne and Liz
Start time: 14:15
(Estimated finish time: 17:30)
This leisurely afternoon option takes a direct route from Cambridge railway station for a look around the ‘lovely hamlet’ of Grantchester (as it was described by the poet Rupert Brooke); passing through Grantchester Meadows to the famous Orchard Tea Garden, haunt of various actors, authors, scientists and spies.
After beginning along quiet side roads it’s not long before city gives way to country, as the walk goes through Paradise Nature Reserve, past Skaters’ Meadow - which used to be flooded and frozen for ice skating - then follows the winding river Granta upstream and into the lush Grantchester Meadows, as paid tribute to by Brooke and by Pink Floyd.
We’ll wind through the village, looking out for TV filming locations, before walking back along the path named less poetically by students as "the Grantchester Grind".
At the end of the walk there may be the chance for a pub stop near the station before going our separate ways!