Waterbeach to Ely

Linear route, 13 miles

Grading: Moderate

Leaders: Andy and Simon

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Meeting time: 09:15 at Cambridge Railway Station, for train departing at 09:35

If travelling from Cambridge, please arrive early at the station to leave promptly at the advertised meeting time. GroupSave discounts may be available when buying rail tickets.

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Starting at: Waterbeach Railway Station, Station Road, Waterbeach CB5 9HT

Ending at: Ely Railway Station, Station Road, Ely CB7 4BS

Start time: 09:55

 

Our only linear walk on the NYR programme is a moderate length route of 13 miles through the flat landscape of the Fens. From Waterbeach station we follow the Fen Rivers Way, crossing the Cam at Bottisham Lock. We’ll walk downstream along the eastern bank of the river, with views of boats and bird life, wide open skies and low-lying fields (which were marshes before the area was drained and land reclaimed). Five miles in to our walk we can enjoy a drink at the aptly-named Five Miles From Anywhere Inn.

 

Our route then winds away from the river along a hedge-lined track and into the wetland nature reserve at Kingsfishers Bridge, where we’ll have our packed lunch stop. We then rejoin the river before the Cam flows into the River Great Ouse on its course to the Wash, and for the last 5 miles into Ely we’ll see the cathedral rise above the Fens like a ship ahead of us, the towers seeming like masts. We can have a closer look at this impressive building when we reach Ely, a tiny city built on what was once an island. Before catching our train back to Cambridge we may also have the chance to visit one of the local pubs.

 

Public Transport: Train from Cambridge to Waterbeach

Cost of transport: £3.20. N.B. buy a return to Ely from Cambridge.

 

Parking: Waterbeach Railway Station, Station Road, Waterbeach, CB5 9HT. Parking costs £2 (if parking in Waterbeach, you will then need to catch the train back there from Ely)