St Ives to the Pike & Eel (Needingworth)

Even by my usual busy standards, things at work were crazy, but it was a lovely day and I was determined to take some time off this afternoon. I'd booked my usual Sunday night accommodation at the Bedford South Premier Inn, and we did this short walk on the way there. We parked one car in a lay-by near the Pike & Eel (TL358714) and the other in the long stay car park on the edge of St Ives (TL317713).

We crossed the A1096 and set off down what is shown on the OS map as a track towards the Park and Ride, but which is actually a dusty and not very pleasant road, although there are some nice views over flooded gravel pits to the north. On the other side of the road we passed, in order, the St Ives "Farm Club" (which looks interesting and has a cafe), the Park and Ride for The Busway (along which "guided buses" run to Cambridge) and Marshalls ("the UK's leading hard landscaping manufacturer"). There were also noisy motor bikes somewhere to our right.

The road eventually became more track-like and quieter, and terminated at a gated lake. Here we turned right along a rutted and muddy track, which brought us to the River Great Ouse. We turned left by the river and the rest of the walk was very pleasant. We followed the river for about a quarter of a mile, through a field of photogenic cows, then we turned left and climbed slightly towards Holywell Church. There had been occasional Ouse Valley Way signs but this turning, which we are fairly sure we made at the right point, was not signed.

We passed the "Holy Well" which gives Holywell its name, and emerged onto a minor road by the attractive church. We turned right and walked through the tiny village, with many thatched cottages. At the end of the row of houses was the Old Ferry Boat Inn, one of many pubs which claim to be the oldest in England, and a hive of activity on a sunny Sunday afternoon, with boats moored nearby.

There is no public access to the river bank between the Old Ferry Boat Inn and the Pike & Eel; the Ouse Valley Way follows a raised path (presumably a flood barrier for Needingworth, which is just to the north) which essentially cuts off a meander. After about a mile we reached the lay-by where we had parked and kept walking for a short distance so as to return at the river by the Pike & Eel. There is a fair sized marina here, and again a lot of activity. We had a meal at the Pike & Eel years ago, and Over Church spire was clearly visible on the other side of the river - both reminders that we are getting close to where we used to live in Willingham. In fact we have walked along the opposite bank of the river here at Overcote several times in the past.

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