This is the set of 2024 Saturday Walks to October 2024. The remainder of the year's Saturday walks will be decided at the September AGM.
We are also running shorter monthly Friday walks over the summer. These are shown below, after the Saturday walks list, to save confusion.
Anyone wanting to come along on a walk is asked to send an email to fenedge.footpathgroup@gmail.com which will be communicated to the walk organiser. This system is run alongside a googlegroup email, so please use this group email instead once you have subscribed.
For planning reasons most organisers prefer more than one weeks notice if you'd like to join the walk.
Details:
A walk starting in Rampton - aiming to take in the new lake at Northstowe, final details TBC
Contact: Vanessa
Details:
Witchford - A circular walk of approximately 6 miles, taking in the old airfield, with views of Ely cathedral and across the fens to Stretham, Wilburton and Haddenam. Much of the walk is on good footpaths, so hopefully it won't be too muddy. Duration, around two and a half to three hours. Meeting at the Village Inn, Main Street, Witchford at 10am. Bring drinks and a snack. There are no facilities on this walk, but the Village Inn should be open on our return to the village.
Contacts: Pauline & Tony
Details:
Circular walk from Great Eversden, 7 to 8 miles, with hills giving fine views towards Royston and Cambridge, weather permitting, and visiting the Wimpole estate with a cafe etc. It is mainly on easy paths but there are some parts where it may be muddy. There is an alternative shorter route, 5 to 6 miles, not including the visit to Wimpole. Meet at 10am to Great Eversden church, ///trombone.store.reinstate, Grid ref 366534
Contact: Roger
Details:
The Three Greens Walk - Starting in Brinkley, this is a 6 mile circular walk through rolling Suffolk countryside, taking in the villages of Willingham Green, Weston Green and Borough Green. It follows well trodden footpaths and byways with some gentle ups and downs and should take about 3 hours. Some of the footpaths are a bit slippy so poles might be a good idea.
Meet 10am MR 629547 (W3W forest.lyrics.daffodils), park on Beech Croft (turn right just after the Church in Brinkley, if full park on verge opposite.
Bring coffee and packed lunch, we aim to finish 13:00-13:30
Contact: Will & Linda
Details:
Bury St Edmunds: A 7 mile looped walk exploring beautiful Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding open countryside. Meet at 10am at the entrance to Ram Meadow Car Park, Cotton Lane, IP33 1XP, parking charge is £3 in Bury St Edmunds, what3words: chitchat.parading.toasted. We will have lunch at Nowton Country Park, so either bring a packed lunch or you can eat at the cafe. We will finish at the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds if you wish to explore further. The route has hills and steps, so please plan accordingly.
(this is a repeat of the Bury walk from 2023 Summer Walk Schedule)
Contact: Chris & Claire
Details:
Harlton and Barrington - a walk of 6miles with gentle climbs and good views.
Our starting point will be from a carpark (POST CODE CB22 7SQ ///pass.calms.panoramic) at 10am. Your SATNAV should take you along the A603 (Wimpole Road) and past two left turns to Harlton. Turn left at the third turn (Orwell). Go through Orwell keeping to the same road and continuing beyond to a right angle turn. There is parking on the left of the turn. Bring a drink /snack for a break
Contact: Ian & Ann
Details:
Ely, riverside, country park and Fens. Distance: Shorter 5.5 miles, with an additional 2.35 miles approximately.
Meeting 10am at the Fishermans Car park, at the bottom of Willow Walk in Ely.
Contact: Eileen
All walks are free to attend. Walkers should make their own arrangements, car sharing where possible, to get to the starting point, but if anyone does not have transport, please contact us.
Anyone sharing lifts is advised to take all precautions recommended for reducing the risk of contracting/passing on the Covid19 virus (face masks in vehicle, driving with windows wound down etc).
Contact for Walking Week: Chris and Claire
Monday 9th Sept: Brampton Wood & Grafham Water 7.25 miles
A lovely circular walk through the 900 year old Brampton Wood and along the edge of Grafham Water (we will pass through the visitor centre towards the end of the walk where refreshments and facilities are available). Parking is free @ Brampton Wood Nature Reserve PE28 0DB ///buckets.fidgeting.butterfly. (TL 18441 69804). Meet at 10am, bring a snack and lunch.
Tuesday 10th Sept: Saffron Walden 8.5 miles
A beautiful walk through the rolling hills in Essex, we set off through Audley End and finish in the beautiful Bridge End Gardens. Parking in Swan Meadow Car Park CB10 1DA £3.70 for 5 hours or £4.70 all day - meet at the Southern End of the car park ///shrub.venue.drove (TL 53464 38431). Meet at 10am bring a snack and lunch. Facilities are limited.
Wednesday 11th Sept: Great Chishill 7.52 miles
Another walk through the rolling hills taking in the highest points in both Cambridgeshire and Essex, so this walk does include hills! There is a stop for a pub lunch (if you prefer a packed lunch there is a park close by), meet in Great Chishill ///brightly.roughness.simulates (TL 42303 3889). Meet at 10am, bring a snack and lunch or get a meal at the pub.
Thursday 12th September : No walk.
Meet at 1pm by the pond at the top of Broad Lane (as previous years). Please bring your own snacks and drinks and seating if required.
Contact: Vanessa, Chris and Claire
Details:
Starting at Bluntisham at 10am GR 373744 and parking across the road from St Mary’s Church at Hollidays Road.
Walking to Somersham then Earith and back.
It should take about 3 hours plus stops.
There is a nice cafe in Somersham if we have time.
Contact: David Thomas
Details:
A 6 mile (or over) circular walk starting in Great Chesterford, there is an option for some people to loop back earlier for a 3 mile walk if preferred
Meet at 10 am, provisional starting point The Plough, Great Chesterford (///drags.cute.bombshell)
Contact: David Bruce
This (holly) walk will not take place from this year forward as numbers attending on boxing day have dwindled making it an unsustainable event.
FRIDAY WALKS:-
General Details For Friday walks
Start time for walks: 10.30am at the start venue, but may change if the weather is predicted hot.
Refreshments: Please bring a drink and an energy snack along for all walks.
Clothing: Please wear suitable walking shoes or boots and dress for the weather.
Equipment: Walking poles should not be needed for most of the walks, however might be useful for the “hills”.
Walk Speed and Leadership: Walks follow simple routes to allow for the range of walking speeds. The walk leader will give some simple advice at the start of the walk to ensure the group does not get separated. A volunteer will be needed to act as back marker if the number of walkers is large.
Pre-registration for walks : The walk leader will send an email out about a week before the walk with the final details of the walk and requesting confirmation of walkers attendance.
Travel to walk start point: Walkers are expected to make their own arrangements for getting to the start point. If anyone needs a lift, let the walk leader know and they will try & help organise this.
Friday 10th May : American Cemetery and Coton
A 2.5 mile walk exploring the Universities “800 wood” and American Cemetery near Madingley, which is interesting and has great views over the surrounding area. For those doing this short walk, I recommend visiting Madingley Hall afterwards. An option to extend the walk to 4.5 miles visiting Coton village and returning on the same route. Both parts of the walk include “hills” and steps and potentially muddy areas. Meet at 10.30am opposite the entrance to Madingley Hall and parking opposite to the white posts at the side of the road TL 396 603, what3words- dragon.gasp.visit. For those wishing to do both parts of the walk, please bring some picnic lunch and drinks.
Friday 28th June : Fen Dayton Lakes RSPB Nature Reserve
A very easy and flat walk around Fen Drayton Lakes, although there may be mud if it has been raining much. You can choose at the start of the walk from a 2.6 mile, a 4.3 mile and a 5.8 mile walk, around either 1, 2 or 3 lakes. For those wanting to do the shorter walks please let me know at the start, and I will point out along the way the route back to the car park or guided bus station. Meet at 10.30am at the main nature reserve car park TL 342 690, what3words- bronze.shine.airbrush. Car parking is £2 for non RSPB members by the paybyphone app. For those doing the full walk please bring your lunch and drinks and we will find a picnic bench.
Friday 5th July : Kingfishers Bridge
An easy and flat 2.5 mile walk around the Kingfishers Bridge Nature reserve, hopefully seeing the water buffalo (Dumbo is still there I believe for those who came last time) and Konik ponies as well as getting a view over the reserve from the hide on the mound. Meet at 10.30am in the Reserve car park (parking fee £5) postcode CB7 5XL what3words- regrowth.rods.stump. I suggest bringing a drink and snack.
Friday 6th September: Eddington & Girton
A 4 mile level walk exploring the new development of Eddington and it’s parks and a quick foray into Girton. Some gentle inclines, but otherwise easy walking. Meet at 9.45am in the Madingley Road Park&Ride on the opposite side to the entrance of the car park TL 424 594, what3words- sketch.risks.ruby. For those that wish to walk an extra 1 mile we’ll go to the pond on the University Grounds. Lunch options are a picnic at the Eddington or University ponds or treating yourself to a University Cafe lunch.
Friday 11th October : Bar Hill
An exploratory and challenging 3 mile loop around Bar Hill’s ring road, including a little hidden nature reserve. This route is mostly on inclines, so please bear this in mind. Anyone wanting to stretch themselves even further can join me scaling the dizzy height of the new cycle bridge for a bit of fun and some views over the A14 and new road layout. Meet at 11am outside Bar Hill library what3words- blueberry.somewhere.limelight. Park where you can, normally plenty of room nearby. I suggest bringing a drink and snack, but you could visit the chippy afterwards….
Friday 22nd November : Cambridge Colleges
A level, easy 5 to 6 mile walk exploring the Cambridge Colleges around “the Backs”. Meet at 11am in the Madingley Road Park & Ride near the main building at the centre of the car park , what3words- planet.covers.active (Note: this is a change to the original meeting point). Most of the walk will be on footpaths.
We will find a friendly cafe for lunch so only a light snack and a drink are needed to bring with you.
To shorten the walk by 2 miles, you might like to catch a bus from St Andrews St, outside John Lewis store front, Stop S1. Buses run every 10 minutes back to the P&R.