Walking Cambridge

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The RSPB Bird Sanctuary is located between Fen Drayton, Swavesey and Holywell. The wonderful wetlands are certainly one of the most beautiful Cambridgeshire walks and span about 25 miles along the Great Ouse floodplain. You have now reached one of the most iconic vistas in Cambridge. Immediately to your right is the early 18th century Senate House, the official centre of the University. Next to it are the Old Schools, where an 18th century facade masks the medieval buildings that housed the first university administration and library. Beyond them is the glorious panorama of King’s College, usually besieged by throngs of tourists along King’s Parade. Before you venture to join them, take a minute to look at the church to your left. Some of the best hiking trails in Cambridge begin in this medieval heart and take you through the parks and meadows alongside the river. Wander south to the pretty village of Grantchester where you can find a bite to eat amongst the thatched cottages and enjoy tranquil views. Or head north through commons to villages like Fen Ditton and Horningsea. Offering a window onto a largely lost landscape, Fen Drayton Lakes is a collection of lakes, ponds, and lagoons, stemming from the River Ouse. This small example typifies the challenge Cambridge faces today – how should it develop to meet the needs of its population, both students and residents, without damaging the city’s architectural heritage?

We offer some of the best guided walking tours in Cambridge. Walking and Punting Tours and Bespoke Tours of Cambridge. Visit famous historic and University sights with an experienced, friendly local historian welcoming visitors from around the world. All our tours are unique as we specialise in small groups and encourage interaction and questions. Michaelhouse was originally the second residential college to be established in Cambridge, but on this trail, its recent alteration in use is of interest to us. The early 14th century collegiate church united with Great St. Mary’s in 1908 when its parish became too small. In 2001-2 it was converted into a multi-purpose building. It is now a gallery, small performance space and café and is still occasionally used for church services. Michaelhouse is a quiet testament to how the city is changing in more subtle ways. Our tours cater to a maximum of 12 people, but can vary if more places are needed for group bookings WALKING AND PUNTING tOUR One of only four medieval round churches still in use in England, the Round Church is constructed in the Gothic architectural style. The visitor’s center offers exhibits on the history of the city and the church. It is the perfect place to begin our walking tour because of its iconic appearance and central location in the Cambridge city center. From the Gothic spires of the centuries-old university colleges and chapels, follow the River Cam for three miles through meadows to the famous Orchard Tear Garden.When you enter Trumpington Street, pause for a minute to appreciate the view in both directions. There is a perfection in this road’s built environment that exemplifies the very best of Cambridge. Among the pleasing variety of urban styles, two large buildings stand out. This social group meets all year round at 10am every Thursday morning, with the slower walk starting at 10.30am. Walks are well-attended, with 40 people joining most weeks. Some people like it so much they do both walks! Teas/coffees are available afterwards. There are several miles of walks at this reserve on the western edge of Cambridge. We have four waymarked trails: Summer is also a special time at the reserve, when the meadows are filled with orchids and wetland flowers – such as water dropworts and the delicate lesser water plantain – attracting an array of colourful butterflies. Look out for great crested newts too, along with grazing ponies and deer. Criss-crossed with pathways that rise and dip with the Teletubby-esque mounds, the otherworldly landscape was created from the spoils of a medieval quarry. Come at Easter to see the rare pasqueflowers, or in June and July when the reserve is scented with fragrant orchid and butterflies flutter through the profusion of wildflowers.

If that's not enough, you can join the public rights of way network to explore the surrounding Gog Magog Hills. To the north you can walk along the historic Roman Road and to the south you can cross the A1307 to explore the paths at Magog Down.It is a particularly special place to visit in the spring, when bright sunlight illuminates hundreds of colorful flowers. A small admission fee allows you to wander the garden at your leisure and engage in scholarly thought – or just enjoy the scenery.

By the time of the Norman invasion in the 11th century, two distinct settlements existed: the port on the east bank and the fortified township on the hill to the northwest. The Normans built a ‘motte and bailey’ castle on the hill and the Domesday Book recorded a settlement of 370 houses around the stronghold. From these modest beginnings, Cambridge has grown into a city with over 125,000 inhabitants.Flower meadows, meandering riverside pathways, charming settlements of thatched cottages and historic churches, this flat five-mile walk has it all. Take time to explore the handsome market town of St Ives with its narrow streets and olde world pubs. Stop by at the Norris Museum to find out about the local history of the Great Ouse Valley and the town.

Cambridge lies in the south of the Fens, a vast, low-lying plain which, in some places, lies below sea level. A network of footpaths and byways criss-cross this region, allowing you to hike for as long as you like. There are numerous idiosyncrasies of the Fens that you can seek out too, like its old windmills: Madingley, Fulbourn, Impington and Swaffham Prior. As you walk, you’ll find drainage channels, historic halls and former Roman roads.

8. St John’s College

Nevertheless, there is a bigger picture playing out in Cambridge as a whole and the surrounding countryside. Speculative residential and commercial property schemes, fuelled by sky high house prices and rent levels, are having a major impact on the urban fabric. Cambridgeshire’s population is predicted to rise by over 20% in the next 15 years and tens of thousands of new homes are planned on the city fringes, in existing villages and two large new towns throughout the county. In March, the woodlands, meadows, and marshlands of Castor Hanglands near Peterborough are literally awash with frogs and toads. Up to two thousand amphibians inhabit the reserve, the ponds filled first with clumps of frogspawn, followed by tadpoles then fully-formed adults. It’s sometimes difficult not to tread on them as you wander along the reserve’s pathways, particularly during a wet spell. Your walk has taken you through the city centre, illustrating many of Cambridge’s architectural glories and the prevailing sense of history conferred by the University. At the same time you will have been aware of the obvious threats to this precious environment: the intrusion of traffic on a medieval street plan, vehicle noise and pollution, the weight of tourist numbers in ‘honey pot’ locations, the commercial pressures for inappropriate building developments. Cambridge historical colleges form the main attraction of this college town. Walking down King’s Parade is a beautiful experience.