Winter arrived with this walk.  Beautiful blue skies with barely a cloud to be seen, cold but not that cold, all-in-all a perfect day for a hike in the English countryside (despite what those dullards at Wonderlust magazine might have to say about the matter.)

Waterbeach is a village a few miles north-east of Cambridge and it was here that I began the hike.

At Waterbeach
At Waterbeach

A frosty white path took me down towards and alongside the River Cam.

Following the frost
Following the frost

I was on the Fen Rivers Way, a path of some 50 miles or so that starts in Cambridge where it follows the Cam until that river joins the Great Ouse. The path ends at King’s Lynn where the Ouse empties out into The Wash.

Fen Rivers Way marker
Fen Rivers Way marker

The walk is an enjoyable mix of slow moving river…

The Cam
The Cam

…and pleasant countryside.

A copse on the Cam
A copse on the Cam

I spotted a few likely looking wild-camping spots as I walked.  The lack of litter along the way indicated the path isn’t greatly used, always a good sign.

I took a break at the half way point and enjoyed sausage sarnies and some tea from my flask.

Lunchbreak self portrait
Lunch break self portrait

I met a couple of hikers also heading up to Ely.  I passed a runner (and what a place for a run!) and a few dog walkers.

Suddenly I was on the home stretch, five miles to go!

At Pope’s Corner the Cam flows into the Great Ouse.

The Cam meets the Great Ouse at Pope's Corner
The Cam meets the Great Ouse at Pope’s Corner

From here onwards I had Ely Cathedral to guide me homewards

Ely Cathedral in the distance from the Great Ouse
Ely Cathedral in the distance from the Great Ouse

A short while later I was on the Ely waterfront, heading towards a pint at the Cutter Inn.

Ely waterfront
Ely waterfront

And an excellent pint it was too.  The perfect end to a fine winter’s river walk.

A pint of Adnams at the Cutter Inn, Ely
A pint of Adnams at the Cutter Inn, Ely

 

8 thoughts on “Waterbeach to Ely via two fen rivers

  1. I have walked all over the country, and Waterbeach to Ely is one of my favourite strolls, and one I do fairly often. There is something about the way Ely Cathedral slowly grows in front of your eyes, giving meaning to the moniker ‘the ship of the Fens’. I hope the new road bridge won’t spoil that…

    Have you ever done the eastern bank? It is less good in my opinion, but can give a different perspective on the rivers.

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