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Cambridge to Ely Walk

18 miles (29 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Enjoy a lovely waterside walk along the River Cam and River Great Ouse from Cambridge to Ely. The route runs for about 18 miles on nice flat paths so could be completed in a day. You can catch a direct train back to Cambridge at the end of your walk.
It's a really beautiful stretch of water with pretty marinas, lots of wildlife and lovely views of the surrounding Cambridgeshire countryside.
Starting in Cambridge the route passes Milton Country Park, Horningsea, Waterbeach, Upware, Little Thetford before arriving in Ely.
The route uses a section of the Fen Rivers Way long distance trail. You can extend the walk by continuing along the Great Ouse to Littleport.
You can also link up with the Harcamlow Way near Horningsea.

Cambridge to Ely Walk OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Cambridge to Ely Walk Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head a few miles south of the city and you could visit the nearby village of Haslingfield. Here you'll find pleasant walks along the River Rhee, rows of quaint thatched cottages, a church dating back to the 12th century and a noteworthy Tudor Manor House where Queen Elizabeth I stayed during the 16th century.
Just to the north of the city is the delightful Wicken Fen. The nature reserve is a great place for walking and cycling with flowering meadows, reedbeds, waterways and an abundance of wildlife to see. The Lodes Way can also be picked up here. This circular walk or cycle follows National Cycle Route 11 through the Cambridgeshire Lodes, a series of ancient man made waterways created to link a series of Fenland villages to the River Cam. On the way it visits the Jacobean mansion of Anglesey Abbey. The historic site includes some beautiful gardens with ornate statues and herbaceous borders.

Photos

Pleasure boat approaching railway bridge - geograph.org.uk - 470920

Pleasure boat approaching railway bridge

The Cam near Horningsea - geograph.org.uk - 386865

The Cam near Horningsea

Towards Clayhithe from the towpath-cycleway along the Cam - geograph.org.uk - 661821

Towards Clayhithe from the towpath-cycleway along the Cam

Waterbeach - geograph.org.uk - 373667

Waterbeach

River Cam between Upware and Waterbeach - geograph.org.uk - 897475

River Cam between Upware and Waterbeach

River Cam, Upware - geograph.org.uk - 476412

River Cam, Upware

Shelter near Pumphouse - geograph.org.uk - 418094

Shelter near Pumphouse

Railway Bridge over the Great Ouse - geograph.org.uk - 488088

Railway Bridge over the Great Ouse, Ely

GPS Files

GPX File

Cambridge to Ely Walk.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Cambridge to Ely Walk.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)