Walking Cambridge

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Where to park in Cambridge? Parking at the Grand Arcade is the best place for starting your walking tour of historical Cambridge UK since they are rebuilding the Round church parking structure. Parking structures have very narrow parking spots in England, so be careful about driving in England and go slowly. Get ready for a climb! At the North end of King’s Parade, we will come across Great St Mary’s Church. From the punting station, follow the riverside path south, crossing the A1134 to continue along the River Cam. Head past Cambridge Canoe Club and go right at the fork. Cross the footbridge. Head round the eastern side of Lammas Land Car Park loop to join the river again and follow the riverside path through Paradise Local Nature Reserve. Where the path ends, continue west along Grantchester Meadows Road, then through Skater’s Meadow to meet the river again.

There’s no shortage of verdant, green hikes from Cambridge’s historic heart into its glorious landscape. Following the River Cam is one of the easiest ways to ensure a stunning walk where nature bursts out of the landscape with every footstep. In the city, the Cam is spanned by ornate bridges with parks often lining its banks. You can follow it out along riverside paths and before you know it, you’ll be strolling through the vibrant countryside with the river as your companion. Keep an eye out for kingfishers as you can often see these tiny, brightly coloured birds fishing. When you reach Magdalene Bridge, look downstream with Magdalene College on your left and Quayside on the right bank. Magdalene is pronounced ‘Maudleyn’, a fine piece of vanity that recalls Lord Audley of Walden, Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor, who re-founded the college in 1542. 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.

4. A walk through historic Cambridge

Avoid Unpaved - tries to avoid roads and paths with unmade surfaces that may not be suitable for road bikes Watch my video about planning a trip to Cambridge. This is a simple video that walks you through my custom maps and routes for planning a great trip to Cambridge, UK. The BY BIKE auto-plot option will follow any roads and paths that are flagged as accessible for bikes on OpenStreetMap (OSM). You should assume that you will need a multi-terrain bike. Park in the village and walk down Walcot Road to the entrance of Hills and Holes. Follow the boundary path that runs between the nature reserve and Walcot House and emerge at Heath Road. At the junction, where The Green Drift and Mill Road meet, cross over and follow the old Roman Road, Ermine Street (also on the Hereward Way) through fields, then into the parkland of Burghley House. Cambridge historical colleges form the main attraction of this college town. Walking down King’s Parade is a beautiful experience.

Built in 1967, the ‘Grad Pad’ makes no concessions to its setting on the historic Mill Pool. What is your reaction to its ‘brutalist’ architecture, in terms of both size and materials? One disgruntled long time Cambridge resident has described it as ‘a perfect example of a building in the wrong place’!

Where the Hereward Way meets the Old Great North Road (less romantically known as the B1081), follow the road down towards Stamford, turning left into First Drill Lane and right over a stile to drop through fields into town. Head for the George Hotel for lunch, a historic coaching inn with opulent rooms, and a gorgeous leafy courtyard. 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. Built over the first 35 years of Queen Victoria’s reign, the Museum was funded by a bequest from Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion. After graduating from Trinity Hall Fitzwilliam embarked on his Grand Tour – a journey through Europe’s cultural treasures taken by many an aristocrat of the Victorian age. The museum was originally designed to house the collection of paintings, books, prints, manuscripts and objets d’art with which he returned from his travels. Since then there have been several extensions, the latest in 2003/4, which created a modern wing featuring a beautiful, naturally lit covered courtyard.

This guided walking tour of Cambridge takes in some of the famous colleges and historic sights of the city as you meander down quaint alleyways and tread the cobbled streets. You will hear quirky facts and stories of the colleges and their colourful alumni, all set within the context of English and world history, many fascinating tales of city life through the ages not generally mentioned in the guide books. Is Cambridge UK walkable? Oh yes, very much so. Actually, walking is the best way to experience Cambridge.

Cambridge To Ely

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Round Church, is a Norman church with a circular nave, the oldest of only five such churches in the UK. 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. It may sometimes be necessary to dismount from your bike. Please observe local laws regarding right of way.