Stretham Walks
Stretham Walks – What’s It All About?
We have some lovely walks in and around Stretham. In these difficult times with self-isolation and personal-distancing it’s good to get out for some fresh air locally, close to home. Most of these walks are on grass footpaths, some are on pavements and some require crossing fairly busy roads. For those with children to amuse, some of the routes include the recreation ground, the play parks and the river.
** Times are approximate
Stretham Walks – What’s On Offer?
The ‘Staying in Stretham’ walk is all in Stretham village and obviously you can start where you like. In this version it starts and ends near the Red Lion and the Post Office. If you are taking children on an adventure, this walk includes both the Topsy & Tim, and the Short Road play parks, and the All-Weather Surface and Recreation Ground.
~ I make no apology for highlighting where main roads have to be crossed.
Stretham Street Map – Link
For street names and Stretham village facilities this recently updated street map is excellent. Published by Stretham Parish Council, it is Councillor Richard Nuttall’s exceptionally good, modern version of the original, created, I believe, by Bill Wakefield. Stretham Street Map
** This map was copied from Bing Maps. Open Bing Maps and search for Stretham. Click top-right drop-down and select Ordnance Survey.
To measure how far you walked, Google Earth offers a brilliant tool. Open Google Earth and search for Stretham. Click the little ruler in the left sidebar and move your start point under the icon in the centre and then click ‘Add Point’. Then move the map to the next one.
Dog Poo Bins
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- Churchyard: On footpath at top corner
- Newmarket Road / Chapel Street junction
- Short Road / Wilburton Road junction
- Short Road: Near Rec’ car park
- Fieldside / Green End cut: At Wakefield’s Way
- Jubilee Garden: High Street / Newmarket Road junction
- Top Street: Outside Hazel Court
- Manor Farm: Near Feast Green
- Manor Farm: Near Plantation Gate
- Manor Farm: Near entry
- Green End: In lay-by just out of village
Stretham Walks
In Stretham – 1 hour+
Wilburton Road & Parsons Drove – 1 hour
Rear of the Church to Mill Way – 50 mins
High Street then Cage Lane to the River
Back Lane to Mill Way to Wilburton Road – 50 mins+
Gravel Farm Bridge to the Fish and Duck Marina – 1 hour+
(1) Staying in Stretham – 1 hour +
Easy walking – on map above
Type of walk: Circular with options
What’s good: Play parks; No major roads
Be aware of: Can be a bit muddy in places after a rainy period
This version: Start and finish at the Village Cross outside the Post Office.
Cross the road towards the Church and either go through the churchyard, or turn right past the front of the old Chequers pub and immediately left by Les Yardy’s and along the narrow footpath. Turn right and follow the grassy footpath, Back Lane, until it turns back towards the Ely Road near the Topsy & Tim playpark.
Cross the road and take the footpath by the side of the school playground until you reach the bottom of Berry Close.
Walk out of Berry Close, do a slight left and right into the footpath which leads into the bottom of Berry Green. Now head out of Berry Green, cross the end of Wood Lane towards the cemetery.
As you go across the village end of the cemetery please keep children and dogs under strict control.
Go through the gate to leave the cemetery and follow a grassy path down to Plantation Gate where you turn right towards Brook Lane and turn left.
When you reach the short lane on your right, Goose Lane (no sign), this will take you through to Read Street where you cross the road and then go left and right into Chapel Lane through to Chapel Street with Pump Lane opposite.
Head up Pump Lane to the High Street – you pass Stretham’s only thatched house on the right – now turn left and cross the road down to Newmarket Road.
Cross on the pedestrian crossing and go left and right into Cage Lane. Follow Cage Lane to the end and then take the narrow footpath, straight ahead of you to Fieldside where you turn right towards the Recreation Ground.
Keeping to the left boundary on the field, pass the Bowls Club and the all-weather surface until you come to Wilburton Road just by the bus shelter.
Cross the road, (can be very busy), turning right towards the other bus shelter, and then turn left onto the footpath which will take you back towards the centre of the village.
At the T junction turn right and either go through the churchyard back to the Red Lion, or follow the path round to the left until you come to the converted malting barn and take the narrow footpath down the right side, back to Les Yardy’s and the Post Office.
(2) Wilburton Road & Parsons Drove – 1 hour
Easy walking – on map above
Type of walk: Circular walk with various options to shorten it
What’s good: Play park; Brilliant view of Ely Cathedral on a clear day
Be aware of: Crosses the A10; Can be a very muddy in places after a rainy period
This walk takes you out on the Wilburton Road [you have to cross at the Stretham Roundabout] to Parsons Drove on your right. Up the hill, (on top of the world!), and turn right back towards the Stretham windmill. [Again, you have to cross the main road].
From the Post Office cross the road to the church and follow the churchyard straight ahead through some bushes to a drove and carry on straight.
About 100 metres before the A10, turn left and head down to Wilburton Road and turn right.
Keep following this road over the roundabout at the A10 [Busy road] until you reach a signposted drove running straight to the right which you follow – Parsons Drove. At the junction at the top of the hill, on a clear day you get a brilliant view of Ely Cathedral! Turn right.
You will soon see the Stretham windmill ahead of you framed by the trees.
At the A10 [Busy road] cross into Ely Road heading right until the Topsy & Tim play park is on your left.
Turn right into Back Lane and follow it down to the churchyard wall. Turn left by the old granary and you are back at the Village Cross.
(3) Rear of Church to Mill Way – 50 mins
Easy walking – on map above
Type of walk: Circular
What’s good: Play park; Some nice views
Be aware of: Main roads; Can be a very muddy in places after a rainy period
From the Village Cross go through the churchyard or up the alley by Les Yardy’s to the back of the church and head towards the A10. [Busy road].
Go straight across over two footbridges and head diagonally across the ‘locked’ field. *Look out for evidence of the ridge-and-furrow field system in this meadow.
Follow the path to the Mill Way, turn right and head for the windmill.
[Busy road]. Head towards the village in Ely Road until you reach the Elephant play park and turn right to follow Back Lane to the church. [Details to come]
(4) High Street, Cage Lane to the River – 75 mins
Easy walking
Type of walk: Circular or there and back to avoid walking along Green End
What’s good: Play park; Nice views of the river; Pooh Sticks under the bridge; See route option
Be aware of: Green End traffic; Can be a very muddy in places after a rainy period
Based on starting from Stretham village centre near the Red Lion, this is a great walk on a nice day. It can be very muddy in places after wet weather but otherwise it follows grass footpaths.
From the Village Cross go down the High Street to the pedestrian crossing on Newmarket Road.
Cross and turn into Cage Lane to the end and then along the alley through to Fieldside.
Now turn left. At the end, enter the ‘cut’ and turn right at the footpath sign into Wakefields Way. This path will now take you all the way to the river.
[OPTION: At the fourth footbridge you could turn left on to Everitt’s Drove and head across to Green End and then turn left back towards the village. !! Be aware of faster traffic on Green End!! *If you walk across to Green End, you might notice that the ditch on your left bends and twists, unlike most other fen drains. It is thought that this is the boundary of what was once Stretham Mere. Close to the road on the opposite side of Green End at the ‘T’ junction is the site of a Roman villa.]
Once at the river flood bank turn left to the river bridge which is at the end of Green End. [Pooh sticks under the bridge is obligatory for all ages here!!]
Now head back towards Stretham on Green End – or retrace your steps along the grass paths.
[Do be aware of Green End traffic. Not all drivers consider walkers.]
<>Stretham Walks | Walks in and around Stretham village.
(5) Back Lane Across A10 to Mill Way to Wilburton Road and down Fieldside
Easy walking – on map above
Type of walk: Longer circular walk with various options to shorten it
What’s good: Play parks; Brilliant view of Ely Cathedral on a clear day
Be aware of: Crosses the A10; Can be a very muddy in places after a rainy period
Starting at the Cross go across the road to the Old Chequers and then do a right and a left up beside Les Yardy’s house and into the alley ahead of you.
Turn right into Back Lane and follow this to the Topsy & Tim play park on Ely Road. Go left towards the A10. Cross the A10 into Mill Way. [Busy road]
[Option: You can turn left after the first big field. The path takes you to a ‘locked’ field. Cross it diagonally and then head for the church spire. The A10 can get very busy.]
Follow Mill Way to the ‘T’ junction with Parsons Drove. [Look towards Ely to see the Cathedral.]
Turn left and head down to the Wilburton Road and turn left again.
At the roundabout [Busy road] go straight ahead and be ready to cross over to the recreation ground staying to the right side passing the All Weather Surface by the back of the Bowls Club.
Once at Short Road near the car park entrance turn left and go straight on into Fieldside.
At the bottom follow the cut through to Green End and turn left towards the village.
At the junction with Newmarket Road turn right and take the first left into Chapel Street and follow it up to the Post Office and the Red Lion.
Gravel Farm Bridge to the Fish and Duck Marina
Easy walking
Type of walk: Circular or there and back
What’s good: River: Views; Boats; Wildlife; Traffic-free other than parking
Be aware of: Park safely; Can be muddy; Evidence of grazing cattle
“Golden Ring” – A short poem about the Autumn. (Opens in a new page.)
Stretham Old Engine – Gravel Farm – Meadow Farm
3.4 miles Footpaths only. Crosses main Wicken Road
Can be muddy after wet weather.
Heading down the High Street towards the Newmarket Road, cross on pedestrian crossing into Cage Lane. Follow footpath at the end into Fieldside and turn left to the cut footpath.
After bungalow, turn right into Wakefield’s Way and stay on this path until you reach the Old West river where you turn left along the top of the flood bank.
Cross the Green End road bridge and pick up the path by the river beyond the Old Engine.
At Gravel Farm on the Wicken Road cross the bridge to the Stretham side and follow the flood bank path until the left hand path which takes you back to Meadow Farm.
In Plantation Gate turn left into Brook Lane. Turn right through Goose Lane (not marked), and then left and right into Chapel Lane to Chapel Street.
Turn right to head back to the Post Office.
Stretham Short Walk
About Half A Mile. Mostly pavements in the village except for Brook Lane.
From the village Cross by the Red Lion and the Post Office go down the High Street a short way into Pump Lane on your left.
When you reach Chapel Street cross into Chapel Lane and the do a left and right into Goose Lane (not signed) to Brook Lane and turn left. (No pavements).
When you get to Reed Street turn right up to Top Street and back to the High Street and turn left to the Red Lion.
Plantation Gate to the Fish & Duck Marina to Wakefields Way
Easy walking – Circular – Approx’ 5 miles
What’s good: Little or no traffic; Views; Wildlife; River; Boats
Be aware of: Crossing the road at Gravel Farm; Evidence of cattle on the flood banks
Walks close to the village:
Kingfishers Bridge Nature Reserve
Easy walking – map on their website
Type of walk: Circular, or there and back
What’s good: River, Fen and Washes; No roads; Animals
Be aware of: Free parking; No charge but donations box near office
Signposted to the left of the Stretham to Wicken road opposite the Upware turn. Excellent walking. Plenty to see. Safe, peaceful and great fun.
Wicken Fen Car Park into the fen
Easy walking – map from Visitor Centre
Type of walk: There and back
What’s good: Waterway; Wildlife; No major roads; Docky Hut cafe
Be aware of: Can be very muddy on grass path
Wicken Fen Nature Reserve, owned and managed by the National Trust is a brilliant place for a walk, with numerous options.
Members park free – otherwise small charge.
Can be very muddy after wet weather!
Wicken Village and Fen Circular
Easy walking
Type of walk: Circular
What’s good: Monks and Wicken Lodes; Wicken playpark; The pub; The Docky Hut
Be aware of: Can be muddy near Monks Lode gate at the Wicken end
Wicken village has some lovely features. You can park in the village or at the National Trust Wicken Fen car park.
There’s a play park, a windmill, the Maids Head pub and the Wicken Fen Visitor Centre and Docky Hut cafe to keep everyone happy! You might even see some Konik ponies!
Upware car park to the Lock footpath to pub – Road back to car park, or return
Easy walking
Type of walk: Circular, or there and back
What’s good: Very short walk; River and Washes; No major roads; The pub
Be aware of: Agricultural traffic on road to and from car park
Upware car park to the Lock follow Reach Lode to Cock Up bridge and back
Easy walking
Type of walk: There and back
What’s good: Parking; The Lock; Moored boats; The Lode; Views across the Fen
Be aware of: Car park can be muddy; Agricultural traffic between car park and lock
Ely circular taking in Jubilee Gardens, the river, the cathedral and Cherry Hill
Easy walking on paved paths. Map on Ely website
Type of walk: Circular with options
What’s good: Free parking; Places and buildings; The Gallery; Play parks; No major roads
Be aware of: Market days Thursday and Saturday
E&OE – Please let me know if bits need editing.
Thankyou
Neil
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Walks in and around the village of Stretham, near Ely, Cambridgeshire, and local to Stretham.
Neil Ford – Ely Website SEO – Website promotion specialist – Local and Regional SEO – “Improving Website Performance”