Length: 23.5 km (14.6 miles) Under 12 miles without college tour
Toughness: 5 out of 10 But no steep hills today
London Kings Cross: 09-12 hrs Great Northern service to Ely
Arrive Cambridge: 10-03 hrs Change trains
Leave Cambridge: 10-20 hrs Greater Anglia service to Audley End
Arrive Shelford: 10-26 hrs
Return
Cambridge to Kings Cross: Great Northern fast service at 13 mins and 44 mins past the hour
Cambridge to St Pancras: Thameslink stopping service at 24 mins and 54 mins past the hour
Rail ticket: today you will need a day return to Cambridge plus an off peak single from Cambridge to Shelford
Like its fellow Book 1 Varsity walk (Oxford Circular), today's walk does not get many postings, and it is probably a while since Saturday walkers gave it a go. So opportunity knocks !
The morning is flat, along field edges, and possibly a little muddy, until we reach the village of Haslingfield, where the village pub - the Little Rose - might be open - although in previous years I have always found it closed / gone bust / awaiting a new tenant. There is a convenience store nearby for picnic provisions or K rations if required.
After Haslingfield, the terrain improves as we pass the Travelling Telescope and make our way to Grantchester. A later lunch could be taken here in one of its pubs, but if you had lunched or picnicked in Haslingfield, the recommendation is to take tea at The Orchard (actually it is de rigueur to take tea here when passing through Grantchester). The statue of Rupert Brooke in military uniform is nearby in the front garden of the Old Vicarage.
After tea, you have a choice of routes. The main route is to take the well trodden way beside the River Cam all the way into Cambridge, where if you wish you can take the walking tour of the Cambridge University Colleges, or head straight for the railway station. The alternative route, via Trumpington, is for those who wish to visit Byron's Pool and or the Botanic Gardens then head direct to the railway station, bypassing the College walking tour.
T=1.26
Walk Directions are here: L=1.26
1 comment:
Just n=8 of us today, including one first-timer (a Cambridge resident) but that is a good turnout for a Varsity walk (usually 2 to 5). When we set off It was w=foggy-to-start-with-then-overcast-with-glimpse-of-late-afternoon-sunshine. After visiting the lovely church in Great Shelford to admire its mural we took the permissive route along field edges from Little Shelford to Hauxton, which was a little muddy but not too bad. On then to Hauxton Mill then over vast fields to Haslingfield. One in our group had booked a table at the Red Lion, Grantchester, so we bypassed the Little Rose in Haslingfield and instead headed for Grantchester via the Travelling Telescope. The Red Lion was fully booked so well done - and thank you - to our companion for his foresight in booking ahead. Four of us had the venison ragu which was superb, and those that had the pub's version of a club sandwich could have shared their meals with three others, and still be full, so enormous were the portions. An excellent luncheon experience, with good draught beer and wine. Our one sandwicher left early as he wanted to take in the college tour at walk-end, so that left the rest of us to take the leisurely walk on surfaced ways from Grantchester to the outskirts of Cambridge, now in late afternoon sunshine and glorious light. For once we omitted the tea experience at the Orchard in Grantchester, but no-one seemed too bothered. On reaching Cambridge five set off for a local pub, one set off to meet a relative, and I headed for the railway station. A fast service took me back to London.
Another excellent day out in very good company. But it is a shame few SWC walkers ever give the Varsity walks a go.
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