Don't forget you can get the Train from London Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale as well on the way to Ely. But you need to change at Cambridge to do so first. That's exactly what I did about 2 years ago although I didn't go with the Walking Club that day.
Hi DAC, it seems the cathedral closes at 4pm. So would it be possible to visit it at the start of the walk? Or do you think there would be enough time at the end? Thanks, e.
If you want to visit Ely Cathedral (with a pre-booked Visitor ticket) at the end of a walk you'll probably have to opt for the short (11.7km) walk option described in the Walk Notes. If you do the full walk you could get to see the interior by attending the Evensong service at 5.30pm.
Skipped walk having arrived well in time for the 10:12 train only to find out that the train was cancelled due to train staff shortage / rolling stock. Next train was at 11:12. Decided to give it a miss and got a ticket refund and went for a shorter walk in London area. Others perhaps not so flaky?
Cancelled trains seems to be the norm for weekend walks at present, but 4 of us eventually made it to Ely, including one first timer, and we met outside the railway station at 12 noon. Due to the late arrival time I said sod it and opted for a day's sightseeing in Ely including an extended visit to the magnificent cathedral. So for the walk report it is n=3 and I hope my companions enjoyed their walk on a day which started w=overcast-and-dull-at-first-with-some-sunshine-breaking-through-in-the-afternoon in temperatures mild to warm for the time of year. There was some lovely autumn leaf colour in the parkland surrounding the cathedral, a bit earlier than usual. After my sightseeing I enjoyed a good pub lunch before returning to the railway station for an uneventful journey home - this time without the unwanted company of Brighton & Hove Albion football supporters (playing away at Norwich). If there is anything thicker and uglier than a football fan I have yet to meet it ! Home in the afternoon for me for - to quote the late and much missed Eddie Waring - an early bath.
I got an earlier train (that wasn't cancelled, thankfully) in order to visit the cathedral, planning to join the walk afterwards.
I went on a tour of the Octogan Tower (booked the night before; there wasn't any availability on the later tours, so another reason I decided to get the earlier train). Then a fellow tourist kindly offered me their ticket for the West Tower, citing too many steps for them, booked for the afternoon (3pm).
So I did the short walk (with a bit of the extension along the river as it was peaceful, turning off at Holt Fen to Little Thetford). The return to Ely through the farmland was marred a bit by its proximity to the A10 and new housing, but I was curious to see the land where the monk's grange once stood. Also good to view the cathedral from afar. I didn't get to complete the walk around the city nor along the quayside or meadows.
Towards the end of the day, I bumped into three other SWC walkers and learnt about the train cancellations that had delayed the start of their walk, which explained why I didn't see them.
I finished the day with a look around Cromwell's house and evensong in honour of female saints of Ely connected to Etheldreda.
Caught the 18.53 train back to London (the one before had been cancelled) busy with football fans on their way back from the Norwich - Brighton match (0 - 0). More passengers joined at Cambridge. A full train, but I somehow managed to avoid the rowdy carriages.
A bit overcast at first then sunny with patches of blue. No Siberian winds, usually experienced in the Fens.
Both Octagon and West Tower tours interesting with views from the top. Some of the names amongst the "graffiti" on the wooden panels of the Octagon lantern, include those of soldiers left before they went to war (first / second).
Also came across a BBC OB vehicle by the cathedral, making a radio programme about it.
Thanks for posting the walk DAC. Quite full on in the end (!).
Thanks e for your full report - you seem to have had a full, good day. I'm pleased you met up with my three colleagues who I had abandoned when opting for a sightseeing day.
9 comments:
Don't forget you can get the Train from London Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale as well on the way to Ely. But you need to change at Cambridge to do so first. That's exactly what I did about 2 years ago although I didn't go with the Walking Club that day.
Soft sell.
Intend going.
Hi DAC, it seems the cathedral closes at 4pm. So would it be possible to visit it at the start of the walk? Or do you think there would be enough time at the end? Thanks, e.
If you want to visit Ely Cathedral (with a pre-booked Visitor ticket) at the end of a walk you'll probably have to opt for the short (11.7km) walk option described in the Walk Notes. If you do the full walk you could get to see the interior by attending the Evensong service at 5.30pm.
Skipped walk having arrived well in time for the 10:12 train only to find out that the train was cancelled due to train staff shortage / rolling stock. Next train was at 11:12. Decided to give it a miss and got a ticket refund and went for a shorter walk in London area. Others perhaps not so flaky?
Cancelled trains seems to be the norm for weekend walks at present, but 4 of us eventually made it to Ely, including one first timer, and we met outside the railway station at 12 noon. Due to the late arrival time I said sod it and opted for a day's sightseeing in Ely including an extended visit to the magnificent cathedral. So for the walk report it is n=3 and I hope my companions enjoyed their walk on a day which started w=overcast-and-dull-at-first-with-some-sunshine-breaking-through-in-the-afternoon in temperatures mild to warm for the time of year. There was some lovely autumn leaf colour in the parkland surrounding the cathedral, a bit earlier than usual. After my sightseeing I enjoyed a good pub lunch before returning to the railway station for an uneventful journey home - this time without the unwanted company of Brighton & Hove Albion football supporters (playing away at Norwich). If there is anything thicker and uglier than a football fan I have yet to meet it ! Home in the afternoon for me for - to quote the late and much missed Eddie Waring - an early bath.
Hi Marcus, sorry I missed you also.
I got an earlier train (that wasn't cancelled, thankfully) in order to visit the cathedral, planning to join the walk afterwards.
I went on a tour of the Octogan Tower (booked the night before; there wasn't any availability on the later tours, so another reason I decided to get the earlier train). Then a fellow tourist kindly offered me their ticket for the West Tower, citing too many steps for them, booked for the afternoon (3pm).
So I did the short walk (with a bit of the extension along the river as it was peaceful, turning off at Holt Fen to Little Thetford). The return to Ely through the farmland was marred a bit by its proximity to the A10 and new housing, but I was curious to see the land where the monk's grange once stood. Also good to view the cathedral from afar. I didn't get to complete the walk around the city nor along the quayside or meadows.
Towards the end of the day, I bumped into three other SWC walkers and learnt about the train cancellations that had delayed the start of their walk, which explained why I didn't see them.
I finished the day with a look around Cromwell's house and evensong in honour of female saints of Ely connected to Etheldreda.
Caught the 18.53 train back to London (the one before had been cancelled) busy with football fans on their way back from the Norwich - Brighton match (0 - 0). More passengers joined at Cambridge. A full train, but I somehow managed to avoid the rowdy carriages.
A bit overcast at first then sunny with patches of blue. No Siberian winds, usually experienced in the Fens.
Both Octagon and West Tower tours interesting with views from the top. Some of the names amongst the "graffiti" on the wooden panels of the Octagon lantern, include those of soldiers left before they went to war (first / second).
Also came across a BBC OB vehicle by the cathedral, making a radio programme about it.
Thanks for posting the walk DAC. Quite full on in the end (!).
e
Thanks e for your full report - you seem to have had a full, good day. I'm pleased you met up with my three colleagues who I had abandoned when opting for a sightseeing day.
So let's make that walkers n=4
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