SWC 118 - Ely Circular
Length: 18 km (11.2 miles)
Toughness: 2 out of 10
London Kings Cross: 10-12 hrs Ely service Cambridge 11-04 hrs
Arrive Ely: 11-22 hrs
Return (direct to Kings Cross unless [C] change at Cambridge): 15-45, 15-53[C], 16-17, 16-47, 16-53[C], 17-17, 17-47, 17-50. 18-17, 18-57, 19-17 and 19-47 hrs
Evensong in Ely Cathedral is at 17-30 hrs
This Fenland walk is new to me, and I look forward to giving it go today. I'm not sure if the walk has had a previous SWC mid-week outing, so if not others might, like me, be venturing forth on it for the first time. The Directions are comprehensive and full of interesting information and historical facts. I refer you all to them - to spare me bumbling on here.
Whilst I haven't tried out this walk before, last year in September I did visit Ely Cathedral - and a most enjoyable visit, too. I recommend one of their tours. If you are not in a hurry to return home after today's walk, you might like to attend Evensong in the Cathedral. The choir today is a girl's choir.
Your lunch stop some 5 miles into the walk is the Red Lion in Stretham. I recall last year on Good Friday our SWC walkers found this pub less than welcoming: let's hope today we find the staff in good humour. For tea, the Cathedral's own caff should do the trick. From the Cathedral you have a 2.1 km walk back to the railway station - with its frequent train service back to London.
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Something of a contrast to last Wednesday's walk: instead of the challenge of ascending Chinnor Hill and climbing steeply up onto Bledlow Ridge, today - mile upon mile of sweet flat nothing ! Actually, all my walking companions - we mustered n=7 today - enjoyed the vast open spaces and our relaxing perambulation through the Fens - devoid of people. Apart from an artist we met mid-morning who was packing up his easel, we didn't see anyone on the walk all day: a lone walker today would have felt....well, alone.
As per last week, we were very lucky with the weather. It was w=sunny-and-breezy, and pleasantly warm out of the breeze - cue - remove anorak - chilly in the breeze - cue - put it back on again. It was one of those days - but it didn't matter, as we were grateful it was sunny and not raining - and there was no mud on the paths.
Lunch in the village of Stretham was fine- we received an unexpected welcome on entering the Red Lion pub, and the three of us whom dined were happy with our respective meals. Our four sandwichers joined us for a drink, so were departed as a small group intact - a nice change.
I found the afternoon leg of the walk more interesting, with a bit more variety in the flat terrain , as we made our way back to Ely. Two headed direct to the railway station, another went sight seeing in Ely, leaving four of us to enter the magnificent Cathedral. After a brief visit we retired to the small Cathedral cafe for tea - and in my case, an indulgent slice of walnut and date cake, which was quite magnificent - and highly recommended for future SWC visitors ! Four of us ended up on the 16-47 hrs service from Ely (two of us via the 16-53 - don't ask) for a fast and uneventful journey back to King's Cross.
A "flat" day out, but a thoroughly enjoyable one - and different to the norm. Not bad company either !
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