Ely Circular Walk

18.1 km (11.2 mi) with negligible ascent. For a longer or a shorter walk see below Walk Options.

2 out of 10, with 3 ¾ hours walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 7 ½ hours.

This walk is centred around Ely, the second smallest city in England, and the low-lying land of the Isle of Ely, the site of the supposed ‘Last Stand of the Saxons’, led by Hereward the Wake against the Norman Invaders, a landscape reminiscent of the Low Countries or Northern Germany: open fenland, largely flat, former marshy and boggy ground now drained for intensive agriculture, with long straight tree-lined farm tracks, hedge-lined meadows and big, cloud-filled skies. The River Great Ouse, ditches, dykes, embankments and catchwater drains all help to create the special atmosphere of Fenland.
The walk leads into the prevailing wind direction in the morning, and on a windy day the raised banks beside the river can feel very exposed as the wind sweeps in from the Fens, so you may have to work hard to get to lunch in the ‘hilltop’ village of Stretham.
In the afternoon you see Ely cathedral rising above the Fens like a castle or a ship ahead of you, the towers seeming like masts. It dominates the area for kilometres around and shows from everywhere an outline different from any other English cathedral, largely due its famed central octagonal tower.
Ely’s Old Town, the Cathedral and numerous tea options are passed before a quayside stroll and the finish back to the station. Stile Count: 2.
Traffic noise from the A10 and the Ely Bypass can be heard on a significant part of the walk.

You can walk a slightly longer variation in the morning, further along the Great Ouse (map-led).
You can walk a very short Ely – Little Thetford – Ely route of 11.6 km/7.2 mi (with lunch back in Ely).
You can shorten the route through Ely by going straight to the station from its fringes (cut 2 km).
You can add a westerly loop from Little Thetford to Witchford and its pub, either in addition to the Main Walk (adds 7.5 km/4.7 mi, 4/10); or as an alternative to the southerly loop from Little Thetford via Stretham, for a distance of 19.1 km/11.9 mi (2/10).
You can add an extension in Ely for a stroll through the meadows of the River Great Ouse (add 2.4 or 3.6 km).
Buses 9/X9 (Cambridge to Chatteris) and the Ely Zipper 1 serve Little Thetford and the lunch destination Stretham (more than hourly, but not on Sundays).
Buses Ely Zipper 2 & 3 (Ely – March, Ely - Chatteris) serve Witchford (at least hourly between them, but not on Sundays).

Ely Cathedral is a must.
Cromwell's House is an option.

OS Explorer: 226 (Ely & Newmarket)
OS Landranger: 143 (Ely & Wisbech)

Ely station, map reference TL 543 793, is 23 km north east of Cambridge, 102 km north north east of Charing Cross, 5m above sea level, and in East Cambridgeshire. Ely Station is on the Fen Line from Cambridge to King's Lynn. It is being served by trains from King’s Cross (quicker) and Liverpool Street. From King’s Cross there are two trains per hour Mondays-Saturdays and one on Sundays (journey time from 71 mins).

Saturday Walkers Club: Take a train no later than 10.15.

The Red Lion 47 High Street, Stretham, Cambridgeshire, CB6 3LD (01353 648 132). The Red Lion is located 8.2 km (5.1 mi) into the walk.
The Village Inn 80 Main Street, Witchford, Cambridgeshire, CB6 2HQ (01353 967 501). The Village Inn is located 9.4 km (5.8 mi) into the alternative walk, cutting out Stretham, and 15.8 km (9.8 mi) into the extended walk, including Stretham.

Plenty of options in Ely, the ones passed en route are mentioned in the text.

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Jul-25 Thomas G