|
Mary
Donaldson CAMBRIDGE
TO ELY
Distance:
Approx 40 miles (64km)
Maps: OS Landranger Sheet 154 Cambridge and Newmarket.
OS Landranger Sheet 143 Ely and Wisbech, Downham Market.
Start and Finish: Queens Road, Cambridge
Terrain: Dead Flat. The fens to the north of Cambridge
could double for an ironing board. There are a couple
of hills just north of Wilburton, but nothing to worry
about. The route is all on roads so a road bike or hybrid
would be fine.
Places to Eat: There are a few pubs in Cottenham,
and the Twenty Pence Inn, which has a lovely situation
overlooking the River Ouse, between Cottenham and ilburton,
but other than that, the route is fairly barren. In Ely
there are many places to eat and a good plan is to cycle
to Ely in the morning, have lunch there and cycle back
in the afternoon.
Places of Interest:
Ely Cathedral: 01353 667735
e-mail - receptionist@cathedral.ely.anglican.org
Website
Ely Museum:
The Old Gaol, Market Street, Ely. 01353 666 655
Tourist Info:
Cambridge Tourist Information Centre: Wheeler Street,
Cambridge. 01223 322 640
www.cambridge.gov.uk/leisure/TICWEB/tourism.htm
Ely Tourist Information: Oliver Cromwell's House, 29 St.
Mary's Street, Ely. 01353 622 062
www.ely.org.uk
Route:
The route starts on Queens Road in Cambridge. Cycle north
along Queens Road to the mini-roundabout, turn left and
then first right into Lady Margaret Road. Follow the one-way
system and at the top turn left then right on to Histon
Road (signposted as the B1049 to Cottenham).
The B1049 will take you out of Cambridge, over the A14
and through the village of Cottenham. On the north side
of Cottenham, the landscape opens out onto the Fens, wide
open views for miles and a huge sky. A couple of miles
to the north of Cottenham, the road crosses the River
Great Ouse and you will pass the Twenty Pence Inn on your
right. This is the last chance to stop for a drink before
Ely.
The B1049 eventually leads into the village of Wilburton
where you turn right for a few hundred yards onto the
A1123, then left onto the Station Road. Continue straight
on when a road joins from the right, then turn right at
the T-junction onto a minor road signposted to Witchford.
Carry on into Witchford, then in the village trun right
along a minor road, which meets up with the A142 to Ely.
From here, follow the signposts to Ely town centre.
There are handy cycle racks outside the tourist information
centre where you will end up if you follow the city centre
signs. All that's left to do now is retrace your route
back to Cambridge, or if you really can't face the cycle,
then there is a regular train service between Ely and
Cambridge (BR enquiries 0345 48 49 50)
|
