Coton Nature Reserve Circular Walk
This small Cambridgeshire based village lies just to the west of the famous university town of Cambridge.
This circular walk from the village explores the Coton Countryside Reserve. The reserve is located just south east of the village and includes a number of footpaths taking you to various habitats.
You can start your walk in the village centre and follow the High Street East along a section of the Harcamlow Way. You then head south into the reserve where you can pick up a pleasant path along the Bin Brook. Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of birds and muntjac deer which can often be seen around Coton.
The first part of the walk runs along The Coton Footpath, a recreational cycle or walk from Cambridge to Coton. You could pick up it and head east to visit the River Cam and the famous college buildings in the city.
Just a mile to the north west there's another highlight of the area at the historic Madingley Hall. Here you will find some beautiful ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped gardens surrounding a fine 16th century manor house. It's a great place to extend your walking around Coton.
Postcode
CB23 7PL - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPlease click here for more information
Coton Ordnance Survey Map 
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Coton Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Coton OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Coton Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Walks near Coton
- Cambridge Backs Walk - This circular city walk takes you around the highlights of Cambridge, visiting The Backs, a picturesque area where several colleges of the University of Cambridge back on to the River Cam
- Madingley Hall - This walk visits the historic Madingley Hall in the small Cambridgeshire village of Madingley.
- Harcamlow Way - This long distance walk takes you to some of the most beautiful countryside, interesting historical sites and delightful country parks in the counties of Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire.
The route is a figure-of-eight, starting in Harlow and first heading to Saffron Walden where you will pass the splendid Jacobean mansion and gardens at Audley End - Wimpole Way - Follow the Wimpole way through Cambridgeshire's farmland, ancient woodland and gentle rolling countryside from Cambridge to Wimpole Hall
- Wimpole Hall - This 17th century country house near Cambridge is surrounded by 3,000 acres of parkland and farmland
- Hardwick Wood - This walk takes you from the Cambridgeshire village of Hardwick to the nearby Hardwick Wood Nature Reserve
- Milton Country Park - This lovely park in Cambridge boasts nearly 100 acres of lakes and gardens interlaced with footpaths and cycle trails
- Fen Rivers Way - This is a teriffic riverside walking route running from Cambridge to King's Lynn in Norfolk
- Anglesey Abbey - Explore 114 acres of beautiful gardens surrounding this Jacobean mansion in Cambridge
- Wandlebury Country Park - This walk takes you around the delightful Wandlebury Country Park in Cambridge
- Gog Magog Hills - This walk explores the Gog Magog Downs, a ridge of low chalk hills extending for several miles to the southeast of Cambridge
- Cambridge to Grantchester - This is a popular riverside walk from Cambridge to the nearby village of Grantchester
- Haslingfield - This attractive village in South Cambridgeshire is a pleasant place for an easy riverside stroll
- Cambourne - This walk visits the Cambourne Nature Reserve before heading to the neighbouring villages of Caxton and Bourn.
Pubs/Cafes
The Plough is a rustic-smart gastropub located in the village. The 18th century inn includes a large 80 seated covered terrace, a private room which can seat up to 18 guests, play area, large garden, and private meadow. They serve high quality dishes including an excellent Sunday roast. You can find them on the High Street at a postcode of CB23 7PL for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The reserve is dog friendly and quite popular with dog walkers. There's an enclosed field for letting them off the lead and bins dotted around the site.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The Wimpole Way passes through the village. You could pick up this popular trail and follow it through the countryside to the 17th century Wimpole Hall. The historic National trust property is one of the local area highlights.
Photos
Information Stand, Coton Countryside Reserve. The Reserve is a mix of farmed land, habitats, amenity land and access routes, owned and managed by the Cambridge Preservation Society. The access routes are a DEFRA country
Coton, High Street
Permissive bridleway
Newish pond and car park
Ridge & Furrow agriculture, Coton. The remnant of a medieval Great Field, which was ploughed in narrow strips and allocated to the villagers in such a way that all would share alike in the good land and the bad. The photo does not do justice to how humpy the ground was, but the wavy "horizon" gives some idea. It is now being managed as permanent grassland with the intention of increasing its wildlife diversity.
Ditch and Permissive Bridleway, Coton Countryside Reserve
Coton churchyard
In Coton