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Godmanchester Walks

6.03 miles (9.7 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This attractive Cambridgeshire town has some delightful riverside paths and a wildlife rich local nature reserve to explore. The town is located on the southern outskirts of Huntingdon.
This circular walk from the town uses sections of the Ouse Valley Way and the Pathfinder Long Distance Walk to visit the Godmanchester Nature Reserve and the neighbouring village of Houghton.
The walk starts in the town where you can pick up the Ouse Valley Way and follow the waymarked path north east to the nature reserve. Here you'll find grassland, reedbed, willows and a series of pretty lakes formed from flooded gravel pits. It's a great place for wildlife with kingfisher and grazing wildfowl to see. Keep your eyes peeled for Great Crested Grebe, Teal, Tufted Duck and Wigeon on the water.
The route continues along the river to Houghton where you can pay a visit to the historic Houghton Mill. The picturesque 18th-century watermill is run by the National Trust and sits in an idyllic location by the river.
The route then heads south west to Hemingford Abbots before picking up the Pathfinder Long Distance Walk to return to the town.

Postcode

PE29 2BW - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Godmanchester OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Godmanchester Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Godmanchester

  • Ouse Valley Way - Follow the River Great Ouse from the source at Brackley, Northamptonshire, to the mouth at The Wash at King's Lynn
  • Huntingdon - A circular walk from Huntingdon taking in the River Great Ouse, Houghton Mill and Hemingford Abbots
  • Houghton Mill - Explore the delightful water meadows at Houghton Mill on this walk in Huntingdon
  • Hinchingbrooke Country Park - Explore 170 acres of open grasslands, meadows, woodlands and lakes in this fine country park in Huntingdon
  • Brampton Wood - These ancient woods near Huntingdon consist of 326 acres with lots of nice walking trails and interesting flora and fauna. 
    Look out for 280 species of fern, conifer, flowering plant and trees
  • Paxton Pits - Visit this delightful nature reserve in Little Paxton and enjoy a series of well laid out, waterside walking trails
  • Holme Fen - Explore the largest Silver Birch woodland in lowland England on this walk in Cambridgeshire
  • Woodwalton Fen - Enjoy a short walk around this beautiful national nature reserve in Cambridgeshire
  • Cambridge to St Ives along the Busway - Enjoy a walk or cycle along this disused railway line which now forms part of National Cycle Network Route 51
  • Grafham Water Circular Ride - A cycle and walking route around the beautiful Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire.
    The route passes through woodland and the villages of Grafton and West Perry
  • St Neots - This pretty town in Cambridgeshire has some lovely country and riverside walks to try
  • St Ives Cambridgeshire - This Cambridgeshire market town is located in the River Great Ouse just east of Huntingdon.
  • Hemingford Grey - This Cambridgeshire based village is located close to Huntingdon and St Ives
  • Pathfinder Long Distance Walk - This circular walk in Cambridgeshire is named for the Royal Air Force Pathfinder Force - target-marking squadrons in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. 

Pubs/Cafes

The White Hart is a good choice for some post exercise rest and refreshment. The 15th Century pub has a fine interior with lots of rustic charm. Outside there's an attractive garden area to relax in on warmer days. They serve delicious food and can be found on Cambridge Road at postcode PE29 2BW for your sat navs.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The Pathfinder Long Distance Walk passes through the town. The long distance circular walk visits the RAF Pathfinder stations at Wyton, Graveley, Oakington and Warboys. It's an interesting and historical walk visiting several memorial sites on the way.

Photos

Godmanchester Chinese Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 2523563

Godmanchester Chinese Bridge

Godmanchester Mill Lade - geograph.org.uk - 3279911

Godmanchester Mill Lade

Reflections in the Ouse at Godmanchester - geograph.org.uk - 2399810

Reflections in the Ouse at Godmanchester

Riverside at Cook's Stream - geograph.org.uk - 1219726

Riverside at Cook's Stream

Lake at Godmanchester Nature Reserve - geograph.org.uk - 2200803

Lake at Godmanchester Nature Reserve

Godmanchester War Memorial and The Black Bull - geograph.org.uk - 3279578

Godmanchester War Memorial and The Black Bull

Track leading to the Ouse Valley plain - geograph.org.uk - 734355

Track leading to the Ouse Valley plain. This gate is located off the Pathfinder long distance way just outside Hemingford Abbots. The footpath and track leads down onto the plain of the river Great Ouse and the nearby fishing lakes.

Houghton Mill - geograph.org.uk - 2537522

Houghton Mill

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Godmanchester.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)