King's Cliffe Railway Walk
This walk takes you along the old disused railway line in the Northamptonshire village of King's Cliffe.
It's an easy nature ramble along the old trackbed with woodland, countryside views and limestone scenery to enjoy. Afterwards you can enjoy a stroll around historic village where there's a Norman church, picturesque 17th century almshouses and nice views of the Willow Brook, a tributary of the River Nene.
To continue your walking around King's Cliffe head west to visit Top Lodge in Fineshade Woods. The woods are a major local highlight with miles of great walking and cycling trails to try. You can follow the waymarked Jurassic Way through the woods from the western side of the settlement.
If you head south west from the village you can follow a pleasant footpath along the Willow Brook to Blatherwycke Lake. There's some lovely waterside trails here with lots of birdlife to see on the water.
The village is also located near the settlements of Stamford, Corby and Peterborough.
Kings Cliffe Railway Walk Ordnance Survey Map
- view and print off detailed OS map
Kings Cliffe Railway Walk Open Street Map
- view and print off detailed map
Kings Cliffe Railway Walk OS Map
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Kings Cliffe Railway Walk Open Street Map
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The Cross Keys is a good choice for some rest and refreshment after your exercise. The pub dates back to 1732 and includes a charming old interior with oak beams and inglenook fireplaces. They serve a fine Sunday roast and also provide rooms if you'd like to stay over. You can find them on West Street at postcode PE8 6XA for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The trail is good for dog walking and the Cross Keys pub mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Site of King's Cliffe station . View northward towards the line of the ex-LNWR Market Harborough - Seaton (to left) - Peterborough East (to right) line. The station, which had been to the left, and the line were closed to passengers 6/6/66, to goods 3/6/68
Limestone scenery near King's Cliffe. There has been historic working of the Jurassic limestone around King's Cliffe, some of it in mines rather than open quarries, and the humps in this photo are probably evidence of it. In 2006 Peterborough Council rejected an application for permission to open a large open-cast quarry in the area.
Railway Bridge. The bridge lies just to the east of the site of Kings Cliffe station. The original line was closed long ago but a few miles to the east lives on in the form of the Nene Valley Steam Railway.
Overgrown former railway bridge. The railway through King's Cliffe was a tentacle of the London & North Western Railway giving them access to the East Coast main line at Peterborough. It closed in 1966. Part of the trackbed is now a nature walk, but at this point it is overgrown. There appears to be a footpath going through the arch, but no right of way is shown on the map.
Bridge over the Willow Brook. This unassuming bridge carrying Bridge Street over Willow Brook is in fact a Grade 2 listed structure (LBS no. 421711).It is described in the listing as "late C18/early C19 limestone ashlar: 2 segmental arches with small cutwater between. Raised band with ashlar parapet above, terminating with square piers."