Waterbeach Walks
This delightful village near Cambridge has a pretty village green, lovely riverside walks and some fine old pubs to visit.
This circular walk from the village takes you south along the River Cam to visit Milton Country Park on the northern outskirts of the city of Cambridge. You'll also visit the neighbouring village of Horningsea.
The walk starts from the train station and heads a short distance down to the river. Here you can pick up the Fen Rivers Way and follow the waymarked trail south along the river to Milton Fen. Near here you can branch off to the west to visit Milton Country Park. This popular park includes 100 acres of lakes and gardens with multiple footpaths and cycle trails.
After exploring the park you return to the river where you can cross to the other side and follow the Harcamlow Way north to Horningsea. The route continues north to Clayhithe where you cross over to return to Waterbeach.
Waterbeach Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Waterbeach Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Waterbeach OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Waterbeach Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The Bridge is in a delightful spot on the banks of the river. There's a lovely garden area where you can sit outside and enjoy views across the water. It's the ideal place on a warm summer day. They serve traditional pub food, tasty Sunday roasts and a wide range of wines and cask ales. You can find them at Clayhithe Rd with a postcode of CB25 9HZ for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The river and country trails make for a pleasant walk with your dog. The Bridge pub mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To continue your walking in the area head into the city and try the Cambridge Backs Walk. The popular walk explores the famous university, visiting several historic highlights on the way.
If you head north along the river you will soon come to the delightful Wicken Fen. The reserve is a great place for walking and cycling with flowering meadows, reedbeds, waterways and an abundance of wildlife to see. The Lodes Way can also be picked up here. This circular walk or cycle follows National Cycle Route 11 through the Cambridgeshire Lodes, a series of ancient man made waterways created to link a series of Fenland villages to the River Cam. On the way it visits the Jacobean mansion of Anglesey Abbey. The historic site includes some beautiful gardens with ornate statues and herbaceous borders.
To the west is neighbouring Cottenham where there's a pretty village green, picturesque old almshouses, quaint thatched cottages and a church dating back to the 15th century. You can also enjoy a walk along Cottenham Lode to Rampton which is also worth exploring.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cambridgeshire Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Village Green, Waterbeach
The Toll House. By the 18th century the flood banks along the river were much used by horses hauling barges: from 1797 the Waterbeach Level commissioners could levy tolls on those using the bank north of the Brewhouse in Midload Fen; a tollhouse was set up there.
Waterbeach. The grounds of The Bridge on the banks of the Cam.
Another view of the Bridge pub next to the river in the village.
Towards Clayhithe from the towpath/cycleway along the Cam. The trees beside the path provide plenty of firewood for those resourceful enough to bring up a barge for transport to their riverside home.
Horningsea village sign. Erected by Horningsea Residents Association, June 1984. Between the 2nd and 4th centuries Horningsea was a centre of the Roman pottery industry. Shards of the pottery can still be found in gardens and fields around the village, and the village sign reflects the pottery connection.
Entrance to Waterbeach Barracks, just north of the village centre. Waterbeach is the home of 12 Engineer Group (Air Support). The site was an RAF base during and after WWII, and the Hawker Hunter WN904 stands as a memorial to the planes of this type which flew here in the late 1950s are early 1960s
Milton Country Park lake. South end of Dickerson's Pit, formed between 1930 and 1960 by the extraction of sand and gravel, for building roads and houses.