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 EATON SOCON (RIVER MILL TAVERN) TO PAXTON PITS NATURE RESERVEThe walk starts by The River Mill Tavern in Eaton Socon, a former mill built in 1847. Walk past the pub and bear right to cross over the lock and bridges and then turn left along the bank of the river. Follow the signs along the side of the river, across two fields, through a caravan park and cross over another wooden bridge into a copse known as The Osiers. The willows have now grown into impressively tall trees but in the past, the osiers would have been harvested for thatching and basket-making. The path here has a hard surface and leads to the edge of Riverside Park, St Neots. The path brings you out into a car park. From here, turn left and cross over two footbridges into peaceful Riverside Park, where the river meanders gently through the town of St Neots (Toilets and Refreshments are available here in the car park.) From here, bear right towards the roadbridge, turn right to walk underneath it and then right again to go up the steps and walk back across the bridge towards the town. Once over the bridge, turn immediately left down The Priory, passing The Bridge House pub. Follow this path, bearing right towards Waitrose supermarket and two car parks. Then turn left to walk between the two car parks, (roughly at the point where the sign for Cross Keys Mall is behind you) cross St Anselm’s Place at the bottom and pick up the path again which now has high brick walls on either side. At the end of this path, continue in the same direction along the road, past St Neots Army Cadets HQ and WW2 pillbox where you will pick up signs to the Ouse Valley Way which take you left along a track and through a kissing gate towards the marina. As you approach the marina, look out for a stile on your right which leads into Islands Common, an old meadow. Go over the stile, then turn left at a small bridge to cross into Lammas Meadow and walk around the edge of this meadow, following the river bank until you come to a large willow plantation. Turn right here away from the river, alongside the trees and into another field. Bear left and follow the stream to a metal kissing gate in the far corner where you meet the road to Little Paxton. Turn left across the main road and a side road (Mill Lane) to find a path through some trees to cross two bridges. The mills in front of you made paper for over 150 years. Once over the river, turn right onto a path called Hayling Way. The path’s name comes from a time when horses hauled barges from it. Follow the path parallel to the river to Paxton Pits Nature Reserve. | |||||||||
| This section of the walk ends here. Return to top of page. To continue along the Ouse Valley Way, go to next section: Paxton Pits to Huntingdon (Godmanchester) | |||||||||
Detailed Map (pdf file)
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