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 GODMANCHESTER (CHINESE BRIDGE)TO ST IVES (BRIDGE)
From the Chinese Bridge in Godmanchester keep following the riverside path, past the backs of some lovely old houses and turn right to cross through the car park in Post Street. When you meet the road, cross over, turn right and then left to pick up the path which takes you to St Mary the Virgin Church. (If you need supplies or just fancy an ice-cream, there is a large-ish general grocery store/off licence on Post Street across the road on your left as you come out of the car park.) Follow the waymarkers through the churchyard - it’s worth taking a brief detour to the far right-hand side to look at the tombstone of Mary Anne Weems murdered by her husband in the early 1800s. As you leave the churchyard, turn left and then bearing right(and looking for a sign to your left) walk along the path which runs around the edge of the cricket pitch ahead of you and leads under the A14 roadbridge. As you come out from under the bridge, you’ll see a lake, one of many along this section of the Ouse Valley Way which was dug out to provide gravel for the road you’ve just walked under. The resulting gravel pits are important areas for wildlife. And popular with fishermen who are often to be found sitting motionless by the water's edge. Follow the signs around the gravel pit and cross the small footbridge into Westside Common (this is grazing land so please keep dogs under close control). Cross another footbridge at the far side of the common and turn right along the old railway line for about 300 metres. Then turn left away from the railway line and towards the lakes and their islands which are being managed as Godmanchester nature reserve. There are good views here back to Godmanchester and over to Huntingdon. Follow the signs around the lake. Then look out for a sign on your left, which directs you first through a kissing gate and then over a stile. Follow the path under an avenue of poplar trees and continue your walk alongside the water’s edge. Cross a stile and walk across the private track marked with the Peter Prince Memorial Stone. (Peter Prince was a scientist who worked with the British Antarctic Survey). Go through a kissing gate and continue along the path, bearing right past the weir until you meet a bridge. Cross the bridge over a backwater called Fisher’s Dyke and continue to follow the bank on your left until you reach the main river. Turn right along the riverbank and follow it until you come to a second weir. At this point you have to do a detour to get across. To do this, turn right and head for a bridge that you’ll see across the field to your right. Cross the bridge and then walk across a meadow to a larger bridge (just visible to your left from the first of these two bridges). Once over the bridge, turn left and double-back along the edge of the field by the side of the backwater until you find yourself back on the main riverbank on the other side of the weir. Now follow the main riverbank, crossing a sluice, until you see Houghton Mill on the opposite bank. From here, cross over the lock and go underneath the 17th century mill. As you come out on the other side of the mill, look for the caravan park ahead of you and opposite the Mill and you’ll see a way marker to your left. Go through a narrow gateway, turn left and then go through a kissing gate and turn right, weaving to the left hand side of the caravan park into Love Lane. Follow this round to the left to Thicket road. Then turn right and follow it until it becomes a path. This is a very pleasant route which goes through a wooded area and is pleasantly shady on a hot summer’s day. This is a hard- surfaced path which provides all ability access. But watch out for cyclists who also use it! Follow the signs over a bridge, the land on the left starts to rise and is almost hilly with lovely mature trees. In the summer, the meadows are yellow with buttercups. As you come out of a wooded area, go through a turnstile, and the river, with good view of St Ives’ church, is now on your right. The path continues through a wooded area. Walk past the scout hut and bear right along the path towards the town. As you come out of the path by the church Holt Island Nature Reserve is on your right and well worth a visit. A signpost outside the churchyard wall directs you through the churchyard through a metal gate, then follow the path around the right hand side of the church. From the Church, walk straight into the St Ives town along The Waits and Broadway, passing the Norris Museum on your right. To finish your walk at the Bridge Chapel, turn right into Bridge Street and walk down towards the river and bridge. | |||||||||
| This section of the walk ends here. Return to top of page. To continue along the Ouse Valley Way, go to next section: St Ives Bridge to Earith | |||||||||
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