Walk #21: Waterbeach circular via river and Long Drove

General Data

Date Walked	18/05/1999
County	Cambridgeshire
Start Location	Waterbeach
End Location	Waterbeach
Start time	14.40
End time	16.50
Distance	7.4 miles
Description	This was a short walk from home in Waterbeach along the River Cam to the Black Drove, along Black Drove and then back for three miles along Long Drove.
Pack	I carried no pack on this walk. I tried out my hip flask for the first time.
Condition	I feel fine after this walk.
Weather	Today's weather was hot and overcast.
OS map	Landranger number 154 (Cambridge & Newmarket, Saffron Walden)

Map of the walk

Maps courtesy of Google Maps. Route for indicative purposes only, and may have been plotted after the walk. Please let me have comments on what you think of this new format. For a detailed table of timings for this walk, please see the table file.

Notes

This was a short late-afternoon walk to de-stress myself after what has been a hectic period at work. I have recently bought a hip-flask in Cambridge, and I filled it up with whiksy and slipped it into my pocket. I took a few sips as I walked, and the combination of Glenmorangie and the views helped relax me. The three mile stroll along Long Drove should have been boring, but for some strange reason I enjoy it - the flat terrain and 360-degree horizon seem vast. The few houses and farms alongside the road are single storey, showing howhard it is to build firm foundations on the Fenland's peat.

It was a lovely walk, and with no pack on I breezed it. It gave me some time to think about various issues that needed some considerable thought, and acted as a slight warmup for the exertions of the coming weekend.

Directions

Walk to the River Cam at Bottisham Lock. Follow the river for three miles northwards. After a couple of miles the path drops down off the banking and onto the floodplain. When the path rejoins the banking take a left at the stile and join the Black Drove track.

Follow the Black Drove track westwards until you meet the top end of Long Drove.

Turn left and follow Long Drove southwards until you meet the road near Bottisham Lock.

Distances

From	To	Distance (m)	Ascent (ft)	Descent (ft)
My flat in Waterbeach	Black Drove	3.7	0	3
lack Drove	My flat in Waterbeach	3.7	3	0

This makes a total distance of 7.4 miles, with 3 feet of ascent and 3 feet of descent.

For more information on profiles, ascents and descents, see this page

Disclaimer

Please note that I take no responsibility for anything that may happen when following these directions. If you intend to follow this route, then please use the relevant maps and check the route out before you go out. As always when walking, use common sense and you should be fine.

If you find any information on any of these routes that is inaccurate, or you wish to add anything, then please email me.

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And finally, enjoy your walking!

Nearby walks

#	Title	Walk length (miles)
2	Waterbeach to Newmarket Road, Cambridge	5.4
5	A short walk around Waterbeach to Car Dyke	3.0
6	Waterbeach to Newmarket Road, Cambridge	5.4

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