Walk #8: Waterbeach to Newmarket

General Data

Notes

This walk was quite satisfying. On the journey to Reach, the underside of my left knee was hurting as it has been for some time. This concerned me and I began to doubt whether I would finish the walk. However, after Reach when I got on the bank overlooking the Ditch, it freed up and gave little trouble.

When I got to Woodditton, I studied the train times and realised that I had 70 minutes to get back to the station to meet an earlier train than the one I expected to catch. I therefore increased my pace across the hill to Newmarket, and arrived in 55 minutes - a distance of about 3.5 miles. This was across hills, and at the end of the walk, so I am quite pleased that I managed to keep that sort of pace up.

Devil's Dyke itself is quite spectacular in places. The going was very muddy though, and I once had a struggle not to fall backwards when climbing up a slope. I will have to go back and walk it in summer and see how much better the views are.

I set off from Waterbeach at 07.45, and I made good time to get to Newmarket in the early afternoon. All in all, a great walk. And I feel (relatively) fine afterwards.

(Later notes from April 2004): For images of the dyke, have a look at http://www.burwell.co.uk/content/devilsdyke.asp, which shows a couple of good views of the Dyke. Unfortunately I did this walk before I routinely took photographs of my walks, and I may walk it again sometime to get some good shots of it. Another site, this time featuring details of a walk along the Dyke can be found at http://www.wood-ditton.org.uk/devilsditch.htm.

Map of the walk

Directions

Set off from Waterbeach and walk to Bottisham Lock and the river. Cross over via the bridge and follow the eastern bank of the river northwards past the entrance to Swaffham Bulbeck Lode. When you get to Commisioners Farm at TL525679, leave the river and go down a track that leads to a road at the farm. Follow a road that heads in a rough southeasterly direction, although regularly turning at right angles. It passes Lord's Ground Farm and then ends at a T-junction at TL544661. Turn left to follow the road northwards for a third of a mile.

At a crossroads turn right to follow Little Fen Drove southeastwards. After a little over a mile it turns sharply to the left and heads northeastwards to enter the village of Reach. Once in Reach, look for the village green and follow the path from the far corner which leads up onto the raised banking of the Devil's Dyke. Follow the raised banking southeastwards all the way to the B1102 road. Cross the road, and ascend the banking once more and follow the Dyke to the A14.

Cross the A14 via a bridge, and soon come to Newmarket racecourse. Cross the first run, and ascend the Dyke again. Continue along the Dyke across the full width of the racecourse until you reach a road.

Cross the road and follow the Dyke until it ends at a road (after about 7.5 miles on the dyke) in the village of Ditton Green. Turn left and follow the road eastwards for nearly half a mile. At a crossroads turn left to follow Vicarage Lane northwards for nearly three miles, passing a couple of stud farms. Cross a bridge over the railway line and then turn right down a road that heads northeastwards for a third of a mile until Newmarket station is reached on the right.

Distances

This makes a total distance of 17.5 miles, with 627 feet of ascent and 531 feet of descent.

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.

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And finally, enjoy your walking!

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