Grantchester Via The Meadows
Distance: 7.5 km (4.7 Miles)
Time: 1hr 45 mins
A Classic Cambridge Walk from the Millpond out to the picturesque village of Grantchester along the River Cam, via The Meadows and back.
The route has links with Pink Floyd, Rupert Brooke, Lord Byron and many others
The Meadows are a perfect place for a picnic and there are plenty of refreshment stops on the way, including the famous Orchard Tea Rooms
Directions
Start at the Mill Pond. CB2 1RX
Facing The Mill Pub, turn right to keep on the left side of the river.
At the end of the lane, enter Coe Fen via the Gate (pictured) and follow the path crossing the road.
Look out for the Cattle grazing the Meadow in the summer months. You will see them in many of our Meadows and Commons. At the end of the Meadow, turn right to cross the green footbridge.
Cross a second bridge, then turn immediately left to follow the river path. Through Paradise Nature Reserve until you meet the road in Newnham.
After about 50m, turn left along Grantchester Meadows and follow the road, bearing left until it ends in a small car parking area.
Take the narrow path at the end of the road until you reach The Meadows. fork left, to meet the river at the Cheerily named ‘Dead Mans Corner’ and follow the path along the riverside for the next 30 minutes.
On a summers day, The Meadows will be full of walkers and picnickers. The river will be full of punters and swimmers. It’s a lovely place to walk.
Pink Floyd wrote a song about The Meadows. which depicts the sounds of insects and birds you would usually hear on a summers day on the Meadow
Thankfully, it hasnt changed much since then.
Eventually, just before the woods, you will reach Grantchester Cricket Pitch. Cross the Pitch, taking care not to walk on ‘The Square’
you will see two gates in front of you.
The left hand gate is the entrance to The Orchard Tea Rooms. A Cambridge institution.
A lovely place to stop for afternoon tea in deck chairs under the trees
Exit the Tea Room via the far corner and walk towards the Church. Just before the church, turn right along the narrow path, signposted for Newnham.
Follow the surfaced path all the way back through The Meadows to the car park in Newnham.
Before you do, spend some time exploring the pretty village.
Rupert Brookes poem - The Old Vicarage, Grantchester, was written by a homesick traveller whilst he was in Berlin and remains one of his most important works.
The Old Vicarage, Grantchester
Lord Byron has a pool named after him a little further upstream, where he used to bathe.
There are also links to Virginia Woolf, Bertrand Russell and Augustas John
On reaching the car park, follow the road and take the left fork along Eltisley Avenue. look out for Skaters Meadow at the far end of the car park, which, 100 years ago, used to be flooded for winter skating. the post for the gas lamp is still in the middle of the meadow.
Follow the road left along Grantchester Street and at the main road, walk diagonally across Lammas Land towards the crossing.
Cross the road and follow the path towards the old mill. Once you reach the millpond, turn right, across the bridge.
Follow the path as it reaches the river and takes you back to The Mill.