Now I might do the Walk on Saturday. But I can't guarantee I will. Now instead I will take the Train from London King's Cross. I will take the Train from Tottenham Hall to Cambridge. And change for another Train to Ely from there.

4 out of the station with group cohesion factor of 10/10 through most of the walk. Gray and dramatic skies over a flat but gently varied landscape, but only a few drops of warm drizzle.

We enjoyed some splendid views of the river and the fens, and the Ely Cathedral from the distance. We reached the designated lunch pub in good time only to find that the kitchen could not produce much. Luckily, a corner shop across the square had plenty of unremarkable sandwiches and snacks. The way back into town, though guided by the sights of cathedral towers, was louder and muddier, and we had a close encounter with a golf ball in the final stretch of the walk.

Thee went to visit the cathedral (current ticket price is £14 but can be converted into an annual ticket and includes a very good multimedia guide). Group cohesion collapsed to shambolic levels at that point and two enjoyed coffee and cakes in the old town. The clouds cleared by that time and the pubs along the river on the way to the station looked very inviting. Alas, we rushed to catch 17:18 train back.

Fauna and flora report:

Two friendly and one skittish cat, a few aloof dogs, one crane and one buzzard, and no livestock on this walk.

Plenty of cow parsley, buttercups, elderflower, burdock and nasty nettles. We also crossed a field with intermingled barley and rapeseed (have not seen that before) and a few fields of young wheat.

One of my spies tells me there were 10 on a nice sunny day.

4 on this walk, so I am told.

Don't forget you can get the Train from London Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale as well on the way to Ely. But you need to change at Cambridge to do so first. That's exactly what I did about 2 years ago although I didn't go with the Walking Club that day.

Soft sell.

Intend going.

Hi DAC, it seems the cathedral closes at 4pm. So would it be possible to visit it at the start of the walk? Or do you think there would be enough time at the end? Thanks, e.

If you want to visit Ely Cathedral (with a pre-booked Visitor ticket) at the end of a walk you'll probably have to opt for the short (11.7km) walk option described in the Walk Notes. If you do the full walk you could get to see the interior by attending the Evensong service at 5.30pm.

Skipped walk having arrived well in time for the 10:12 train only to find out that the train was cancelled due to train staff shortage / rolling stock. Next train was at 11:12. Decided to give it a miss and got a ticket refund and went for a shorter walk in London area. Others perhaps not so flaky?

Cancelled trains seems to be the norm for weekend walks at present, but 4 of us eventually made it to Ely, including one first timer, and we met outside the railway station at 12 noon. Due to the late arrival time I said sod it and opted for a day's sightseeing in Ely including an extended visit to the magnificent cathedral. So for the walk report it is 3 and I hope my companions enjoyed their walk on a day which started overcast and dull at first with some sunshine breaking through in the afternoon in temperatures mild to warm for the time of year. There was some lovely autumn leaf colour in the parkland surrounding the cathedral, a bit earlier than usual. After my sightseeing I enjoyed a good pub lunch before returning to the railway station for an uneventful journey home - this time without the unwanted company of Brighton & Hove Albion football supporters (playing away at Norwich). If there is anything thicker and uglier than a football fan I have yet to meet it ! Home in the afternoon for me for - to quote the late and much missed Eddie Waring - an early bath.

Hi Marcus, sorry I missed you also.

I got an earlier train (that wasn't cancelled, thankfully) in order to visit the cathedral, planning to join the walk afterwards.

I went on a tour of the Octogan Tower (booked the night before; there wasn't any availability on the later tours, so another reason I decided to get the earlier train). Then a fellow tourist kindly offered me their ticket for the West Tower, citing too many steps for them, booked for the afternoon (3pm).

So I did the short walk (with a bit of the extension along the river as it was peaceful, turning off at Holt Fen to Little Thetford). The return to Ely through the farmland was marred a bit by its proximity to the A10 and new housing, but I was curious to see the land where the monk's grange once stood. Also good to view the cathedral from afar. I didn't get to complete the walk around the city nor along the quayside or meadows.

Towards the end of the day, I bumped into three other SWC walkers and learnt about the train cancellations that had delayed the start of their walk, which explained why I didn't see them.

I finished the day with a look around Cromwell's house and evensong in honour of female saints of Ely connected to Etheldreda.

Caught the 18.53 train back to London (the one before had been cancelled) busy with football fans on their way back from the Norwich - Brighton match (0 - 0). More passengers joined at Cambridge. A full train, but I somehow managed to avoid the rowdy carriages.

A bit overcast at first then sunny with patches of blue. No Siberian winds, usually experienced in the Fens.

Both Octagon and West Tower tours interesting with views from the top. Some of the names amongst the "graffiti" on the wooden panels of the Octagon lantern, include those of soldiers left before they went to war (first / second).

Also came across a BBC OB vehicle by the cathedral, making a radio programme about it.

Thanks for posting the walk DAC. Quite full on in the end (!).

e

Thanks e for your full report - you seem to have had a full, good day. I'm pleased you met up with my three colleagues who I had abandoned when opting for a sightseeing day.

So let's make that walkers 4

Something of a contrast to last Wednesday's walk: instead of the challenge of ascending Chinnor Hill and climbing steeply up onto Bledlow Ridge, today - mile upon mile of sweet flat nothing ! Actually, all my walking companions - we mustered 7 today - enjoyed the vast open spaces and our relaxing perambulation through the Fens - devoid of people. Apart from an artist we met mid-morning who was packing up his easel, we didn't see anyone on the walk all day: a lone walker today would have felt....well, alone.

As per last week, we were very lucky with the weather. It was sunny and breezy , and pleasantly warm out of the breeze - cue - remove anorak - chilly in the breeze - cue - put it back on again. It was one of those days - but it didn't matter, as we were grateful it was sunny and not raining - and there was no mud on the paths.

Lunch in the village of Stretham was fine- we received an unexpected welcome on entering the Red Lion pub, and the three of us whom dined were happy with our respective meals. Our four sandwichers joined us for a drink, so were departed as a small group intact - a nice change.

I found the afternoon leg of the walk more interesting, with a bit more variety in the flat terrain , as we made our way back to Ely. Two headed direct to the railway station, another went sight seeing in Ely, leaving four of us to enter the magnificent Cathedral. After a brief visit we retired to the small Cathedral cafe for tea - and in my case, an indulgent slice of walnut and date cake, which was quite magnificent - and highly recommended for future SWC visitors ! Four of us ended up on the 16-47 hrs service from Ely (two of us via the 16-53 - don't ask) for a fast and uneventful journey back to King's Cross.

A "flat" day out, but a thoroughly enjoyable one - and different to the norm. Not bad company either !

Now I might do the Walk on Saturday. But I can't Guarantee I will. Now not only you can go from London Kings Cross. Also you can go from London Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale. But you do need to change at Cambridge to so.

probably a big late to mention this now (11pm Thursday) but one of the maps shows a new bypass in construction linking the A10 and A142, just south of Ely, partly where we are intending to walk. Any ideas if it is going to hinder us?

15 on walk, 2 of whom got an earlier train. A very good, companionable day out, dry to start with and rain coming in later in afternoon proving a bit heavy by the time we reached beautiful Ely. The cathedral is magnificent, worth the trip in itself. The walk is undemanding but good for big skies and fen type things. The Red Lion at Stretham let down the pub lunchers by saying there'd be long delays so everyone but two early starters gave up and made do with sandwiches from the very well stocked village shop, free apples in church porch, or held out for a meal in Ely. Five of us enjoyed good tea and cake at Kemptons in Ely, very reasonable prices and the savoury dishes looked a bargain. We'd got to the town so early that all but one decided not to wait for 5.30pm Evensong, the weather being a bit miserable by then, and nearly all managed to get the 16.58 train home. Just as a bit of warning to train travellers generally, one of our group on the way out unfortunately was fined for not having a ticket on the train by an over zealous inspector. She'd got on at the last minute and expected to be able to buy it on board, so do be careful.

15

dry in morning wet later on

10 on a day that started cool and cloudy but got warmer muggier and sunnier It’s the second time Ive done this re-jigged walk and I have to say that apart from the big open skies and the occasional drain, the fens seemed a tad featureless today. It may have been the heat, but I found myself hankering for the old Witchford loop. The church in Stretham has interesting windows and The pub there is probably slightly more amenable than the one in Witchford but I wouldn’t make a special trip to find it. Don’t go there looking for beer, there was only one on offer. Ditto cider. People seemed to like the food they got, though. Salmon and mashed potatoes but it probably had a posher name. And back along the Burying Way. From Little Thetford, the walk picked up a bit, a bit more variety, past a village fete, through a endless succession of gates, an interminable golf course and finally the highlight of this walk, Ely itself. Just a shame we had to walk 11 miles to get there! Despite having led for some sections of the walk, the others raced ahead on the approach. I finally tracked them down, stuffing cream and scones into their fat little faces in the Almonry. I, however, had another destination in mind – to fulfil a longstanding ambition to visit The Drayman's Son, a micropub on Forehill. It was a bit stuffy, being crammed with Morris dancers thanks to Ely Folk Festival being on somewhere They offer about a zillion types of real ale and cider – vanilla porter, anyone? Anyway, I picked a pint of Pickled Parrot perry. Very nice, 6%. Truly one of the wonders of Ely. I must have looked festive when I left because someone with a flowery hat and bells on asked me where to pick up the shuttle to the festival. Then a quick visit to the cathedral, Ely’s other wonder. Some stayed there to listen to singing but I was off, downhill through the park, back to the station. A better walk might be to do the shorter loop, have lunch in Ely then visit the water meadows (fitting in at least two visits to the Draymans Son on the way round).

Anyone is up for an earlier start, an hour earlier?

11 on this walk enjoying "last of the summer wine" weather of fine with some sun and a light breeze conditions. If you are a fan of big skies and flat open "countryside" then this is a fine outing but for some there would be too much "agribusiness" and not enough fen or unploughed fields. Still it was an excellent day out with the lunch pub providing good quality meals.

The after lunch return stretch works a lot better with a nice amble through a woodland grove. Ely is a fine place to end a walk with a number of refreshment options. Most of us went to the Almonry which seemed to be suffering a tea bag shortage - one in the pot between four of us! and my home-made chocolate cake was a bit too dry. I would be tempted by none of the riverside pubs the next time.

Oh dear - fat arthritic finger syndrome; one of the riverside pubs not none!

to add, for those exploring the picturesque riverside extension in the late afternoon sun, one of the riverside pubs did prove an idyllic refreshment stop before the trip back.

What fun! Hope to attend.jfk

Given the day that's in it, let me misquote a famous line from a rom-com: You had me at 'lifesize animated dummies'.

Perhaps someone can translate that from the American? Is anyone intending walking this walk?

Two friends and I intend doing this walk. I will definitely be going because I have just invested in the OS map so need to get my money's worth.

How fabulous to have an airport named after you. I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told.

I am looking forward to join this walk too and I'll bring my trusted GPS with plenty of batteries. Ely Cathedral is a magnificent cathedral with far reaching views from its roof, in good weather, and indeed plenty to see in- and outside. Did you know it has a 'pied-a-terre' in London? In Ely Place, where else, there is still a chapel formerly part of the Bishop of Ely's Palace, called St Etheldreda's

for more info: http://www.stetheldreda.com/index.php/history-of-st-etheldredas/. well worth a visit and if you like choral singing, go on a Sunday during Latin mass.

Sadly Cromwell is hibernating and you will need to reach his house by 3pm in order to get inside; you would have to take an earlier train and skip lunch; better go another day and spend a day in Ely.

10 sunny and cold

10 walkers off the train at Ely. Cold, but sunny mostly, a little bit overcast for a while before lunch. Not much mud. Most of the walking in the morning on raised banks and in the afternoon, quite a bit on paved surface. A non-strenuous walk, flat, walked at a leisurely pace today. Not much of topographical interest, I'd say, but pleasant nonetheless.

Lunch stop at The Village Inn, Witchford. A quick glance at the plates of those already dining and I thought, 'I'll have what she's having'. First area they tried to seat us in wasn't great (nobody puts SWC in the corner), but then they quickly found us a couple of tables that could accommodate everyone. Friendly staff, good value carvery, with self-service vegetables and trimmings, but probably not great for non-meat eaters or anyone with a small appetite. 7 had full lunch, one picnicked, others had drinks.

Ely is a really lovely town and the cathedral is magnificent. Evensong had just begun when we arrived and some of us lingered to hear the beautiful singing. Some left for the train, five had tea and cake at the Almonry right next to the cathedral. A quick walk around town confirmed that there are a number of other tea and drinks options. Then on to the station where we bumped into one walker who had enjoyed the whole evensong service. The 17:58 train back to London.

Thanks to our Dear Leader and Pia and her magic machine for keeping us on track.