Just 8 of us today, including one first-timer (a Cambridge resident) but that is a good turnout for a Varsity walk (usually 2 to 5). When we set off It was foggy to start with then overcast with glimpse of late afternoon sunshine . After visiting the lovely church in Great Shelford to admire its mural we took the permissive route along field edges from Little Shelford to Hauxton, which was a little muddy but not too bad. On then to Hauxton Mill then over vast fields to Haslingfield. One in our group had booked a table at the Red Lion, Grantchester, so we bypassed the Little Rose in Haslingfield and instead headed for Grantchester via the Travelling Telescope. The Red Lion was fully booked so well done - and thank you - to our companion for his foresight in booking ahead. Four of us had the venison ragu which was superb, and those that had the pub's version of a club sandwich could have shared their meals with three others, and still be full, so enormous were the portions. An excellent luncheon experience, with good draught beer and wine. Our one sandwicher left early as he wanted to take in the college tour at walk-end, so that left the rest of us to take the leisurely walk on surfaced ways from Grantchester to the outskirts of Cambridge, now in late afternoon sunshine and glorious light. For once we omitted the tea experience at the Orchard in Grantchester, but no-one seemed too bothered. On reaching Cambridge five set off for a local pub, one set off to meet a relative, and I headed for the railway station. A fast service took me back to London.

Another excellent day out in very good company. But it is a shame few SWC walkers ever give the Varsity walks a go.

5 of us on this stroll across the Cambridgeshire landscape - big skies and wonderful cloudscapes. There were rumours of a 6th person, but no sightings. sunny with a strong breeze at times. The group heroically coped with the ( predicted) drama of a CLOSED lunchtime pub in Haslingfield. Most had come prepared, one stoically munched chocolate. Four stopped at The Orchard tea room in Grantchester, where it was just warm enough to sit outside. On the way back to Cambridge beside the Cam we passed a group of women who had just been for a swim! A good day out.

SarahS

Yes one more was on this walk but had to modify it in order to arrive back in Cambridge before dark. Managed to have qa lovely evening encounter with Cambridge and Kings College jfk

Just 2 of us (presumably everyone else already had the "tick in the book"). warm overcast and humid in the morning sunny and hot in the afternoon . We had an enjoyable day's walking - and my companion very gamely put up with me all day. Picnic in the garden of the closed Little Rose pub in Haslingfield, with provisions and beers purchased at the excellent village shop nearby, and a lovely tea in The Orchard, Grantchester. Indeed, we could easily have nodded off in the comfy deckchairs in the shade of the apple trees and getting out of them took some effort. Hello then to Rupert in Lord Archer's garden before we took the Trumpington route to Cambridge, via the Botanic Gardens. As it was quite late now, we skipped the tour of the colleges and headed direct to the railway station, for the 18-15 hrs fast train back to London.

Would have loved to do the Grantchester walk but was looking for a Wednesday walk not too far afield and missed this one jfk

The Orchard Tea Rooms are an absolute must, if you can get into them. They are set in a lovely orchard, with deck chairs under the trees and there is a lot of literary history attached (Rupert Brooks and all that WW1 lot). In the distant past, when there were only book one walks, we used to reckon this was the best tea stop (or joint first with the tea room in Exceat, anyway).

Great walk. There is another travel option for Notherners/Northern Liners: take the fast 9.14 at Kings Cross to Cambridge, arr 10.02 , have a coffee and then the 10.21 to Shelford arr. 10.26 and wait or have a head start. At least you can only walk one way!

Or 09:40 from Tottenham Hale...

Anyone do this walk?

8 , warm and humid . A fine walk with good company and much discussion of Britex. Good beer at the Little Rose Inn but so-so food: edible but not somewhere you would want to go out of your way to experience. Apart from two men sat at the bar, who disappeared soon after we arrived, we were the only customers. On the plus side we did get the garden to ourselves. Having stayed together more or less up to lunchtime the group fragmented somewhat in the afternoon. Most of us came together again at the Orchard Café, but it was very busy and one look at the queue persuaded us to give it a miss, which is a shame. After a short, unplanned detour in Cambridge (we went astray) those of us leading the pack headed straight for the station for an early-ish train back to the big city.