Tag: The fens

It had been just over a year since our last visit to Ely when we lunched at Peacocks Tea Room on the way back from Kings Lynn. So it was high time for another visit, this time taking in a new lunch venue, The Prince Albert, a lovely old boozer hidden away on Silver Street.

Setting out from Trumpington Park & Ride, Brian had led the way via Cherry Hinton and Fulbourn to Anglesey Abbey where we met up with Martin, Simon and Neil, and enjoyed coffee and cake at the National Trust café.

Then it was on to Bottisham, where we picked up the Lodes Way, some 17 miles of roads, tracks and bridges crossing the six waterways (lodes) that connect the fen-edge villages to the River Cam. Dating back to Saxon times, the Lodes provided flood protection for the rich grazing land owned by the monasteries of Ely and Ramsey.

It was at Wicken Fen that we pulled up to admire the large herd of Konik ponies grazing on the National Trust reserve. Along with Highland cattle, these help manage the vegetation growth across newly restored fen habitat.

Fenland cyclists will be all too familiar with the challenging footbridge at Burwell Lode. Known as the Cock Up Bridge, its steep steps provide quite a workout for e-bikers hauling their heavy machines up and over the waterway.

The last leg, some three miles along the Great Ouse, offered lovely views of Ely Cathedral and soon we were pulling in at The Prince Albert for a welcome pint with lunch in the garden.

As for the return from Ely: Martin and Simon cycled via Wicken Fen back to their car at Anglesey Abbey; Brian led another half dozen to Ely Station where they caught the train to Cambridge; and Graham led the others on a cycle ride home via Cottenham. Well done, team!

For the record, the turnout was 14 Windmillers: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Geoff, Graham, Jenni, Jeremy, Keith, Martin, Neil, Ric, Rod, Simon and Tom.

Thanks go to Simon, Graham and Martin for the many photographs.

Brian

Fenland can be a disorienting place – with its 360° horizon, black earth, wide waterways and immense skies – but the National Cycle Network’s Route 11 is there to guide you from Cambridge to Ely on traffic free lanes and byways. So it was that eleven hardy Windmillers set off for Ely, a return trip of 40 miles or so, on a cold Thursday in April.

There was plenty to see along the way. Not only do the fens contain around half the grade 1 agricultural land in England but they are also home to herds of deer and rare breeds of cattle and ponies, while the numerous locks, sluices, pumps and dykes keep the waters of the Great Ouse and the North Sea at bay.

Along the way we pulled in for refreshment at Wicken Fen, the National Trust reserve where herds of free roaming konik ponies and highland cattle help create new habitats for wildlife. Their grazing keeps the landscape open and encourages the growth of wetland and grassland plants.

It was here that Charles, Chris, Geoff and Ken peeled off and headed for home, leaving Andrew, Brian, Deborah, Howard, Martin, Sandra and Simon to continue on towards Ely.

We enjoyed a splendid lunch at Peacocks Tearoom and Howard, this week’s birthday boy, bought the drinks.

It was as we were putting our helmets on for the return trip that Deborah got goosed – quite literally – by a goose that crept up from behind and pecked her on the bum, to much hilarity all round.

The return leg was thankfully somewhat warmer and Martin, Sandra, Brian and Howard pulled up for yet more refreshment at Anglesey Abbey, while Andrew, Deborah and Simon headed on back to Cambridge.

Thanks are due to Andrew for planning the outing and Howard, top chap, for buying the drinks.

Best wishes also to Simon as he is taking his Spanish GCSE exam later this week; good luck!

There’s lots more photos here in the club album and, if you’re into horses, there’s further information here about the konik ponies.

And finally, if you want to read about our last visit to Ely, some three years ago, see here.

Brian