NENE VALLEY WALKING

Go with the FLOW Jo Vaughan enjoys a gentle stroll along a stretch of the in from the Club’s Ferry Meadows site

OFTEN visit Ferry Meadows on a are various ways you can lengthen the sunny afternoon in order to take a walk if you choose. If you head clockwise I mooch around its attractive, around Ferry Meadows’ two main boat-filled lakes, but I’ve never before lakes you can then veer left towards the followed the river Nene along its scenic end and head along the river Nene, course towards . past Orton Lock all the way to the ❖ You’d be amazed at how rural this route Peterborough NVR station. This is feels, despite the constant hum of traffic in where the Nene Valley Railway starts the background, and there’s plenty of and ends. Then you can either walk Ordnance Survey wildlife to be spied too. The river is flanked back to the site or enjoy a scenic journey Landranger Map 142 by watercraft and houseboats all the way to home on a steam train. Orton Lock, where we cross over and head Another option is marked on the map back via the tree-lined path along the Nene (overleaf). Totalling 7.2 miles, it suggests a Valley Railway’s embankment. similar trail but takes you to Orton Mere Here, I have suggested a route that Station before returning to Ferry is just over three miles long, but there Meadows via the railway embankment. >>

May 2010 The Caravan Club Magazine 75 WALKING NENE VALLEY

The Club DID YOU KNOW?currently offers a 30% discount on Ordnance Survey Landranger and Explorer Maps – see DIRECTIONS caravanclub.co.uk/ shell-strewn path. books for The Caravan Leave the campsite via its main This continues to details Club Magazine 1entrance and turn left. Walk across the the left side of the recommends the use of Ordnance entrance road, past the yellow-painted river Nene. Survey maps – your idealnavigating passport to height barrier and some buildings on your Cross a wooden bridge and keep right Britain left, before turning right just past the red 3to continue walking along the post-box (the path runs along the right riverside. When you reach the green- side of the lake). painted sluice gates (just before the road Go past the playground and across the bridge), turn right across the river along 2bridge. Immediately after, take a right the wooden boarded bridge. Cross the turn, past a panel describing the ‘Willow railway line using its pair of metal gates Trail’. Cross another bridge then almost and almost immediately turn right immediately pass through an unmarked (signposted ‘Ferry Meadows and Lynch gate on the right and continue along the Wood – Cycle Route 63’). Continue straight ahead along the 4tarmac path until you reach a signpost. Turn right here (signposted ‘Nene Park and Ferry Meadows 63’), crossing the railway carefully once again. On the other side turn left and follow the railway line INFORMATION which is now on your left. Club site: Ferry Meadows, Ham Lane, Peterborough PE2 5UU. Keep left at the path junction, Call 01733 233526. Open all year 5ignoring the signs right towards the Distance: 3.2 miles/5.1km (7.2 miles/11.6km extended) ‘9th tee’. The track now turns to dirt Terrain: Good footpaths – firm grass and briefly, until you again veer left, where the solid surfaces path reverts to tarmac (you are still Number of stiles: 0 following the railway line). Essential equipment: Ordnance Survey Explorer Map Sheet 227 – Peterborough, Head past the entrance to March, Whittlesey, Chatteris and Oundle 6Ferry Meadows station and cross Level of difficulty: very easy the road ahead. Immediately veer right Refreshments: Ferry Meadows along the pavement which takes you back Toilets: Ferry Meadows to the site’s entrance.

76 The Caravan Club Magazine