St Ives to Hemingford Abbots

Good points of this 6 mile route (click map to enlarge) of about 3 hours  are quiet easy walking of great variety along river and through woods and a timely coffee at The Axe and Compass in Hemingford Abbots

There are no bad points to this walk.

Start this walk by parking for free in the St Ivo Leisure Centre (where the yellow cross is on the map). Walk back out of the car park the way you came in veer to the right at the tight double bend entering the car park. Opposite the scouts hut turn left and walk into St Ives past All Saints Parish Church (on weekends from April you could visit Holt Island nature reserve just before the church).

In St Ives, walk into Bridge Street and over the unique St Ives Bridge. There's another opportunity for a stop (hardly got started yet!) at the Dolphin Hotel, where the best coffee in St Ives can be drunk on the patio overlooking the bridge.

When you're ready to continue, walk a short way from the St Ives Bridge down London Road, turn into the car park of The Dolphin and walk at right angle to the car park across to a gate entering into the Hemingford meadow. From here you can walk over to and along the River Ouse, or walk across the meadow. Either way you'll end up on the far side to exit via the footpath.

From here you follow the footpath to Hemingford Abbots. The route has great variety, going around houses and  along the Ouse again. Need to take care to stay on track, but you'll be rewarded on arrival in Hemingford Abbots with a visit to The Axe and Compass. At least have a coffee, along with the most chocolatey accompaniment you could imagine.

Start again by continuing to walk up through the village. Turn right towards the black bridge (no longer black since replaced with a modern version) walk across another water meadow, past Houghton Mill and into Houghton. At the village centre turn right at the little antique shop, back towards St Ives. About half way you can visit Houghton Meadows, and a bit further walk through The Thicket, before arriving back at the car park.