Cambridge

Cambridge is a well known and loved city, known for it’s university, punting on the River Cam, numerous museums and being the county town of Cambridgeshire.

Some people believe Cambridge is not part of the Fens, however, the Fen edge does run through parts of Cambridge.

Fen Edge Trail: Cambridge – ‘through the fen edge town that became one of the world’s most famous cities’

The Fen Edge Trail is a series of Walking Guides around the Cambridgeshire Fens, exploring the landscape heritage. Produced by the Cambridgeshire Geological Society, the guides are free to download and take you from the Lincolnshire border to the Suffolk border and around the fen ‘islands’. More info on www.fenedgetrail.org.

The Cambridgeshire Geological Society (CGS) created the Fen Edge Trail. The society promotes interest in the geology in Cambridgeshire, the UK and worldwide. They welcome new members, and hold regular talks. See their website for more information http://www.cambsgeology.org

Activity: Cambridge – ‘through the fen edge town that became one of the world’s most famous cities’  Led by Martin Evans (CGS Fen Edge Trail Team)

The walk starts on the distinctive landscape feature of Castle Hill (a Chalk hill) and finishes at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences. It gives a landscape heritage and geological perspective to the city: the river’s gravel terraces, the chalk stream-fed river and the ‘fen’ meadows of alluvium and peat. The walk will also draw attention to buildings and places of historical and social interest. Guiding you through what is now a mostly hidden landscape, the walk takes you back in time, giving a glimpse into the city’s past and the natural history of the area, from ‘Ice Ages’ to sub-tropical swamps and fenland rivers. You will discover how its natural character still filters through, seen in the riverside meadows, the numerous water channels, the subtle changes in the height of the land and even in the building stones used in many of its famous buildings.

Date: Saturday 17th June 2023, 10.30 am (will finish about 1pm, as the walk will last about 2.5 hours).

Venue: Starts at Castle Hill and finishes at the Sedgwick Museum, full details of where to meet will be given after booking.

Cost: The event is free, but donations are welcome.

Other information:

Please book by contacting us via our website www.fenedgetrail.org

Easy walking about 3 miles

Fascinating Fens Values: Nature, Wellbeing, Heritage.