MARPA LINE WALKS

WALK 11 - Newmarket to Soham

Re-opened Soham station provides a convenient break point for walks between Ely and Newmarket; also the opportunity to explore the town’s historic features from an extensive network of local paths. All Ipswich to Peterborough trains via Bury St Edmunds and Ely call, including Sundays.
Chippenham Fen National Nature Reserve is of great botanical interest, a reedy ‘wildscape’ where fens and breckland merge. The public path through the fen is often wet underfoot and may be boggy or even flooded in winter. Access is limited to the path unless you have a permit from Natural England.
Fordham Woods Nature Reserve and a network of short paths within the village repay exploration, ­notably the Ironbridge Path leading to the Townsend arboretum.

Distance 11 miles (18.5km) - allow about 5-6 hours, but add on time for refreshments, visiting nature reserves and churches Download the PDF format A4 trifold leaflet (1652 kb)

WALK 12 - Soham to Ely

Soham’s reopened rail station provides a ­convenient starting point for a riverside walk to Ely along the banks of Soham Lode and Gt Ouse, the cathedral (‘the ship of the fens’) dominating the landscape ahead.
Soham’s station also gives access to local features of historic and natural interest including the ­impressive church tower of 1500-4 and beautiful hammerbeam roof straddling the nave. The famous steelyard is opposite the church. The town’s Millennium Walks and Art Trail invites further exploration, including a feature commemorating the great explosion of 1944 when a wagon in a trainload of bombs caught fire. The bravery of three railwaymen who managed to detach the wagon saved the town from catastrophe.
All trains on the Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Ely and Peterborough route call at Soham, including ­Sundays.

Distance 6½ miles (10.5km) - allow about 3-4 hours, but add on time for refreshments, visiting nature reserves, churches, etc. Download the PDF format A4 trifold leaflet (2338 kb)

Walks selected by Roger Wolfe