Saturday, 03 October 2015
Craig writes: What a beautiful day! This was probably the last Saturday ride during this Indian summer we are having, as the weather is due to break down on Monday. Eight riders joined me at Brookside for the trip to the Orchard Tea Rooms at Granchester. A mere 3 miles due south as the crow flies. So in CTC tradition I planned a trip around Cambridge to make the journey around 12 miles to coffee.
Brookside
We headed east through the back streets to the train station where we crossed the foot and cycle bridge before turning north. Again through the back streets we crossed Mill Road and Coldhams Lane into a park i doubt know the name of by Coldhams Brook coming out by Cambridge United FC. Traffic was very quiet this morning. We continued north to Ditton Meadows and the path alongside the River Cam. Stunning, I thought, with the light reflecting off the water, the students training in their rowing boats and the warm weather. We followed along the path to Jesus Green for a short stop by the Lido and the weir.
Jesus Green by the swimming pool
Jesus Lock
Continuing on we ventured into the heart of Cambridge down Bridge Street before turning right behind Trinity College and crossing the river towards the Coton Path. At Coton we turned south to the A603 before crossing onto the byway at the Barton turning down to Grantchester and the tea rooms.
The bridleway from Barton to Grantchester
We reached the tea rooms just in time as the queue suddenly grew outside the door back into the carpark. Its clearly very popular here. My first visit I have to say - but what a little gem! But we were soon sitting down outside to enjoy our refreshments.
Grantchester
As with all these nice stops, its soon time to depart and we left to head straight back through Grantchester meadows where i ended the ride by Lammas Land and everyone split to their destinations. In total we had completed around
18 miles.
Craig Hirons
The Mill Pond, Cambridge
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GPS track (GPX).