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Ely circuit clockwise via Wicken (77km) (48mi)
Start: Brookside
Author: Rupert
A clockwise route to Ely heading out via Cottenham and Coveney and returning via Wicken and the Lodes Way. There are great views of Ely cathedral from the higher ground at Coveney.
This route has several extended off-road sections - the Cam towpath out of Cambridge, the riverside path out of Ely and the Lodes Way. All these sections have reasonable surfaces when dry but get puddles after heavy rain. There is a footbridge with steep steps on the Lodes Way that is tricky with large or heavy bikes. Use the alternative route that returns via Upware to avoid this footbridge.
This route is in the route collection Alternative routes to Ely
Issues on this route:
(4km) (3mi) Unsurfaced Cam towpath between Chisholm Trail and Baits Bite lock
(7km) (4mi) Narrow Unsurfaced Cam towpath between Baits Bite lock and Waterbeach
(43km) (27mi) Narrow Unsurfaced Path between Barway and Ely - northern section
(46km) (28mi) Narrow Unsurfaced Path between Barway and Ely - southern section
(55km) (34mi) Narrow Unsurfaced Lodes Way - Wicken Fen Section
(57km) (36mi) Steps Lodes Way - Footbridge over Burwell Lode
(57km) (36mi) Narrow Unsurfaced Lodes Way - Burwell Fen Section
(7km) (4mi) Narrow Unsurfaced Cam towpath between Baits Bite lock and Waterbeach
(43km) (27mi) Narrow Unsurfaced Path between Barway and Ely - northern section
(46km) (28mi) Narrow Unsurfaced Path between Barway and Ely - southern section
(55km) (34mi) Narrow Unsurfaced Lodes Way - Wicken Fen Section
(57km) (36mi) Steps Lodes Way - Footbridge over Burwell Lode
(57km) (36mi) Narrow Unsurfaced Lodes Way - Burwell Fen Section
Elevation gained: 176m over 77km 48mi.
| Steepness: |
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Distance covered at each grade:
<1%: 75km/47mi |
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1%-3%: 1.5km/0.9mi |
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3%-6%: 0.5km/0.32mi |
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This route passes through Cambridge (0km/0mi), Horningsea (8km/5mi), Clayhithe (10km/6mi), Waterbeach (10km/6mi), Landbeach (13km/8mi), Cottenham (16km/10mi), Wilburton (26km/16mi), Wentworth (31km/19mi), Coveney (35km/22mi), Ely (40km/25mi), Barway (47km/29mi), Wicken (53km/33mi), Lode (66km/41mi), Stow cum Quy (69km/43mi) and Cambridge (72km/45mi).
This route passes within about 1kmhalf a mile of the following possible refreshment stops: Milton Country Park (6km/4mi), Cottenham, Community Centre (16km/10mi), Wicken Fen, Docky Hut Cafe (53km/33mi), Lode, Anglesey Abbey (66km/41mi), Quy, The White Swan (69km/43mi) and Teversham, Darwin Nurseries (71km/44mi).
We welcome corrections and updates.