Rainy weather leading to possible flooding.
We’re a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s, 30s and slightly older, offering led walks and social events across Herts, Beds and south Cambs.
This walk is for up to 25 people, including the leader.
A fairly flat walk around Paxton Pits Nature Reserve with plenty of wildlife spotting particularly along the River Great Ouse where you can spot some herons and many other ornithological creatures along the way.
We will begin our walk from Paxton Pits Visitor Centre Car Park along the Heron Trail where early into the walk, we have the option to stop at a viewpoint along Heronry South Lake where as well as the grey heron, you may be able to spot nightingales, kingfishers and if you’re lucky, cormorants.
We will then continue past Little Paxton Quarry, an archaeological and geological site containing remains of activity over 400,000 years including those of Iron, Roman and Saxon age. After this, we will leave the Heron Trail and walk past Broughton Lodge Farmhouse, a Grade II listed building made of red bricks then walk through a small section of the village of Diddington. We will then walk towards the River Great Ouse and eventually join the Ouse Valley Trail and hopefully spot some more herons and maybe even an otter. Shortly after walking along the river for some time, we will reach our lunch stop where you can take in some nice views across Heronry North Lake.
We will finish off the rest of the walk continuing along the Ouse Valley Trail whilst returning to part of the Heron Trail. Meanwhile, we will pass Mooring Meadow which includes the site of an old farm abandoned during the early 60’s before it became gravel pits. We will then pass Dodder Fen which includes a wide variety of plants and insects like butterflies.
After a long stroll along the Great Meadow, a rather flat Texas plain like landscape, we will pass Cloudy Lake then reach a small section of the Meadow Trail. Around Rudd Lake you may be able to spot several species of wild orchids. Finally, we will arrive back to the visitor centre.
Once we return to the Visitor Centre, you are welcome to join us for a pub stop at the Anchor. It’s about a 5-10 minute walk from the visitor centre but parking is available at the pub stop so you are welcome to move your vehicle there.
Dogs are welcome on a lead (we will be passing livestock).
For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.
Booking your place: If you would like to join, you must book in advance using the Stag Walkers Meetup group - see Notes for how to book & what to bring. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your booking so that someone else can take your place.
Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited.
Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.
Please car-share or use public transport if possible. To offer a lift or ask for one from a fellow walker, please use the Meetup event page.
This is a circular walk.
Please be aware of the walk grade: walks are graded Easy, Leisurely, Moderate or Strenuous
Use our Meetup group to book your place on the walk: https://www.meetup.com/StagWalkers/
Book your place via the Stag Walkers Meetup group by clicking the ‘Attend’ button on the event page. If the walk is full, click ‘join waitlist’ and you will be added if a place becomes available. If you’re on the waitlist, please check back regularly to see if you have been added to the attending list.
Please:
DO NOT book onto a walk unless you are pretty sure you will be able to make it.
UPDATE YOUR RSVP. We understand ‘life happens’ so if you need to change your RSVP please do this at least 24 hours before the walk and before booking closes to enable someone else to take your place.
DON’T NO-SHOW on the day unless it is absolutely unavoidable (we do understand ‘life happens’) because it prevents others from enjoying a walk if it is fully booked.
*TAKE NOTE that if you no-show and/or cancel after the booking closing deadline three times, without extenuating circumstances, we will decline further bookings from you for a period of six weeks.*
Bring a packed lunch/snacks and drinks, appropriate clothing for the conditions and optionally a basic first aid kit.
Please follow NHS guidelines and do not attend the walk if you are unwell.
We are a Ramblers group, non members are welcome to try us out for two or three free walks before joining Ramblers as a full member.
As a charity we ask that non-members consider making a voluntary donation to Ramblers until they become a full member. We suggest £3-4 per walk. You can donate in person or online.
The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577. Registered office: First Floor, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE.
Paxton Pits Visitor Centre Car Park, High St, Little Paxton, St. Neots, PE19 6ET, parking free. Meet outside the visitor centre, which has toilet facilities.
