River Great Ouse & St Ives, Cambridgeshire

Walk through archway in Dolphin Hotel and pass through gate, with moorings on right, to enter Hemingford Meadow. An obvious path heads west towards a hedge and continues to gate at the far corner of the meadow.

Continue on track, then lane, to a T-junction and go straight over onto a narrow path for 320m. Turn right at lane and walk past thatched houses to church. Turn left on narrow path with cottages on left and river on right. Keep right at next lane and follow surfaced path next to river, with attractive Manor House (A) gardens on left. (A) The Manor House, with beautiful gardens, is one of the oldest inhabited houses in Britain.

Go through next gate into riverside field with old willow trees - an excellent place for a picnic. Continue ahead through two more gates, cross next field to another gate and follow path between houses. Turn right at lane in Hemingford Abbots to village square with pub and keep ahead to last houses and gate onto an open common.

A surfaced path now leads west, with old railway line on the right. Continue for 800m to junction with lane and turn right to enter the freely-accessible Godmanchester Nature Reserve. This comprises a number of former gravel pits with a variety of wetland wildlife (B) (B) Godmanchester Nature Reserve is managed by Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust. It comprises a rich mixture of flooded gravel pits, grassland, reed bed and willows.

Go through gate and turn lefton path for 200m; go right at junction and walk north through trees for 200m with lakes on either side. Turn left at junction, visit hide on right overlooking Roman Lake, and continue for 400m. Turn right and meet Ouse Valley Way by gate. Go right, with Cook’s Stream on left, and follow path for 900m to confluence with Great River Ouse. Turn right along riverside, cross footbridges over backwaters at Four Gate Pit and continue to Houghton Lock.

Cross pedestrian bridge over lock and follow path through passageway under Houghton Mill. (C) Turn right for a wonderful view of this historic building. You can easily spend an hour or two here – the waterwheel powers the traditional milling and there are regular family-friendly activities. (C)Houghton Mill is an impressive 18th century watermill with waterwheel. Owned by the National Trust (it was once a Youth Hostel) it provides a fascinating glimpse of working heritage and there are family orientated activities - plus fine views of the building from the adjacent riverside.

Follow path on north side of National Trust car park to kissing gate. Go right on path for 200m, turn left at track and after 30m turn right on lane for 330m. At junction of tracks, keep ahead on the surfaced Thicket Path, also used by cyclists, for 850m. (Look out for Houghton Meadows on right – a gate gives access to this important nature reserve with rare flora). Take steps on left into St Ives Thicket and turn right on narrow path after 60m. Continue until path descends back to main path.

Turn left and go right after 500m into public field for more riverside views. Return to path and fork right by Scout centre. Continue to church, with footbridge over backwater to Holt Island nature reserve(D) (open weekends April - October). Take walkway on left of church, turn right at Ramsay Road and follow bend to riverside gardens at The Waits. (D) Holt Island Nature Reserve was once an osier bed - it's accessed by a footbridge and is open at weekends.

Continue past museum onto The Broadway leading to Market Hill in centre of St Ives, with statue of Oliver Cromwell. Turn right on narrow Free Church Passage to the old quayside (E)(electric boat hire available here). Cross the 15th century bridge, with an unusual chapel, to return to start. (E) The historic quayside at St Ives is lined with interesting buildings and the 15th century bridge includes an unusual chapel.