Helpston Cambridgeshire including Rice Wood

The route starting point is The Bluebell Inn car park. (PE6 7ED)

(S/E) From the car park of Bluebell Inn, cross over the road and onto the footpath, follow the path with hedgerow on your right for 400 m.

(1) Cross over the footbridge and turn right, follow the footpath with the hedge on your right. Turn left at the corner and continue to follow the hedgerow; a small diversion takes you around trees. Back next to the hedgerow, look for a gap across the steep ditch in about 200 m.

(2) Once you have carefully crossed the ditch and passed through the hedge, walk southeast across the field towards a house and a black barn. At a boundary, cross over and turn right down the farm track, keeping the hedge on your right.

(3) The track meets a T-junction, turn right and continue down the track for about 1 km to meet a road. Cross over and turn left, and carefully proceed for about 200 m, then turn right onto the field path for about 400 m. Turn right and follow the wide path, keeping the woods on your right. Continue for about 800 metres towards a road.

(4) Just before the road turn sharp right to enter Rice Wood and follow the wide footpath for about 500 m. Look for footpaths to the right and left. At this point, you can see the road about 200 m away.

(5) Turn left to follow that footpath for 250 m to exit the wood and a further 250 m to reach the road. Cross the road, turn left, and after about 700 m reach the finish at the Bluebell Inn (S/E).

Stout walking boots are advised.

Just before you reach the Bluebell Inn, you pass the cottage of the famous poet John Clare.

Recommend eating at the Bluebell Inn, Telephone 01733 252394. If your numbers are more than four, I suggest you pre-order, see website https://www.bluebellhelpston.co.uk/