Ouse Valley Way - St Neots to Houghton

A walk along the Ouse Valley Way from St Neots to Houghton.
A perfect river side walk following the gentle flowing River Ouse as it meanders past nature reserves to Godmanchester. From here there is easy access into Huntingdon or across the meadows to Houghton and its infamous mill. A perfect way to enjoy a summers day.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 21.84 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 6h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 10 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 33 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 34 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 7 m

Photos

Description

Start: St Neots railway station (PE19 1QF) Grid ref. TL 197 606

Waymarkers: Ouse Valley Way

(S) Leave St Neots railway station and turn right onto the road. This is Priory Hill Road which leads alongside the railway then bends around to the left with open fields on the right. At the crossroads proceed straight over onto Mill Lane.

(1) At the T-junction with B1041, turn right and follow the road over the two river bridges. After the second bridge take the footpath on the right that leads down by the river. From this point the path is well marked. Keep ahead and ignore all other paths that lead around the nature reserve lakes.

As Offord Cluny is approached, distinctive by its church on the opposite side of the river, the path turns as the river separates into a mill stream.

(2) Before a weir is met, the path virtually turns back on itself in order to navigate across a stream via a footbridge. The path then leads out onto the road.

For refreshments turn right and follow the road across the river and the railway crossing. The Swan pub is located on the left at the T-junction.

(3) To continue turn left at the road and follow the road around to the entrance to the holiday park. A waymarker directs the route through the park along the laid out roadways. Continue along the riverside towards Brampton Lock. At this point follow the path away from the river along a track through a touring park.

(4) Then take the track on the right which leads across Bromholme Bridge, then under the railway and onto Port Holme, an expansive meadow. Keep in a straight line across the meadow aiming for the locks on the far side. Proceed across the bridge by the locks and keep to the riverside path. There is a bridge that leads onto the Causeway in front of the river where the Royal Oak pub is situated.

(5) At this point, if one wants to terminate the walk at Huntingdon, proceed Northwards onto Post Street and follow this through to the town. To continue to Houghton, take the entrance into the church on Post Street just past the roundabout with The Causeway or use Chadley Lane just off the roundabout. At the church proceed around to its eastern side and follow the path keeping left passing the cricket green and then under the A14 road.

(6) The path navigates around one side of a lake and then continues onwards up to a disused railway line. Turn right and follow the trackbed for 450 yards where a path diverges from the line on the left. Follow the path around the lakes until it meets the main river. Where the river branches continue around the creek until a footbridge enables access across and the footpath returns to the main river.

(7) Continue to Houghton locks and take the bridge across the river, following the path around to Houghton Mill. A passage leads through the mill buildings and the campsite is then immediately on the right, with the village accessed by turning left and following the road. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 30 m - St Neots railway station
  2. 1 : km 1.94 - alt. 17 m - T-junction with B1041
  3. 2 : km 9.12 - alt. 12 m - Weir
  4. 3 : km 9.76 - alt. 15 m - Junction with road
  5. 4 : km 14.03 - alt. 12 m - Track right
  6. 5 : km 16.21 - alt. 11 m - Post Street
  7. 6 : km 16.9 - alt. 14 m - Lake
  8. 7 : km 20.87 - alt. 10 m - Houghton locks - Bridge
  9. E : km 21.84 - alt. 13 m - Houghton

Practical information

Start: St Neots railway station (PE19 1QF) Grid ref. TL 197 606

Waymarkers: Ouse Valley Way

Transport :
Whippet buses 45/45A bus service linking Huntingdon, Houghton and St Ives
ECML - East Coast Main Line railway services
Houghton is probably not the most likely end point for this walk with Huntingdon being the direct connection for public transport to St Neots. However Houghton offers a campsite in the delightful settings of its Mill and its charming village. There are regular buses from the village into Huntingdon where a frequent train service operates between Huntingdon and St Neots.

Accommodation : Houghton Mill Campsite

Refreshments :
The Swan, Offord Cluny
Royal Oak, Godmanchester

Find more information and walks at Griffmonsters Great Walks here.

In the nearby area

The Nuns Bridge

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.