Downham Market
The narrow stretch of land that lies between the River Great Ouse and the Relief Channel is known as the Hythe, and it is along this that you spend the first part of the walk. The prosaically named Relief Channel was built to take the strain of water from the rivers Lark, Little Ouse and Wissey from the Great Ouse, taking its load on a more direct route to the sea. The footpath along its west bank is part of the Fen Rivers Way, a long distance trail that follows public footpaths, historical droversâ routes and quiet lanes through fenland countryside.
While you're there: Collectors World at Hermitage Hall represents the life work of Eric St John-Foti, who has amassed memorabilia relating to Barbara Cartland, Charles Dickens, the 1960s and Nelson.
What to look out for: Denver Windmill (1835) used the wind to grind corn for more than 100 years until hit by lightning in 1941. It was restored by the Norfolk Windmills Trust and visitors can explore the complex.
Where to eat and drink: The Castle Hotel and Crown Hotel are 17th-century coaching inns near the start of the walk which both serve bar meals and real ales. At Denver Sluice, the Jenyns Arms is on the banks of the river, while the Bell Inn is in Denver itself. The tea shop at Denver Windmill sells sandwiches, cakes and bread made from its own milled flour. For fish and chips, try the Downham Fryer found at Somerfield car park.
Directions:
Leave the car park and turn right. When you reach Somerfield on your left, cut through its car park to a road running parallel to Paradise Road; turn right. The road winds downhill, passing the White Hart pub, to a level crossing and the station. Continue past Heygates flour mill on your left, and cross Hythe Bridge over the Great Ouse Relief Channel. On the far side of the bridge cross a stile on your right. Walk along a track to a junction of paths by the river bank.
Take the right-hand fork to walk north along the Fen Rivers Way. This is along the levied banks of the River Great Ouse, giving superb views across the Fens. After about 2.5 miles (4km) of peaceful walking, you reach a set of gates. Go through the gates and turn right, passing The Heron pub and crossing the bridge over the Relief Channel. Immediately after the bridge, and before the level crossing, look for the footpath sign on the right to lead you down the east bank of the Relief Channel.
Pass through a gate and walk for about 650yds (594m) until the path turns left across the railway line and becomes a track. Stay on this track for around 700yds (640m). When you see Gullpit Farm cottage on your left look for a footpath to the right. The path skirts the edge of a wood before turning left then right across a wide track, crossing a field diagonally and crossing a footbridge to emerge on a minor road. Turn right and follow the road round to the left to enter the village of Wimbotsham.
Turn right on the green by the village sign and walk until you reach Lower Farm. Opposite the farm, on your right, is a footpath, Point E. Take this and follow the wide track towards Kingstonâs Plantation. The track becomes a footpath which crosses a footbridge and runs behind a housing estate to arrive on Wimbotsham Road. Turn right and stay on this road as it bends left to become Clackclose Road and climbs gently to the B1507. Turn right, and keep right at the traffic lights opposite St Edmundâs Church, then right again at the Castle Hotel to the car park.
Hike
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