Routeways, Ancient and Modern

Fleam Dyke, Icknield Way, and a close up view of the A11

Time away from home ----about three hours

Walking time --- just under two and a half hours

(web editor's note - we measured it at 7.3 miles and it took us just over 3 hours!)

How wet? -not very, apart from two short stretches

Getting there Take A11 towards Newmarket from Fourwentways, turn of at sign to The Wilbrahams. Turn left back over the dual-carriageway, and drive along No Through Road for 600 metres. Park in lay-by by fence of quarry.

Route From car, walk short distance to sharp right turn, turn right along road. After 400 metres, pass through five-bar steel gates, and continue down the road. As you approach A11, bear left with wooden fence on left, and road drainage ponds on the right. Keep on your side of the dual-carriageway!

Just before footbridge across the dual-carriageway, turn left along the Fleam Dyke, with the ditch to your right. Follow this dry path for a mile or so through woods and copses, ignoring the farm tracks to the left and crossing the Dyke-they are wider, but mucky from tractors and wagons. At a farm, bear slightly left, with ancient petrol pump on left, and on to the Dyke again, with barns to left, and the farmhouse, gardens and tennis court on the right. Follow the Dyke until it fades away, and join a broad grassy track, then forward through gap in hedge to narrower path.

At T junction turn left along the Icknield Way for three quarters of a mile, and after wet section reach Six Mile Bottom Road. Turn left, and walk down quiet road for another three quarters of a mile: verge is walkable, but tussocky.

At farm buildings at bottom of dip and with sharp right turn ahead, turn left, and then almost immediately bear right leaving cottages to your left, and proceed up good track-The Old Cambridge Road. This leads back to the quarry, and on a clear day, extensive views of East Cambridgeshire, and even Ely Cathedral.

Neither the author nor his dog accept any responsibility for accuracy or for any injury or mishap that might befall any person who follows this walk. First published by "one man and his dog" in Great Shelford Village News June 2002