Thursday 15th August, Haversham walk led by Tony R

This 7 mile walk started for the car park by Haversham viaduct and had 16 walkers. Most of this walk was reccied last year by Ruth & Tony, so was a reminder of the work done by Ruth. However as that walk was over 9 miles a shortened version was reccied by Beryl & Tony last week.
We started off by walking under the railway viaduct before turning off over the River Great Ouse into the Floodplain nature reserve. We left this over another bridge to follow the railway north. After a short while we walked under the railway by means of a short tunnel & then turned south past a series of clay pigeon shooting butts. As we walked south we heard some loud shooting behind us. At the end of this field we turned left and soon crossed a brook by means of a wooden bridge. We carried on this footpath for just over half a mile to exit onto Wolverton Rd which we crossed. There was a Travis Perkins truck blocking the way into the sports field, but after asking permission we were allowed to pass it into the sports field. Here we had a coffee break making use of the benches.  We then had to cross a quarter of a mile of newly ploughed field before passing Manor Farm.  Fortunately the electric gate was open & therefore we avoided having to climb over the ladder style. We crossed High Street & walked past the now closed Greyhound pub in Haversham village. At the end of the village we ascended the hill to the village sign where we stopped for a photo.

We continued along the road to Hill Farm where we left the road and walked past the farm. We then opened a gate into a field where cattle were grazing. Keeping together we passed through another gate & then crossed the River Ouse using a bridge next to a weir. After the bridge & another gate we walked along a concrete road for well over half a mile until we reached the ruined church of St Peter. Here we stopped for our picnic.

 After leaving St Peter's church we walked up to the canal which we followed for just over a mile before leaving it just before Grafton Street aqueduct, the most recently built one in England. Beryl took most members to view the aqueduct before continuing the walk. We then walked through New Bradwell Park before crossing Newport Rd & entering the Ouse Valley Park. This led us alongside the river which we followed back to the car park. A nice dry day, not too hot & enjoyed by all.

Track of walk, walked in clockwise direction.