From: Central Cambridge.

Distance: 17 miles round trip.

Summary: Meridian line views of Cambridgeshire.

The map on the left is interactive — you can zoom in, move it around, see a satellite view, etc.

* * * *

In 1999, when communities across the country were preparing their millennium celebrations, those on the Meridian line were considered to have special significance. Many of these towns and villages built fire beacons to welcome in the new year. As the highest point for many miles around, and situated on exactly zero degrees of longitude, Orwell is the only south Cambridgeshire village to be home to one of these millennium beacons. However the village’s significance goes much further—to the 13th century—as I found out recently…

This was an enjoyable ride (though mostly along a busy road) to a rather unusual place. Watch out for the (relatively short) steep hill towards the end, but whatever you do, don’t forget to look back, as you’ll have a fantastic view over Cambridge with the radio telescopes of Lords Bridge in the foreground. Here’s my recommended route:

• Starting at the tall Catholic church on Hills Road (position A on the map), cycle down Lensfield Road, passing the Chemistry department on your left. As you reach the bottom of the road, move out towards the right slightly, so that you can turn left and then immediately right into the Fen Causeway, passing the Engineering Department on your right-hand side.
• Just after the pedestrian crossing that stretches diagonally across the road, you can either continue straight on and then turn left, or take a short-cut down the cycle path towards your left. Either way, you’re aiming for Barton Road (position B on the map).



• On Barton Road, you can cycle on the cycleway on the right-hand pavement, and I recommend doing so. The road continues for 1.5 miles, until you reach the first of two roundabouts with the M11. Take especial care here, but you’re aiming to continue straight ahead, into the village of Barton itself. In doing so, you’ll pass first the Haggis Farm Polo Club on your right (position C on the map), and then a military rifle range, also on your right. If the red flag is flying, then be prepared for the sound of gunshots!
• Finally come off the pavement back onto the road when you reach the White Horse Inn, in Barton—shortly before passing a turn-off towards Haslingfield.
• You’re now on the Wimpole/Cambridge Road (the A603), and this will take you all the way into Orwell. Continue ahead for 3.5 miles, when you’ll pass the Wheatsheaf pub on your left. Large fields open out on either side of the road, with a suspiciously steep-looking hill a mile ahead of you. Hills are good in this context, as you’ll get an excellent view from the top, so carry straight on undeterred! In fact, I recommend pulling over near the top of the slope, and looking back into Cambridge, with the Merlin telescope looming impressively in front.
• Then you can free-wheel down the other side of the hill, taking the first left at the bottom into Fishers Lane (position D on the map). Continue into the village, stopping just outside the church — I recommend locking your bike against the barrier just after the churchyard.

* * * *

You’ve arrived—it’s time to take a look around! I recommend climbing up the steps just beside the church, marked towards the ‘Hillside’. These take you first to a small field with a bench, so you can collapse in an exhausted heap and admire the spectacular view.

But then carry on to the very top of the hill, through a gate and to the bizarrely-named, but fascinating Orwell ‘Clunch Pit’. A site of special scientific interest, the pit dates from the 13th century, when clunch (a very soft, chalky limestone) was used to build local structures including parts of Ely Cathedral.

These days, the pit remains in much the same state as it has for centuries, and is the home to a thriving multitude of animals and plants: such as kestrels, wild carrots, the fantastically Potteresque ‘quaking grass’, and occasionally some rare varieties of sheep.

You’ll find a helpful information board explaining the history of the area— but, once you’ve read this, take a walk around the edge. Looming in the far corner is the millennium beacon — it must have looked really spectacular, flaming high above the Cambridgeshire countryside.

Before heading back, it’s worth taking a look around the rest of Orwell too—it’s a pretty village, with some impressive thatched cottages. Opposite the church is a street named Town Green Road. A little way down there on the right, is a newly developed nature area called Chapel Orchard, which was teeming with rabbits when I had an amble around.

If you try this route out, do let me know how you get on!