Peterborough to Ramsey

The part of the Trail consists of three sections.

Peterborough to Yaxley                     Yaxley to Sawtry                        Sawtry to Ramsey

In the north west of Cambridgeshire, the fenland is bordered by the higher land of a ‘plateau’ formed from mostly Jurassic limestones. These harder rocks are less easily eroded than the clays underlying the fenland and have provided drier land on which the historic city of Peterborough was established.

Starting near Peakirk, at the border with Lincolnshire, the Trail winds its way across limestone country to the north of Peterborough, familiar to many as ‘John Clare countryside’. Arriving in the centre of the city, it explores the historic buildings around Cathedral Square as well as the magnificent Cathedral itself. The excellent display of internationally important fossils in the city’s museum can also be visited, along with the  other important collections. The River Nene is a major landscape feature of the area and the Trail crosses it as it turns south towards Stanground, passing Stanground Wash nature reserve and then following the old course of the Nene to reach Farcet. Here, you are on Yaxley Ridge, formed of glacial deposits from the Pleistocene ‘Ice Age’ giving views over the north western part of the Cambridgeshire Fens, including the site of the former Whittlesey Mere. 

From Yaxley via Holme and on to Connington, the trail skirts the western edge of the fenland on the border between the clays and peat before reaching the village of Sawtry. A detour into the northern part of the Great Fen will be possible to visit Holme Fen, Whittlesey Mere and Rymes Reedbed. Highlights include Yaxley Church, the Admiral Wells pub, 

Turning south east, the Trail travels across Sawtry fen to cross Monks Lode and passes the iconic church at Wood Walton before taking you through gently rolling countryside from Wood Walton village to higher land at Upwood. This section finishes in the historically important town of Ramsey. Highlights include Sawtry Abbey ruins, Five Arches Pit, Lady’s Wood, and Upwood Meadows. An additional walk will take you into Ramsey Heights Nature Reserve and Woodwalton Fen.

For more details of the geology see the British Geological Survey map viewer.