The Bishop's Walk
Sunday 27th September 2009
As well as being the 900th birthday of the Diocese of Ely, 2009 also marks 800 years of the University of Cambridge.
To acknowledge these anniversaries and to commemorate the lasting relationship of the Bishops of Ely and the University, Bishop Anthony will walk from Ely to Cambridge on Sunday 27th September.
He will follow the Fen Rivers Way along the east side of the Great Ouse and Cam Rivers from Ely to Clayhithe Bridge and then the west side to meet up with Professor Alison Richard, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, at Chesterton (Penny Ferry, Water Street). They will then walk together, via Riverside, to finish the walk on Jesus Green in Cambridge.
The entire walk is about 17 miles and much of it is on river banks that are only suitable for properly equipped walkers. But anyone can join Bishop Anthony to walk some of the way or to welcome him anywhere along the route. The first three miles from Ely Cathedral to Barway and the last four miles from Clayhithe to Jesus Green are along firm, flat, surfaced paths. It is intended to have a lunch stop at Upware. Sailors are also welcome!
The Walk is essentially a personal effort and whilst a few water stations are being provided, walkers are expected to bring their own food and drink and make their own arrangements to join and leave the walk (toilets are few and far between!). As the Waterbeach station car park is the only point along the walk served by public transport, it would be best to arrange for someone to drop you off (and pick you up!) if you only want to join for a part of the walk. There is a small car park at Upware and dropping off points in Barway village, the bridge on the A1123 (though the east side path we are following is a little further east, towards Wicken), Bottisham Lock (where you will need to cross over the lock bridge to join us), Clayhithe Bridge, Baits Bite Lock (from Milton) and Chesterton Fen Road.
If you are intending to join the walk, please let Mary Rone, at the Diocesan Office know. We need to know where you will join, and how many of you will come, so that we ensure we meet up with you - especially if Bishop Anthony is ahead of the estimated timings. On the day, if you want to know when the Bishop will reach your part of the river, ring 07968 025 157
| The approximate timings for the day are: | |
| 9.15am | Short service in Ely Cathedral before the walk commences |
| 12.15pm | Lunch stop at 'Five Miles From Anywhere Inn', Upware |
| 2.30pm | Cross the river at Clayhithe (parking & train available in Waterbeach) |
| 3.30pm | Meet the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alison Richard, at Chesterton (Penny Ferry, Water Street) |
| 4.30pm | End of walk after short speeches on Jesus Green |
| 5.00pm | The Bishop and Vice-Chancellor will travel by punt from Magdalene Bridge to the Mill Pool |
| 5.30pm | VIP reception at Peterhouse |