Huntingdon is an historic market town with a medieval stone bridge over the River Great Ouse. Only earthworks remain of Huntingdon Castle and the site is now a small park. Huntingdon was the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell in 1599. Huntingdon Bus Station is ½ mile from the Rail Station. The scenic town of Godmanchester is south of the river, 1¼ miles from Huntingdon Rail Station.
A Huntingdon town trail can be downloaded from www.huntingdonfirst.co.uk
The collection illustrates and interprets the life of Oliver Cromwell who rose to prominence
during the English Civil Wars, becoming Lord Protector, Head of State, in 1653 until his death in 1658.
He was born in Huntingdon and attended the Grammar School which is now the Museum. Admission free.
Open TWThFS 1100-1600 (1530 Nov-Mar).
www.cromwellmuseum.org
The Museum is housed in the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School and specialises in producing
and showing historic films of the town. Admission free.
Open occasional events on SSu & BH, see website for dates.
www.godmanchester.co.uk
A large reserve of flooded former gravel pits, grassland, reedbed and willows.
Birds to be seen include ducks, geese, gulls, kingfishers and songbirds, plus dragonflies and butterflies in summer.
Birdwatching hide. Admission free.
Open at all times.
www.wildlifebcn.org
It is about 2 miles from the Reserve to Houghton Mill.
This large timber-built 18th century watermill is the oldest working on the Great Ouse.
Milling demonstrations (see website). Riverside meadow walks. Tearoom. Family events.
Open Mar-Oct, guided tours, see website.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/houghtonmill
Bus 904 from Bus Station (½ mile from the Rail Station) to Houghton, Clock Tower.
10 minutes journey, M-S hourly. Operated by Stagecoach.
Also Busway B to opposite Hartford Marina (watch for sign), then 1¼ miles walk,
see buses to St Ives below but only about 20 minutes journey.
* The 3¾ miles shortest walk is north of the river but you may
prefer to walk 4¼ miles via Godmanchester Nature Reserve.
St Ives is an historic market town which was once an important port on the River Great Ouse.
The picturesque 15th century bridge over the river has a chapel in the middle.
There is a statue of Oliver Cromwell in the Market Square.
Bus Busway B from Huntingdon Rail Station (and Bus Station) to St Ives, East Street
and Station Road. M-S every 30 minutes (every 15 minutes from Bus Station), Sun & BH hourly, about 35 minutes journey.
Return buses from Bus Station and East Street.
See www.thebusway.info.
Buses also operate from Cambridge.
The museum tells the story of the historic county of Huntingdonshire (now a district of Cambridgeshire).
Exhibits include fossils, arms and armour from the Civil War and displays of lace-making.
Riverside garden. Events and temporary exhibitions programme. Admission free.
Open M-S 1000-1600.
www.norrismuseum.org.uk
Bus see St Ives above.
The island was once worked Osier (basket willow) beds and is now maintained to encourage a range of wetland plants,
insects, birds and mammals. Admission free.
Open Apr-Sep, SSu & BH 1000-1600.
www.holtisland.org
Bus see St Ives above.
A wetland nature reserve with lakes and riverside meadows.
Wetland birds and other wildlife including dragonflies in summer.
There are several trails to explore starting from the Busway stop, download a map from the RSPB website.
Picnic area but no toilets. Admission free.
Open at all times.
www.rspb.org.uk
Bus Busway B from Rail Station (and Bus Station) to Fen Drayton Lakes, shortly after St Ives Park & Ride.
M-S every 30 minutes (every 15 minutes from Bus Station), Sun & BH hourly, about 40 minutes journey.
See www.thebusway.info.
Buses also operate from Cambridge.
