We’re a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s, 30s and slightly older, offering led walks and social events across Herts, Beds and south Cambs.
This walk is for up to 30 people, including the leader.
A fairly flat walk from St. Neots to Paxton Pits Nature Reserve with plenty of wildlife spotting particularly along the River Great Ouse where you can spot some herons and many other ornithological creatures along the way.
We will start our walk at St. Neots Station and walk down Priory Hill Road where you will be able to take in some nice scenery in the distance as we head down Mill Lane and reach Paxton Bridge.
We will then reach the Ouse Valley trail where we will end up walking past Hayling Lake then reach a small section of the Meadow Trail and head towards Rudd Lake, you may be able to spot several species of wild orchids. We will then stop for a quick break once we reach Paxton Pits Visitor Centre Car Park along the Heron Trail where early into the walk, we have the option to stop at a viewpoint along Heronry South Lake where as well as the grey heron, you may be able to spot nightingales, kingfishers and if you’re lucky, cormorants.
We will then continue past Little Paxton Quarry, an archaeological and geological site containing remains of activity over 400,000 years including those of Iron, Roman and Saxon age. Shortly after this, we will reach our lunch stop where you can take in some nice views across Heronry North Lake. We will continue the rest of the walk along the Ouse Valley Trail whilst returning to part of the Heron Trail.
Meanwhile, we will pass Mooring Meadow which includes the site of an old farm abandoned during the early 60’s before it became gravel pits. We will then pass Dodder Fen which includes a wide variety of plants and insects like butterflies and have a long stroll along the Great Meadow, a rather flat Texas plain like landscape until we pass Cloudy Lake and eventually end up back at Hayling Lake.
Once we’ve rejoined this section, we will head back over Paxton Bridge, Mill Lane and up Priory Hill Road where we will take a right turn into Priory Park where you have the option to enjoy some live music, performing arts acts, food and beer stalls at the St. Neots Festival.
Dogs are welcome on a lead (we will be passing livestock).
For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.
Booking your place: If you would like to join, you must book in advance using the Stag Walkers Meetup group - see Notes for how to book & what to bring. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your booking so that someone else can take your place.
Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited.
Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.
Please car-share or use public transport if possible. To offer a lift or ask for one from a fellow walker, please use the Meetup event page.
This is a circular walk.
Please be aware of the walk grade: walks are graded Easy, Leisurely, Moderate or Strenuous
Use our Meetup group to book your place on the walk: https://www.meetup.com/StagWalkers/
Book your place via the Stag Walkers Meetup group by clicking the ‘Attend’ button on the event page. If the walk is full, click ‘join waitlist’ and you will be added if a place becomes available. If you’re on the waitlist, please check back regularly to see if you have been added to the attending list.
Please:
DO NOT book onto a walk unless you are pretty sure you will be able to make it.
UPDATE YOUR RSVP. We understand ‘life happens’ so if you need to change your RSVP please do this at least 24 hours before the walk and before booking closes to enable someone else to take your place.
DON’T NO-SHOW on the day unless it is absolutely unavoidable (we do understand ‘life happens’) because it prevents others from enjoying a walk if it is fully booked.
*TAKE NOTE that if you no-show and/or cancel after the booking closing deadline three times, without extenuating circumstances, we will decline further bookings from you for a period of six weeks.*
Bring a packed lunch/snacks and drinks, appropriate clothing for the conditions and optionally a basic first aid kit.
Please follow NHS guidelines and do not attend the walk if you are unwell.
We are a Ramblers group, non members are welcome to try us out for two or three free walks before joining Ramblers as a full member.
As a charity we ask that non-members consider making a voluntary donation to Ramblers until they become a full member. We suggest £3-4 per walk. You can donate in person or online.
The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577. Registered office: First Floor, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE.
Meet us in front of the ticket office building just to the left of the footbridge as you leave the platform at St. Neots Station. If coming from Hitchin direction, we recommend getting the train which arrives at St. Neots by 10:07. There is parking available both at the station (PE19 1QF; use APCOA to pay for parking) and at the Station Square Car Park in Loves Farm (PE19 6SL) on the opposite side of the footbridge for just £2.00 a day on Sundays although spaces can be quite limited.
