Holywell circular walk

Like a walk full of history? View a holy well dating from pre-Christian times. Wander through a most beautiful Anglo-Saxon ring village. Relax in the oldest pub in England, complete with ghost. Pass where Hereward the Wake fled William the Conqueror a thousand years ago.

Amble through woodland. Look out for green woodpeckers. Pass by ancient willows. Picnic at a perfect picnic spot, in an English woodland garden beside the church, or have a pub lunch with one of the most perfect views.

Good points of this 3 miles (6,600 steps) walk are through woodland, field edges and a hedge-lined flood bank. Includes the Anglo-Saxon ring village of Holywell. Quiet places to sit and rest. Food available, or have a picnic. Wildlife and historical interest. Can be very muddy in winter through point 1.

Starting point

Park in Millfield car park beside the allotments, half way between Needingworth and Holywell  Walk to the back of the car park where a stile indicates the start of the walk.

The path passes through a copse, in spring full of crab apple blossom as shown in the image below. As you come out of the copse you'll notice many attractively leafed trees and bright red rowan berries. Follow the route around playing fields.

After almost half a mile the track ends at a T junction with a large field facing you. Turn left, walking on the far side of the hedge along the field, full of birds and dog rose blossom in summer.

Point 1

Just over 200 yards and the route turns right along the bottom of the field and through a wooded area full of wild flowers. Note the ancient willows in the hedge to the left.

The path continues for 300 yards and then turns right to take you along the opposite side of the field. If you like walnuts this is a good spot to visit in autumn. There are several mature walnut trees half way along the field edge.

Point 2
You'll come out onto Mill Road. Turn left towards Holywell.

A further 160 yards and the road bends to the  left. Turn right into Back Lane, following the sign to the church. 

The village is one of the best examples of an Anglo Saxon ring village. It's thought the settlement formed from the widening of a track through forest that covered the area. Dwellings were built around the edge, with the centre used to keep livestock.

Follow the road around to the left.

Point 3

As you head for the church, just before passing through the church gate you might catch a gorgeous scent if you're doing this walk in spring. It's from a large ornamental blackcurrant bush on your right, even more fragrant after a shower of rain.

St John the Baptist church dates from the 13th century, although there has been a church on the side since at least 990AD. The tower is believe to have been taken from Ramsey Abbey in the 16th century. As you enter the church grounds there's a seat under trees to the right, well worth pausing at to appreciating the peace and quiet. You might see a green woodpecker feeding on ants.

Follow the path through the church grounds.

Point 4

The village takes its name from the holy well located at the front of the church. A natural spring, it's one of several that rise along Holywell front, water seeping under a gravel bank where it meets underlying clay. The well, in use for more than two thousand years, is reputed to have healing properties.

As you exit the grounds there's an opportunity to take a small detour and sit in the beautifully tended wildflower garden below the well. The most perfect place to have a picnic. Just to the left of this area on a warm sunny day you might find clouds of dragonflies enjoying the damp air that rises from springs in the field.

Walk down the road to Holywell front. You'll pass Goodyers, a beautiful 17th century farmhouse. The houses along the front are built on a gravel bank several feet above the flood plain. The Great Ouse can flood half way up the bank in front of the houses in winter, as shown in the image above. This aspect must be one of the most attractive views of any village in Cambridgeshire, with buildings dating from as early as the 16th century.

Point 5

At the end of Holywell front you'll find the Old Ferry Boat Inn, shown above, which claims to be the oldest pub in England. Alcohol has been sold from this location as early as 560AD. The foundations of the current building date from about 660AD, the building itself from the 17th century.

The pub is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a young girl named Juliet Tewsley, who committed suicide in 1050 after being jilted by her lover. A stone slab in the pub is thought to be the location of her grave. The ghost is said to appear every year on 17 March.

In past years the pub had the right to operate a ferry across the river to Fen Drayton. It is reputed that Hereward the Wake used the ferry to escape from William the Conqueror after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Since Hereward had his stronghold on the Isle of Ely, there is a ring of truth to this.

The location of the pub and its interior make it a very pleasant spot to stop for coffee or lunch, particularly if you can get a seat on the terrace overlooking the river. 

Follow the road up the side of the Old Ferry Boat Inn. As the road turns left you'll pass Moynes Hall, a 17th century farmhouse. Even the garden wall is listed, being the best part of 400 years old. As you continue along the road you'll pass many pleasant cottages, until you return to where you entered the village. Turn right and retrace your steps along the road back. Half a mile and you're back at your start point.

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