Whaddon to Potton Wood and return
Cambridgeshire / Bedfordshire
Distance 38km Climb 355m
Saturday 9 January 2021
While looking into a previous local walk, The Wimpole Way I saw a walk called The Clopton Way. Today was an opportunity to explore this a little further.
I walked from Whaddon to join The Clopton Way at Wimpole Hall. You can compare the view I had on today's walk with the view when I walked The Wimpole Way. Today was cold with freezing fog, so no real view. Normally I would expect to see the Church from here.
I followed the same route as my walk along The Wimpole Way. Leaving Waddon on the footpath heading north west, signposted towards Ermine Street.
I passed the sign showing me I was on The Harcamlow Way. In places it was very muddy and slippery. I was glad I had decided to bring my walking sticks on today's walk.
I passed through the barrier where The Harcamlow Way turns almost directly north, along the very wide avenue of trees.
After a few hundred meters I passed the small lake which is full of rushes and tall grasses. The bridge rose out of the mist, crossing over the River Cam or Rhee. On the previous walk this way I could see Wimpole Hall from the crest of the bridge. Today I could only see as far as the first few trees.
Continuing along the avenue I soon reached the normally very busy A603. It wasn't so busy today.
Crossing the road I continued north along the right hand side of the avenue. Up towards Wimpole Hall.
Passing though a gate and continuing towards the Hall, I saw a couple of swans sitting on My Lady's Pond, one of the small fenced in lakes.
A little further on and I saw the tower on the stable block raising out of the mist. It wasn't long before I could see the main path but I had could not reach it because of an electric fence, for the sheep. I turned left for a short distance to where there is a footpath gate.
Through the gate and I was back on another part of The Harcamlow Way, it is also The Clopton Way. If you look closely you may see the shape of Wimpole Hall in the mist.
I turned left, and headed westward following The Clopton Way. Through fields of rare breed sheep and cattle.
As I approached the gates I saw a green side directing me right. I soon realised this was a walk around the grounds and not directing us away from the gates. I was remembering a walk in Durham where I could not find the way around or through a set of gates. Very embarrassing.
I need not have worried the side gate was open and there is an obvious path towards it.
Through the gate I saw this interesting looking building over the road. It has the same coat of arms as shown on the gates so it must belong or had previously belonged to the Wimpole Estate.
I walked down to the corner before crossing the A1198 shown on the map as Ermine Street, Roman Road.
I was in Arrington and followed signs for The Clopton Way along Church Road. Following the road right then left as it climbed a little then I took the road right, along Church End.
Passing St Nicholas Parish Church. At the end of the road there is some building work. Someone is getting a new house.
I followed The Clopton Way sign through a kissing gate and across an open field. The path gently climbs to the left up towards some trees.
At the top of the hill there is a gate and with the frost the wooden steps looked a little slippery.
Through the gate and The Clopton Way turns right. With the wood on the right hand side and fields on the left.
A little dip at a track junction and I saw this sign pointing to Dead End. Not today.
The Clopton Way came out of the trees onto what looks like a fairly new private drive. There was a horseshoe tree. I was not sure if I should have been there, had I missed the path, I continued a few steps in my direction and soon came across another footpath sign.
I followed the sign which took me to the left hand side of a deep ditch.
Passed a set of large gates The Clopton Way crosses over a narrow wooden bridge which looked slippery so I followed the tracks round on the left and both paths soon joined up.
After a few meters the path turns slightly right, still following beside the deep ditch. Over the ditch was a solar panel field. Not much sun today.
It did not take long to reach the corner where The Clopton Way turns left heading down hill slightly. All morning I had been noticing the lovely patterns the frost had been making on the branches of the trees and bushes.
A few more meters and I soon joined a road.
I was now on Church Lane Croydon. Walking towards All Saints Church I collected my first Geocache of the day. Sadly over the road there is a memorial to David Cyril Simons.
I should have had a further look over to the right to see if I could see any traces of the Medieval Village.
At the bottom of Church Lane, at the War Memorial. The Clopton Way turns right along High Street.
Along here I passed the closed Queen Adelaide and some interesting thatched roofs. Not sure if you will be able to make out the thatched cockerel.
At the end of the houses I could not miss the opportunity to walk up the footpath on Croydon Hill to collect a couple of Geocaches. This was called "Great View" unfortunately due to the fog today it was not. So that means I will have to come back again.
Walking back down Croydon Hill I returned to the High Street. Turning right I continued with my walk along The Clopton Way.
At the top of the road The Clopton Way goes straight ahead across the road. There is also a sign showing this is the way to Medieval Village.
Along here there was a number of other Geocaches to collect. I almost missed noticing I was walking through the site of the Medieval Village.
Leaving the village I continued westward collecting Geocaches as I went. I had also noticed a number of young deer tracks in the soft mud.
I reached the farm track that ran up to Top Farm. There were no signs as to which side of the ditch was the footpath. The photo of the Way on my phone was not very clear either so I choose the bank on the right as the other side looked very muddy.
At a footpath junction, a bridge crosses the ditch. There was a sign for The Clopton Way on the other side of the bridge so I crossed over. The footpath was very wet and slippery.
After a few hundred meters The Clopton Way reaches a road and turns right following the road to New England Farm. In a north easterly direction.
I could hear people working on a building near the farm, long before I could see them.
The Clopton Way continues through the farm before turning left. After a few hundred meters there is a split in the footpaths, unfortunately no sign posts. So I took the first one on my right hand side.
I was starting to think about time and distance now, how far would I get? when should I turn around? In order to get back before it gets too dark.
Following the left side of a large ditch. On checking this out later, this was The Clopton Way although I also saw all the paths joined up again anyway.
At the top of the field I crossed the footbridge which showed I was on still on The Clopton Way.
Over the bridge and in the top corner of the field the footpath sign has fallen over. I soon saw another sign round the corner. So a short right then left and I was soon heading west. A more detailed map shows this as Hatley Gate. It was as I was writing my blog I realised I had crossed the county boundary line. It was very slippery and muddy in places so I was glad of my walking sticks.
At the next junction The Clopton Way turns right. This is a better path to walk on. It turns left and led me straight into Cockayne Hatley.
After a few hundred meters I spotted this footpath sign and followed it. NOTE This is not The Clopton Way. The correct footpath is 150m further along the road.
It was at the top of the path when I saw there was no Church I realised this was the wrong path. Once I orientated myself I set off and was heading towards the Church. At the junction across a couple of fields I could see Potton Wood through the mist.
This reminded me of a time when my children were young and we went for a bus trip to some woods.
I was soon back on The Clopton Way as I passed the Church of St John the Baptist.
.
Walking towards the junction with Hatley Road a number of large yellow lights hung in the air. If it hadn't been the noise of the farm vehicle it could have been mistaken for a flying saucer.
At the junction I turned right and walked along the road. All of a sudden I was next to the water tower, it had just appeared out of nowhere.
Just passed the water tower is a small car parking area. The Clopton Way goes through the car park and onto a grass track. An opportunity to collect another Geocache. At the top of the track there is a right turn into the entrance to Potton Wood. My friend Billy told me Potton Wood is known for it's Blue Bells. I have since found out it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Out of the mist rose the viewing platform.
I turned left at the viewing platform and walked on a few meters. It was now I had to decide. While I was eating a cheese and onion sandwich I checked out the photo of the map on my phone. I decided the sensible thing was to turn around now.
After my sandwich and a quick drink I headed back. Almost the same route back with a few changes.
My route back, passed the water tower onto Hatley Road. Instead of turning back up towards St John the Baptist's Church, I continued straight along Hatley Road. Passing the Cockayne Hatley sign.
This was the footpath sign I should have followed on The Clopton Way up to St Johns the Baptist's Church.
After 150m I was back on my original route. Passing the Victorian Post Box in Cockayne Hatley.
I was still following my outward journey route through New England Farm. This looks like an old petrol pump standing on the corner?
At the bottom of the road where the footpath turns left, I changed my route slightly. Instead of following the path on what was now the right of the hedge I kept to the left. It was a choice between slipping and sliding, or tripping and stumbling. I choose tripping and stumbling.
After about 1km I was back on my original route. As I wasn't looking for Geocaches I was moving a lot quicker.
At Croydon, I continued straight through the village, no need to see the trig point again.
Passed the War Memorial and turned left. It was near All Saints Church I noticed that the Churchyard was extending across to the other side of the road.
I continued on my original route. It was just passed the solar panel farm I noticed the frost and ice on these gates. I cannot say I noticed it on my way out. Can you see the ice hanging off the wire fencing.
My route now continued as the original. Into Arrington and along Church End.
Passed St Nicholas's Church. Left onto Church Lane and then over the A1198.
Through the gates and back onto The Wimpole Estate. My route back was exactly the same as my route out.
As I crossed the bridge over the River Cam or Rhee, I could hear the birds in the area of the small lake that is full of rushes and tall grasses. The birds were making such a noise.
By the time I reached Whaddon the light was fading.
I had to walk on a little further to my accommodation so the last couple of km was done in the dark. An interesting walk I will have to do it again when there is more hours of day light and hopefully no fog. I had walked over 43km but the walk I have written about covers 38km with 355m climb. Looking forward to the next walk.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of writing.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire/Essex/Hertfordshire or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
