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The
Peterborough Green Wheel ride |
Based
on a network of traffic calmed and traffic free roads and paths the Peterborough
green wheel is a Millennium commission sponsored project. When complete
it will provide a 80 km route linking all of Peterborough's major
tourist sites and attractions.
Currently the best day out on the green wheel would be based around Ferry Meadows
country park cycling along the Green Wheel to the Peakirk wildfowl gardens a
distance of some 19 miles. The Ferry Meadows country park also offers the Nene
Star river cruiser, windsurfing, sailing and rowing boat hire. Two snack bars,
a Bar, an adventure playground, miniature train, horse riding and a pay and play
golf course and pitch and putt complete the facilities on offer. Combine this
with acres of open countryside and ancient woodlands and you have an ideal base
for your Green Wheel day out.
The park is also home to one of the Peterborough Sculpture trust's major works,
Pyramid by John Maine. Cutting through the park is the Nene Valley Railway, where
you can often see Thomas the Tank engine with Annie and Clarabell. You can experience
a ride on a steam train from the Ferry Meadows station.
When you start out along the wheel towards Peakirk you will pass through Marholm,
home to the Fitzwilliam Arms pub, locally known as the Green Man because of its
topiary. The Green Man is a true family pub, with a great beer garden, children's
play area and a menu to suit all ages and budgets.
The next site on the route is the haunted Woodcroft castle. Cycling along you
will meet Etton Rail Crossing, one of the few crossings of the East coast main
line that is still operated manually. As you cross the line you may reflect on
the Mallard and its speed records which were set on this stretch of line.
Just before you enter the village of Etton there is a chance to take a short
diversion to visit Helpston, the birthplace of John Clare. Etton village is another
picturesque small Cambridgeshire village, with another excellent family pub for
eating and refreshment. The Golden Pheasant has a wide range of both beers and
food on offer and a children's play area and aviary.
After passing through the village you will cross the main A15 by way of the newly
constructed Etton tunnels. As you cross the old A15 you are only one and a half
miles from Terry Wright Cycles in Deeping St James, turn left at the A16, right
as you go through Northborough and left at the Deeping river bridge and pop in
and say hello.
Back on the green wheel, you are nearly at the wildfowl gardens. Follow the Green
wheel signs, through Glinton and past the Foxcovert road turn (you will be going
this way back), the wildfowl gardens are on your right as you exit the village.
The gardens offer a chance to view many rare and unusual species of wildfowl,
particularly exciting are the downy duckling days during spring, where if you
are lucky you will see chicks being hatched. There is also a gift shop and cafe,
the gardens are an interesting and educative afternoon out.
Heading back towards Ferry Meadows gives you a choice of routes, you can either
retrace your steps or head back via Foxcovert road and the newly laid cycle path
that skirts Werrington village. If you choose to take the Werrington route, be
warned that you have to cross the main railway using the pedestrian footbridge
at Hurn Road (i.e. get off and push). This route brings you back to Marholm where
there is yet another route choice turn left and you ride through Milton estate
and the green wheel's own path through Bretton Woods which will bring you into
the park via thorpe wood. Straight ahead and you will retrace your original route
back to the park. |
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