Now that the good weather is finally making an appearance and the spring flowers are blooming, many families are starting to think about getting out and about into the Cambridgeshire countryside. One walk with a very interesting name and fascinating history is the perfect weekend stroll for the whole family.
Devil’s Dyke might not sound like the kind of place you would want to spend the day out, but trust us, it’s one of the most beautiful walks in the county!
Located just outside the small village of Reach in the Fenland area, the views from the up-to-10-metres ancient high Dyke are stunning across the vast swathes of flat fenland that this area is famous for.
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The majority of this walk is along the intriguing ancient Anglo-Saxon defensive structure known as the Devil’s Dyke and the route takes in pretty Swaffham with its two windmills and two churches. From Reach, the dyke crosses Burwell, which has given the name to Devil’s Dyke Firewood and Devil’s Dyke Farm, before running along the edge of the July Course at Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk.
Devil’s Dyke is actually the largest of several earthworks in south Cambridgeshire that were designed to control movement along the ancient Roman roads. The dyke crossed three important Roman roads, including the ancient Icknield Way that runs from Norfolk to Wiltshire.
If you’re interested in the history of the Dyke, you can discover more as you see it yourself as there are information boards dotted along the route explaining the archaeological importance of the Dyke. Not only do you get some fresh air and see something unique, you can come away feeling like you’ve learned something too.
The start of this walk is the small car park on the south side of Reach beside Fair Green. The full walk of Devil’s Dyke will take roughly 3 hours. Those wanting to also make a day of this walk can stop off at The Dyke’s End in Reach which does an amazing Sunday Roast!
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