Water Mini Pilgrimage in Cambridge (YHA Festival of Walking)

Join our friends from Water Sensitive Cambridge on a journey exploring our relationship with water.

Cambridge has a visible connection with water and its local rivers. If one sees beyond the University and the many great buildings in Cambridge, it's the River Cam that comes into focus: a serene stage for punts, picnics, and poetry.

Yet for Cambridge, this relationship with the river is not an easy one; the town sits in an area that is water-scarce and receives less rainfall annually than even drought-stricken Barcelona. Owing to its unique geology, it has enjoyed a dependable supply of water from the ground for thousands of years. But with pressures from a growing population, what has been the effect on nature and the flow of the precious local chalk streams?

This walk, presented as part of the Festival of Walking, focuses on water and the local relationship with it. You will encounter the River Cam of the past and follow the path and stories of Hobson’s Conduit, the ‘New River’, dreamed up in the late 1500s to bring pure, clean water into the city. Ultimately, what does it mean to be in the ‘right relationship’ with water and the land/river from which it is drawn?

Themes

• Chalk streams and why they're unique
• Changing land and climate through deep time lens (geological time)
• How demands of transport, defence, industrial transformation and population growth have shaped the river
• Common land, property, industry and economic transformation
• Wild swimming and relationship with the river

The route passes these important heritage sites

• Fitzwilliam Museum
• Bene’t church, the tower is the oldest building in Cambridge (1000-1050)
• The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and the English Martyrs
• Kings College Chapel
• Corpus Clock
• Senate House
• Gonville & Caius sundial
• ‘The Backs’

What to bring

Appropriate urban clothes and shoes; Waterproofs or Umbrella; Waterbottle.

FAQ’s

Travel & Accommodation

The YHA are offeringa 20% discount to anyone wishing to stay the night. Please see their website for details
Pilgrims will need to pay for their own travel to Cambridge.

Who can come? Anyone over 18 (or under 18 with parental guidance, bearing in mind the walking distance).

Is this religious? All and no-faiths are equally welcome. We operate a “Bring Your Own Beliefs” policy. We ask that all participating pilgrims tolerate one another, whatever their beliefs.

Will I be asked to share my feelings with the group? We like to keep things light and breezy, so there will be no group emotional sharing moments. If you want to share your feelings in personal conversation when walking with others that is up to you, but certainly not compulsory.

Are there fitness limitations? Pilgrimage is moderately intense. This journey is mostly on the flat and uses urban and grass paths. If you struggle to walk or stand for half a day, this type of pilgrimage may be an unsuitable activity for you right now. There are always plenty of escape points en route. But we will walk slowly, and start early, and four miles is a very manageable distance for the majority of people. Unfortunately this pilgrimage is not suited for mobility-impaired people or those requiring wheelchair access.

Can I bring my dog? Sadly not - we can’t accommodate dogs on our guided pilgrimages. However, if you have a registered assistance dog, they are welcome.

What does my money go? What's this all for?

This is a free guided pilgrimage offered as part of the YHA Festival of Walking. We are grateful for voluntary donations to our charitable work. 50% of funds raised from this limited space event allow the team at British Pilgrimage Trust (a registered charity) to spend more time making it possible for thousands of pilgrims to make pilgrimage themselves by engaging with our ever-increasing range of free resources. For more details about our charitable activities, please check here. The remaining 50% goes towards the work of Water Sensitive Cambridge, a Community Interest Company aiming to restore and improve local relationships with water. We build rain gardens, run events and education programmes through working with the community and an extensive network of local partners.

If you would like to make a donation in addition to, or in place of, a ticket, click here.

We hope to see you on the path.

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