Walks you can reach from Attleborough by train

Beginner-friendly: A straightforward walk along the River Cam with many lunch options in Granchester. Within Cambridge itself, feel free to wander about randomly rather than following the route — there’s plenty to appreciate.

King's College Chapel

Fitzwilliam Museum

Hobson's Conduit Monument, Cambridge

Cambridge

Time: 3h30–6h30

4 lunch spots: Grantchester (1h30–3h in) — the Orchard Tea Garden, Grantchester, the Red Lion, the Rupert Brooke, or the Blue Ball Inn

1 end-of-walk reward: the Panton Arms

Warnings: A quarter urban.

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended

Waterway: two thirds beside rivers and canals.

Ely Cathedral: the 'ship of the fens', a great Norman cathedral visible for miles across the flat fenland.

Oliver Cromwell's House

Ely

Time: 5h30–11h30

2 lunch spots: the Five Miles Inn (2h–4h in), or Wren Cafe (3h–6h in)

5 end-of-walk rewards: the Cutter Inn, the Drayman's Son, the Kings Arms, the Minster Tavern, or the Prince Albert

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Open fenland, flat drained farmland, long straight tree-lined farm tracks, hedge-lined meadows, river banks, dykes and catchwater drains, quayside and historic city.

Ely Cathedral: the 'ship of the fens', a great Norman cathedral visible for miles across the flat fenland.

Time: 4h

Warnings: Exposed river banks.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

A short city and riverside walk linking Cambridge's two stations, taking in some of the best-known views of the ancient colleges, punting on the upper river, and riverside paths across the commons where college and town crews race their traditional 'bumps'.

Cambridge

Time: 3h

Warnings: Shared with cyclists along most of the route, so watch out for bikes.

Walk details: Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association (PDF).

Flat walk through traditional villages and along the River Cam, finishing through Grantchester Meadows into Cambridge city centre.

Great Shelford: Traditional village with thatched cottages and a striking parish church.

Little Shelford: Village with period architecture.

Hauxton Mill: Historic watermill on the River Cam.

Trumpington Meadows: Open meadow nature reserve on the edge of Cambridge.

Byron's Pool: Wild-swimming spot on the Cam named after the poet Lord Byron.

The Old Vicarage (Rupert Brooke's House): Former home of poet Rupert Brooke, with sculptures in the grounds.

Grantchester Meadows: Open riverside meadows along the Cam between Cambridge and Grantchester.

King's College: World-famous University of Cambridge college with its renowned chapel.

The Orchard Tea Garden

Time: 3h30–7h30

2 lunch spots: the Red Lion, or the Orchard Tea Garden

Warnings: Busy A10 road crossing; shared cyclist path before the M11 bridge.

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

A mostly flat route that leaves Norwich over Mousehold Heath, where flint-stone paths are steep and uneven underfoot, before settling into quiet country lanes and field paths and a wide farm track. Some sections can be muddy after rain; pavements are generally wide. Several shops and supermarkets in Sprowston for supplies early on; little in the way of facilities for the final five miles after Spixworth. Frequent trains and buses run back to Norwich from Hoveton.

Time: 4h30–8h30

Lunch: Shops, supermarkets and takeaways in Sprowston, plus a cafe at Spixworth village hall around two-thirds of the way.

1 end-of-walk reward: the Kings Head

Warnings: The route crosses the busy B1150 North Walsham Road twice, including a 50mph section, with no pedestrian crossing; take great care. The flint paths over Mousehold Heath are steep and uneven.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 3h30–6h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association (PDF).

Stunningly gorgeous; This is a lovely route, and by far the best of the three options. A lovely route that follows the River Ouse for most of the way through open country, then wiggles into the city centre, taking in housing, Ely Country Park and common land. Mostly off-road and flat along the exposed flood bank, with several stiles and gates and a short steep embankment; muddy in places after rain. Follows the River Ouse, passing through Ely Country Park and common land rich in vegetation and wildlife. Facilities in Ely and Littleport but little en route.

Waterway: two thirds beside rivers and canals.

Ely Cathedral: the 'ship of the fens', a great Norman cathedral visible for miles across the flat fenland.

Time: 2h30–5h

Lunch: No facilities en route between the two towns.

Warnings: Two footpath crossings of railway lines without automated barriers, one on a bend with poor visibility, so listen out as well as look. Several stiles and the likelihood of grazing cattle in the riverside fields. The flood bank is exposed to wind, sun and rain with little shelter.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Stunning route; a really lovely route, mostly through forest and fields. A mostly wooded walk through native and plantation forest on broad, clear gravel and compacted-dirt tracks, with sandy sections and a final stretch along the River Ouse on narrow and sometimes muddy riverside paths. A short road section on the outskirts of Brandon has no footpath. There is a campsite beside the River/Little Ouse with a swim spot. Deer can be seen on the route.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–6h30

Warnings: A short section on the edge of Brandon has no pavement (walk the verge). Near the river crossing by the Weir, fallen trees must be climbed over and two small streams crossed; not suitable for those with mobility issues. Riverside paths can be sloppy. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 8h30–17h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A long, largely flat Fenland route starting along the canal, then a mix of footpaths, farm tracks, gravel and lengthy stretches of road. It is fairly exposed in places, with farm tracks that can be deeply muddy near the sewage works and includes stepped bridges and metal turnstiles. Partly follows the Hereward Way. There are several railway stations on the route, so it can be broken into shorter chunks. Look out for deer, hares, and (in places) wild greengage and plum trees.

Time: 8h30–17h30

Lunch: Cafes and pubs in Ely at the start; few facilities along the way.

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a third of the walk. Long sections follow A-roads with 60mph limits and no pavement, which are not safe for walkers; a footpath crossing near Shippea Hill is not maintained and impassable, forcing a detour. Stepped bridges and turnstiles make it unsuitable for those with mobility issues; one path near Brandon passes through thick, deep mud by the sewage works.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A walk that is primarily on roads, but outside the towns mostly on quiet country lanes, with some off-road footpaths and a field section. Footpaths get narrow and overgrown in places, the terrain varies and field paths can be muddy or boggy. Largely flat with steps at the Wymondham end. No facilities in the middle of the route until Cringleford and Eaton, around 8 miles in. Regular trains run between Wymondham and Norwich for the return journey. Eaton Park makes a worthwhile detour.

Time: 5h–9h30

Lunch: No facilities in the middle of the route; bring plenty of food and drink, with shops appearing only on reaching Cringleford and Eaton around 8 miles in.

Warnings: The Lizard Circular boardwalk near Wymondham is in poor condition and the river crossing has been removed, so the route cannot be followed as drawn; an alternative along Browick Road is a 60mph road with no pavements. Crossing the A11 at the roundabouts is unpleasant. Sections are heavily overgrown with tall stinging nettles. Fields contain sheep and cattle. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.