Ramble - Winter
4km Around Ely Riverside
A great place to walk and take in much of what Ely has to offer from an environmental standpoint
This circular walk can start anywhere you like, this description starts (TL 548 800 or N+52 23' 47" E+0 16' 28") at the Pocket Park car park between the railway line and Ely sewage works. Walking East along the riverbank look for swans, duck and moorhens on the river. In the late afternoon Barn Owls hunt the flood plain. On clear bright days at sunrise the outline of the ancient willows on the opposite bank is brought into stark relief
A short detour beyond Cooke's Engineering workshops lead to Cuckoo Bridge. A quiet ten minutes( and lot of luck) may be rewarded by the sight of a an otter. This area is recognised as a one of the better places in the County to catch sight of these mammals (TL 558 805 or N+52 24" 1" E+0 17' 22"). Mink can also be seen here, their smaller size, shorter tail and differing colours between individuals mark them out from otters. Be careful of wishful thinking
(Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.)
Between the two pits (TL 553 806 or N+52 24' 5" E+0 16' 51"), excavated to provide gault clay for the banks of the Ouse washlands, look for Kingfishers darting out from the pits banks to feed on fish. Listen for their arresting high pitched whistle. Walking back into town the keen mycologist (fungi forager) may find a number of species in the grounds of the cemetery
Whilst walking back through the town centre look up, rather than into the shop windows, to enjoy Jackdaws and Kestrels riding the updraft created as wind hits the Cathedral