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Paxton Pits

Recommended by

Our view

"A gentle stroll in a riverside nature reserve near St Neots in Cambridgeshire."

Walk directions

Take the gated path to the immediate left of the visitors’ centre, indicated ‘Meadow Trail’, and follow this wandering route past Rudd and Cloudy Lakes, small reed-lined pits filled with water lilies and bulrushes (also known as reed mace). Stick to the waymarked route and at the far end go up the steps or ramp and turn left on to a straight, tree-lined track, now also signposted ‘River Trail’. Soon Hayling Lake appears through the undergrowth on the right.

At the junction at the far end turn left and follow the River Trail beside the Great Ouse. The path sticks closely to the riverbank with reed-lined lakes visible through the undergrowth on your left and open farmland and meadows glimpsed across the river to the right. Where the tracks bends sharply left go right at a junction, signposted ‘River Trail’ and ‘Ouse Valley Way’, on to a wide grassy path beside a fence and the river.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Mostly firm tracks, boards across marshy ground

Landscape - Reclaimed lakes, meadows, woodland and reed beds

Dog friendliness - On lead in nature reserve, and out of water at all times

Parking - Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, Little Paxton (signs from B1041)

Toilets en route - At visitors' centre

Walks in Cambridgeshire Dog-friendly walks in Cambridgeshire

About the walk

Located on the banks of the River Great Ouse, between Huntingdon and St Neots, Paxton Pits Nature Reserve consists of a series of shallow lakes and ponds originally dug for gravel and sand extraction and now flooded for the benefit of wildlife. The pits and pools were first scooped out over a... century ago to produce gravel to make runways during World War II and build roads and houses in the following decades. But now they are unrecognisable as peaceful, open lakes where kingfishers, grebes and terns are a common sight, and ducks such as gadwall and wigeon overwinter in large numbers. A mix of habitats Part of the nature reserve has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), for apart from the wetland and marsh the pits are surrounded by hay meadows and mixed woodland that provide entirely different types of habitat. The meadows behind the visitors’ centre at the beginning of the walk, for instance, are a key area for insects during the summer months, including butterflies like the marbled white and purple hairstreak, as well as over 300 different types of moth. Ode to a nightingale An undoubted highlight of the reserve are nightingales, which regularly sing from the woods alongside Haul Road in April and May – a visit at either dawn or dusk is the best time to hear the males’ song. These tiny migrants return to Britain from West Africa, and although they are not particularly easy to see, their explosion of song is unmistakable and attracts birders to Paxton Pits from far afield. So far 234 species of birds have been recorded on the reserve, with around 70 breeding. Rarities include black kites, little egrets and honey buzzards. The reserve is also noteworthy for its resident cormorants, which can be seen nesting in the tree tops overlooking Heronry South Lake. They began with a single pair in 1988 and now number around 120. During the school holidays there are special activities for children based at the visitors’ centre (see www.paxton-pits.org.uk) and guided nature walks and talks. The reserve is free to enter and open to the public every day and the centre is open at weekends and some weekdays. There are several waymarked nature trails that criss-cross the reserve, whose eastern border is defined by the riverbank of the tree-lined River Great Ouse. Looking to the future There are hopes that Paxton Pits Nature Reserve can be extended north along the river valley towards Buckden, for just as sand and gravel extraction is likely to continue and grow in the face of future house-building and development, so is the prospect that more worked-out quarries can be reclaimed and recaptured for nature.

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About the area

To the west of East Anglia is Cambridgeshire, a county best known as the home to the university that makes up the second half of ‘Oxbridge’ (the other half is Oxford). As well as its globally renowned educational credentials, it also has a rich natural history; much of its area is made up of reclaimed or untouched fens.

Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Flat

Distance:

3.5 miles (5.7kms)

Ascent:

0ft (0m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

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Paxton Pits

Recommended by

Our view

"A gentle stroll in a riverside nature reserve near St Neots in Cambridgeshire."

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Flat

Distance:

3.5 miles (5.7kms)

Ascent:

0ft (0m)

Walk directions

1 of 5

2 of 5

After about 0.75 miles (1.2km) the route heads left, away from the river, to reach a junction. Go right here, still on the River Trail and Ouse Valley Way, then left to reach a junction with the bend of a wide gravel track near some sheds. Turn right on to the track, which returns to the riverside again past some moorings.

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At a wooden post (No 12) for the Heron circular nature trail veer away from the river. Go left, then right, on to a wide gravel track beside a fence and between the two lakes known as Heronry North and Washout Pit, where feeding geese are a common sight. Signs warn against swimming in the cold, deep water and also of the dangers of quicksand, since this is an area where quarrying of aggregate still sporadically takes place. Follow the well-waymarked public footpath through the small area of works and at the far side turn left on to a grassy path adjacent to the lane.

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Before long the path merges with the tree-lined lane known as Haul Road, and you should follow this wide thoroughfare all the way back to the car park. Along the way there are several optional diversions through the trees on the left that allow useful vantage points over the large lagoon known as Heronry South. When you arrive at the main junction before the visitors’ centre turn left, through the gates, for a short detour to visit two bird hides.

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Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Mostly firm tracks, boards across marshy ground

Landscape - Reclaimed lakes, meadows, woodland and reed beds

Dog friendliness - On lead in nature reserve, and out of water at all times

Parking - Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, Little Paxton (signs from B1041)

Toilets en route - At visitors' centre

Walks in Cambridgeshire Dog-friendly walks in Cambridgeshire

About the walk

Been on this walk?

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Walking in Safety

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Been on this walk?

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Walking in Safety

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About the area

Cambridgeshire

Paxton Pits

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Paxton Pits

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