#34 Brampton Wood + Grafham Water

14 Miles
144 metres Ascent

I really wasn't in the walking mood.  4 hours sleep then into work for a 2 hour team meeting wasn't the ideal preparation.  I had taken the walking gear to work so the nagging in my head took control and off the Grafham we went.  I had a walk in mind, a variation of the usual Grafham loop, that had appeared in 'Country Walking'.  It was tagged as challenging, though this was just because of the distance (8-10 miles is CW's standard distance). 

Starting in Brampton Wood, Cambridgeshire's 2nd largest wood no less, the walk followed the 'main ride' through the ancient woodland.  Apparently the wood was completely felled during one of the world wars, so I'm not sure how it qualifies as ancient, I guess I'm missing something?  After 10 minutes I broke out of the wood into farmland, maybe being Cambridgeshire's 2nd largest wood isn't the highest bar...

#22 Grafham Water Loop

#22 Grafham Water Loop

Distance - 8.82 miles
Ascent - 80 metres

After a few false starts I decided to try and get the full loop in.  On a nice day at the weekend I feared the worst as far as crowds go.  It turns out I was justified!  The first car park was full of bikers, with BBQ's etc (it's about the size of 3-4 football pitches, a big car park).  The second was taken over by the Riding for the Disabled.  And the third?  Nearly empty, phew!  Luckily Grafham has more parking than most town centres!

Almost like the Seaside

Starting from the opposite side of the Water, I decided to go clockwise for a change (oh I live on the edge!).  It was busy with bikers, walkers and families due to it being the weekend, but not that bad.  The path is pretty wide and generally caters for all!

#20 Grafham Village Loop

#20 Grafham Village Loop

Distance - 4.5 miles
Ascent - 28 metres

Ok the plan was to do the full loop but yet again as far as Grafham goes things conspired.  We arrived to late to do a full loop, the car park closed at 5.30pm.  So first plan was to walk to the nature reserve and back, Nick then had the inspired idea to make it a loop via Grafham village.  For the most part it was a good track until we hit the field edges.  Then it was hard to see what was path and what was water...

There's a footpath there... really!

Decent quick and short walk, not much more than a warm up, but that seems to be more than I have managed recently!  Not much of a write up...meh!

#15 A short wander to Gratham

#15 A short wander to Gratham

Distance - 3.02 Miles
Ascent - 30 Metres

Well this was meant to be a full lap of the Water (9 miles ish) but descended into farce.  I had intended to get there around 10, have lunch halfway round and back in the car for about 13.30.  As it happens I got there at 13.00 giving me just enough daylight to do the lap without a break.  So I was rushed before I got there.

My GPS then died in the carpark.  I had no other map but it was fairly obvious where to go, I mean just keep the water on your left, easy.  Which is fine, unless you are meant to stick to footpaths not just dog walking tracks know by locals. 

On top of this the path I followed was very wet and muddy.  I had in my head a vague memory that the footpath was good as it was also a cycleway, this is true where they follow the same route!  The beginning mile or so was horrible.  In the end I did a mile and a half and turned round, just fed up and wasn't enjoying it.  All my own fault, was late, rushed, no map and hadn't charged GPS (or so I thought).

Grafham Water Circular

Grafham Water Circular

Distance - 13.7 Km - 8.5miles
Time Taken - 3hrs
Assent - 86m

With the good weather due to end abruptly this afternoon I decided to head to the closest thing to the seaside in the area!  Bedford is one of those places that are pretty much as far from the sea that you can find.  So it was off to Grafham Water before it pee'd it down.  Grafham is a big man made reservoir sat in open countryside, so good for a nice circular walk around the edge.

It's a big lake...

The walk it self was very easy to navigate along an obvious path with a helpful landmark to work from.  Most of the path follows a cycle route so the track is wide and is mostly in good condition.  It does mean that in summer it will be very busy (Hire bikes are available, along with parking for over 1000 cars...).  The land is owned by Anglia water and this means (along with the cycle route) there are more H&S and warning signs than should be allowed in the countryside!  Every slope had a warning to cyclists to dismount...