Ferry Meadows to Hill Farm PYO, Chesterton

Plotaroute - Ferry Meadows to Hill Farm PYO, Chesterton

Distance: Approximately 3.4 miles or 5.5km
Time: 1 hours 15 mins
Terrain: flat/slopes/steps/bridges/gravel paths/grass/road
Eat/Toilet Stop: Yes
General Information: This walk begins (and ends) at the Ferry Meadows Visitors Centre
then follows the path alongside the Nene Valley railway, until it joins the river up to Alwalton. We then walk a short distance alongside the A605 until we reach Hill Farm PYO in Chesterton. The return walk retraces your steps.
Look out for the red information along the route for places of interest and stops for refreshments.

• 1 Starting at the Visitor Centre (X) turn right, heading in the direction of the Caravan Park and Nene Valley railway station. 

Overton Station is on the Nene Valley Railway Line:

Nene Valley Railway

• 2 Just before you cross the road to the railway station, take a sharp right and follow the path alongside the track.

• 3 When you reach this signpost, turn left and walk over the railway bridge.

                      

• 4 Then turn right...

...joining the path to Alwalton which is just over 1 mile/3km long. 
It has some long, gentle, upward slopes, but halfway along the path, these chairs provide a welcome rest and have some wonderful high views across the tree tops to the river and meadows beyond.

• 5 The path ends with a sharp left-hand bend, (which leads to the A605 Marriott Hotel Peterborough and East of England Arena ) but when you reach it, turn right and walk down the steps to the river. 

• 6 At the bottom of the steps, turn left..

...and follow the path along the river. It eventually bears left and goes up a very steep hill. 

When you reach the road at the top of the hill, you're in the pretty village of Alwalton

If you look to the left, you'll see Lynch Lodge.

Lynch Lodge, Alwalton.

If you look to the right, you'll see Alwalton Church.

At this junction, you can turn *right and take a short 10 minute stroll down to Alwalton Lock. At the bottom of the steep hill is a gate, go through it, and in front of you is a tiny bridge which stands on the site of the old Alwalton Mill.

Peterborough Images - Alwalton To the right is Alwalton Lock.

Turn *left to continue our walk.

Refreshment stops:

Alwalton Tea Room, Shop and Post Office
Alwalton Tea Room, Shop and Post Office

The Cuckoo, Alwalton. 
The Cuckoo, Alwalton

Just outside the village, (if you turn left onto the A605 Oundle Road) is just a 5 minute walk to the  East of England Arena and Marriott Hotel roundabout where you'll find:

Alwalton Harvestor
Alwalton Harvester

• 7 At this junction to the A605,(by the Post Office) turn right and follow the road for about half a mile. (Take care when you cross the busy A1 junction at the bottom of the slope)

• 8  The 'Pick Your Own' entrance is just here 'X' on the right hand side.

Enjoy your strawberry picking!

Try not to eat them all when you walk back!