Newnham to Grantchester
A one-way riverside walk from a Newnham pub across Sheep's Green and Grantchester Meadows to the village.
The classic country walk from Cambridge follows the river south through a chain of open meadows to Grantchester, nicknamed the Grantchester Grind. It starts at Mill Pond, crosses two flood-meadow commons and ends in a village known for its orchard and pubs.
The route
Start: The Granta
A waterside pub whose beer garden overlooks Mill Pond. Food is served daily, and dogs are welcome. The garden cannot be booked, so arrive early on sunny weekends.
Two flood-meadow commons, together a 16.9-hectare local nature reserve, split by an arm of the Cam. Egrets and kingfishers are among the birds, and the ground can be soft after rain.
3. Newnham
The residential area that links the centre to the meadows, and the usual starting point for the Grind.
River meadows owned by King's College and managed since February 2025 by Cambridge Past, Present and Future. Red Poll cattle graze from April to October, so keep dogs under control.
5. Grantchester
A village on the Cam, roughly two miles south of the city. Orchard House has served tea in its orchard since 1897, and the Green Man and Blue Ball Inn are among its pubs.
Practical notes
- The route is one way; you can return the same way or by punt, as many visitors do.
- Swimming in the Cam is forbidden from the meadows, according to signs King's put up in 2021.
- Expect soft ground after heavy rain, as the meadows flood.
- Distance and time are estimates for the straight line between stops, adjusted for street detours.
- Distance: 3.9 km / 2.4 miles (estimate). Time: about 1 hr 40 min (estimate, including stops).
Nearby
Within a few minutes' walk
