DAY TRIPS
A s the weather warms and the sunlight extends well into the evenings, day trips and local excursions become vastly more appealing (to me, at least!). So, this summer, we will be heading to central confused with the one in Cornwall), a market town known for its rich history, idyllic charm and eclectic collection of shops and eateries. Cambridgeshire’s St Ives (not to be
If your visit is imminent, be sure to pick up a St Ives Shop, Drink and Dine loyalty card from participating businesses and receive one stamp for every £5 you spend. Collect ten stamps and you qualify for entry into a prize draw! This town-wide Just rewards
scheme runs until 31 May. huntingdonshire.gov.uk
A bit of background
I n line with the rest of Cambridgeshire, St Ives is steeped in history. Once called Slepe, meaning ‘muddy’, the settlement has been traced back to the fifth or sixth century, when it served as a key point on trade routes. Named after a bishop called Saint Ivo, the merchant town held connections to Ramsey Abbey, the Benedictine monastery responsible for building the iconic St Ives Bridge – which you can view on foot from the quayside or via boat (cars aren’t permitted to cross). First constructed in wood, the original structure was replaced with stone in the 1400s, and a chapel (since restored and Grade I listed) was added to its eastern pier. One of only four remaining bridges like it in England, the site is still used for public worship on rare occasions. This year, the bridge chapel celebrates its 600th birthday! Make sure to head to the Norris Museum for a series of exhibitions, lectures and other events, all centred around this impressive anniversary. Transport aficionados should also look out for From Boom to Beeching: A History of Huntingdonshire’s Railways , which runs from 25 April through to 4 July.
Outdoor explorers I f you love a scenic stroll, then St Ives is the perfect
and bank holidays, with a raised boardwalk to ensure it’s accessible to all. Nearby, enjoy a walk through The Thicket or across Wilhorn Meadow, just south of St Ives Bridge. Further downstream, find the RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes Nature Reserve. If you’re less mobile or simply spent from exploring, opt for a boat cruise instead – a relaxing means of soaking in the sights.
Things to do
place. Hugged on all sides by the River Great Ouse, its Holt Island Nature Reserve offers flora and fauna, from voles, badgers and bats to otters, warblers and butterflies. Before the 70s, the island looked quite different: made up primarily of osier beds, willow was harvested here for basket weaving. It welcomes nature lovers on weekends
Holt Island Nature Reserve holtisland.org
Norris Museum norrismuseum.org.uk
St Ives Corn Exchange thecornexchange.org.uk
St Ives Electric Riverboat Co electricriverboat.co.uk
St Ives Golf Club stivesgolfclub.co.uk
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