Sawsaf one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Sawston to Saffron Walden 1 (Sawsaf 1) review.

Note: I walked Saffron Walden to Sawston.

A straightforward Slow Way north from Saffron Walden, making good use of footpaths and lanes. As pointed out in a previous review, the No. 7 bus follows the route. This was handy to know on my walk as strong winds and heavy rain were forecast to arrive before I could reach Sawston; although fortunately neither manifested.

The Slow Way begins at Saffron Walden’s Market Square. The excellent market days are on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The route takes a gently ascending footpath through farmland north of town, with good views back south (Photo 1). It then descends (Photo 2) and crosses the B184. This is the most rural stretch of the walk and there are handily situated benches.

The route then takes lanes and footpaths through Little Chesterford and Great Chesterford, roughly following the River Granta (Photo 3) There is a break point at the Crown & Thistle (Photo 4).

The road north to Ickleton crosses from Essex into Cambridgeshire (Photo 5). There is a short stretch with a narrow verge, but the rest of the way has a pavement.

From Ickleton, a corner can be cut from the route via a footpath. It is then a pleasant walk alongside the railway line, and a lane into Duxford (Photos 6 & 7). There is a convenience store in Duxford.

The Slow Way ends with a pavement walk into Whittlesford, and a footpath across the railway line (Photo 8) and on into Sawston. Sawston has plenty of amenities.

The GPX route file is accurate and the whole route is easy to follow. The first part from Sawston to Great Chesterford is a mixture of footpaths and roads. The roads are fine for walking and are very quiet or otherwise have good pavements and the landscape is fairly flat. The route passes through the villages of Duxford, Ickleton and Great Chesterford which all have a shop and pubs. The second part from Great Chesterford to Saffron Walden is almost all on good off-road footpaths. The route climbs above Springwell and gives good views from the top all the way down into Saffron Walden. Both Sawston and Saffron Walden have many shops and services. Saffron Walden is an ancient and market town and a tourist destination. There is one rail crossing and two fast roads to cross - the route is safe for anyone who can complete the distance. There are several gates and no stiles. The Cambridge Citi 7 bus passes through all the communities on this route. Whittlesford and Great Chesterford have a rail station.

A very good route, initially by footpath to Whittlesford, then after skirting Duxford another footpath to Ickleton and on to Great Chesterford. On the Slow Ways route, one short cut across a field is omitted just before Ickleton. These are all lovely villages, but in the villages themselves the pleasures are somewhat outweighed by the inevitable traffic. From Great Chesterford, the route is increasingly rural and pretty. By footpath along the river to Little Chesterford and then across the main road at Springwell Nurseries. From here the route goes up hill by the side of fields filled with skylarks towards Little Walden. At the top of the hill turn right and you can see Saffron Walden in the distance below. From here it is all downhill and cross country.

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