The sights of Cambridgeshire
Known around the world for its famous University, the city of Cambridge sits within one of the six districts of the county of Cambridgeshire in the East of England. The borders a number of neighbouring countries including Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west.
Cambridgeshire boasts a large collection of places of interest which make for perfect days out, from grand estates and museums to nature reserves and I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you about some of my favourite sights.
The Imperial War Museum Duxford is England’s biggest aviation museum housing exhibitions including nearly 200 aircraft, military vehicles and artillery as well as collections of films, photographs, documents books and artefacts. The location of the museum was originally a Royal Air Force base, operating during the First World War and held a key role in the Battle of Britain. To this day Duxford remains an active airfield and holds regular air shows displaying a range of aircraft from Hurricanes and Spitfires to the Red Arrows – these shows make a great day out for you and the family. When I visited with my parents when I was a child I distinctly remember the stunning Concorde which is well worth a peek.
Elton Hall is a baronial hall and the ancestral home of the Proby family, sitting in an amazing 3,800 acre estate through which the river Nene runs. Exhibiting architecture from 15th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries Elton Hall has a wealth of history behind its walls as well as some of the most beautiful Victorian gardens I have never seen. I particular like the knot garden – a formally designed, square-framed space, home to many aromatic plants and culinary herbs – whose rosemary made the garden smell lovely. This is a lovely day out for anyone who wishes to wander amongst nature or explore the architectural gems (such as the main staircase designed by Henry Ashton) of the interior. Be sure to visit the café which serves up tea and cakes alongside home-cooked meals. Cambridgeshire boasts a whole host of great eateries, check out this ultimate guide for more inspiration.
The Nene Washes is an area of 1,200 acres that runs alongside the River, consisting of a number of washlands such as Whittlesey Wash and Guyhirn Wash, which has special protection status and is owned by the RSPB. Extending around 21 km east of the City of Peterborough, each season brings a different experience at the nature reserve with Spring and Summer seeing the arrival of Lapwings, Snipes, beautiful Barn Owls (my favourite!), Wagtails, and the colder months bringing Swallows and Bewick’s Swans. The Nene washes are great for anyone wanting to learn more about the local wildlife, or just escape from city life for an afternoon.
