This was our third (and final, for now) visit to Cambridge. Sarah has been taking a Coaching in Running Fitness course. In the meantime, I have taken the opportunity to cycle to Ely and St Ives and visit Wicken Fen, Anglesey Abbey, and Wimpole on previous visits. This time, I decided I would cycle to Ickworth, a National Trust property.

I had planned to start from Newmarket but changed this at the last minute to Moulton, a small village a few miles outside of the town.

I started from Moulton village hall. It was a cold, but thankfully fresh morning.

Setting off, straight away I came across the Moulton Packhorse Bridge. This is an interesting late medieval four-arched late bridge that spans the River Kennett. It is part of the old trade route from Cambridge to Bury St Edmund.

Then it was straight into a hill climb. My previous cycle ride around Cambridgeshire might have been flat, but today’s cycle ride certainly wasn’t!

I followed NCN Route 51 towards Gazeley.

From Gazeley, I made my way through Upper Green and on towards Barrow.

After Barrow, with the mist hanging in the distance, I cycled on towards Little Saxham.

The village contains St Nicholas’ Church, possibly the most spectacular Norman round tower in Suffolk.

A little further on I reached Ickworth estate.

Ickworth is an Italianate palace, now run by the National Trust, just outside of Bury St Edmunds. I will be covering my visit to the property in another blog post.

I had originally planned to have lunch at Ickworth, but spotting a long queue at the refectory, I decided to keep moving instead.

After passing through Wesley, I reached Risby and spotted the signs for the Crown & Castle pub.

It wasn’t a good start when the landlady asked me to move tables ‘in case a party of four arrive’ in what was a nearly empty hostelry! Thankfully, the food was great, and the landlady actually proving to be more welcoming than the initial encounter might have suggested. It was still nearly empty when I left, however, with that table for four remaining unused.

After lunch, I headed towards Cavenham.

It was a slightly flatter route now.

From Cavenham, I made my way towards Kentford.

I was flagging now, and the relentless headwinds were sapping my energy.

The Moulton village signpost was a welcome sight.

I may have only cycled 27 miles, but this had been a tough day of cycling. Nevertheless, I had cycled through some fine countryside.

You can view my Moulton to Ickworth cycle route below:

Oh … Sarah passed her running coach course. Yey!