Joy’s guidebook
City/town information
30 minutes drive, or via the guided bus from St Ives.
Cambridge needs to introduction, but my favourite places, apart from just walking the streets and visiting the colleges and river walks, are Kettle's Yard art gallery and museum, the Fitzwilliam, and the daily markets where you can find anything from delicious ethnic fast food to pottery to organic veg and artisanal breads.
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Cambridge
30 minutes drive, or via the guided bus from St Ives.
Cambridge needs to introduction, but my favourite places, apart from just walking the streets and visiting the colleges and river walks, are Kettle's Yard art gallery and museum, the Fitzwilliam, and the daily markets where you can find anything from delicious ethnic fast food to pottery to organic veg and artisanal breads.
A small and lovely market town, 10-15 minutes drive from Somersham. Twice weekly market on Mondays and Fridays - the Monday one is the bigger of the two.
There is a very interesting and beautiful museum, the Norris Museum, which has a cafe and a waterfront garden. Worth a visit.
The medieval bridge has at its centre a tiny 15th century chapel which can be visited and sometimes holds events.
St Ives bus station
A small and lovely market town, 10-15 minutes drive from Somersham. Twice weekly market on Mondays and Fridays - the Monday one is the bigger of the two.
There is a very interesting and beautiful museum, the Norris Museum, which has a cafe and a waterfront garden. Worth a visit.
The medieval bridge has at its centre a tiny 15th century chapel which can be visited and sometimes holds events.
My favourite Cambridge art gallery with a lovely cafe
Kettle's Yard
Castle StreetNature reserve and dog walking area
Somersham Local Nature Reserve
Station ApproachGreat local dog walking area
Beautiful little wood, spectacular bluebells in spring. It's a short blossoming, so get there while you can!
Lady's Wood
Beautiful little wood, spectacular bluebells in spring. It's a short blossoming, so get there while you can!
Beautiful woodlands with spectacular bluebells in spring. Lovely shaded dog walking when it's hot. No cafe, so bring a picnic!
Aversley Wood
Beautiful woodlands with spectacular bluebells in spring. Lovely shaded dog walking when it's hot. No cafe, so bring a picnic!
Beautiful nature reserve with dense woodlands and wide easy tracks, and masses of wildflowers in spring and summer. Very pretty.
Nearby, The Elm at Abbots Ripton is a lovely place to stop off for a drink or a meal after your walk.
Monks Wood National Nature Reserve
Beautiful nature reserve with dense woodlands and wide easy tracks, and masses of wildflowers in spring and summer. Very pretty.
Nearby, The Elm at Abbots Ripton is a lovely place to stop off for a drink or a meal after your walk.
Fenland nature reserve with nature trails. Many bird species to see, so bring binoculars to get the most out of it.
Not sure whether there are any facilities or if it is dog friendly - best to check with them if you plan to visit.
RSPB Ouse Fen Reserve
Fenland nature reserve with nature trails. Many bird species to see, so bring binoculars to get the most out of it.
Not sure whether there are any facilities or if it is dog friendly - best to check with them if you plan to visit.
Dog friendly eating places
A lovely gastro pub in pretty countryside, close to Monks Wood, so perfect for an after-walk lunch or drinks. Great food, lovely decor, and best of all, dogs welcome.
The Abbot's Elm
Moat LaneA lovely gastro pub in pretty countryside, close to Monks Wood, so perfect for an after-walk lunch or drinks. Great food, lovely decor, and best of all, dogs welcome.
A gorgeous gastro pub in an idyllic village, dog friendly, lovely food, friendly staff, and a big garden for eating and drinking in sunny weather. They even have an outdoor cinema in summer months, plus beer festivals, and all sorts. Great place.
The Crown Inn
A gorgeous gastro pub in an idyllic village, dog friendly, lovely food, friendly staff, and a big garden for eating and drinking in sunny weather. They even have an outdoor cinema in summer months, plus beer festivals, and all sorts. Great place.
Our closest gastro pub, on the outskirts of Somersham, about 10-15 minutes walk from the house.
Dog friendly in the snug only, which is a lovely room to eat in, but you would be advised to book ahead as it gets full very quickly.
Good food, lovely ambience, and in the summer, a lovely garden with dining tables and shade.
The Windmill
Saint Ives RoadOur closest gastro pub, on the outskirts of Somersham, about 10-15 minutes walk from the house.
Dog friendly in the snug only, which is a lovely room to eat in, but you would be advised to book ahead as it gets full very quickly.
Good food, lovely ambience, and in the summer, a lovely garden with dining tables and shade.
Dog friendly gastro pub, lovely food, a garden for summer dining, very pretty village about 15 minutes drive from Somersham, with river walks and all round loveliness.
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The Cock
47 High StDog friendly gastro pub, lovely food, a garden for summer dining, very pretty village about 15 minutes drive from Somersham, with river walks and all round loveliness.
Another lovely gastro pub in the very pretty village of Madingley, close to Cambridge. About 20-30 minutes drive from these, depending on traffic. 10 minutes from Cambridge city centre.
Dog friendly, great food, garden.
Nearby Madingley House is worth a visit - grounds only, as it is part of Cambridge University. The woods are beautiful, and the gardens have an amazing collection of trees and plants, a beautiful walled herb and vegetable garden, plus a very pretty topiary. There is a cafe by the topiary that is sometimes open to the public.
Dogs on leads in the house grounds.
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The Three Horseshoes
High StreetAnother lovely gastro pub in the very pretty village of Madingley, close to Cambridge. About 20-30 minutes drive from these, depending on traffic. 10 minutes from Cambridge city centre.
Dog friendly, great food, garden.
Nearby Madingley House is worth a visit - grounds only, as it is part of Cambridge University. The woods are beautiful, and the gardens have an amazing collection of trees and plants, a beautiful walled herb and vegetable garden, plus a very pretty topiary. There is a cafe by the topiary that is sometimes open to the public.
Dogs on leads in the house grounds.
Golf courses
A beautiful 18 hole golf course, 10 minutes drive from Somersham, in the next village of Pidley.
3 courses - 18 and 9 holes, and a pitch and putt.
Clubhouse with restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and drinks and bar snacks all day.
Buggy hire, lessons, driving range, etc.
Dogs are welcome in the outside eating area, but not inside. There is also a public footpath that cuts through the golf course, where dogs are allowed on lead, or if they don't stray onto the fairways, off lead is fine.
Lakeside Lodge Golf Centre
Fen RoadA beautiful 18 hole golf course, 10 minutes drive from Somersham, in the next village of Pidley.
3 courses - 18 and 9 holes, and a pitch and putt.
Clubhouse with restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and drinks and bar snacks all day.
Buggy hire, lessons, driving range, etc.
Dogs are welcome in the outside eating area, but not inside. There is also a public footpath that cuts through the golf course, where dogs are allowed on lead, or if they don't stray onto the fairways, off lead is fine.
Lovely 18 hole course in Ramsey, about 30 minutes for Somersham. Beautiful grounds near Ramsey Abbey.
Ramsey Golf Club Professional Shop
4 Abbey Rooms LnLovely 18 hole course in Ramsey, about 30 minutes for Somersham. Beautiful grounds near Ramsey Abbey.
18 hole course in Ramsey, which is actually 9 holes that you play twice with different tees. About 30 minutes drive from Somersham.
The Old Nene Golf & Country Club
18 hole course in Ramsey, which is actually 9 holes that you play twice with different tees. About 30 minutes drive from Somersham.