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A three mile linear walk in Trumpington and Great Shelford.
Hobson's Brook is a pleasant stream that runs from its source at Nine Wells into Cambridge. However it is not a natural watercourse. It was created in 1614 to carry water from the springs at Nine Wells into Cambridge, to provide the town with clean drinking water. An elaborate network of underground and roadside channels supplied the town with drinking water and many of the colleges with water for garden features.
Thomas Hobson (1544 - 1630) was one of the main benefactors of the project and it is after him that the brook was named.
Nowadays the brook is redundant as a water carrier, as Cambridge is supplied by mains water. However it still flows and some of the old features can still be seen, for example, the runnels alongside the road in Trumpington Street. The brook has taken on a new importance; it forms a wildlife corridor through the urban fringe and out into Trumpington. Many different species can be seen along it, including the Kingfisher, the Pipistrelle Bat, and the Fox.
The three mile walk along the brook uses public and permissive footpaths and is a level easy walk with no stiles and only a few steps at Brooklands Avenue. There are opportunities to see woodland and old meadow grassland plus chalk springs at Nine Wells.
There are several pubs in the vicinity of Lensfield Road, including the Spread Eagle. There are also several pubs at the other end of the walk in Great Shelford.
A. Start in Trumpington Street, where you may notice the open water runnels between the road and the pavement.
B. Cross Lensfield Road to the Hobson's Conduit Monument. This highly decorated Jacobean fountain stood on Market Hill until 1845. Follow the brook along the edge of the Botanic Garden.
C. Cross Brooklands Avenue to Empty Common. This land was turned from grazing land into allotments during the First World War. A small part of the common remains as ash, hawthorn and willow woodland. Follow the brook up to Long Road. Notice the large Black Poplar on your right. This tree was cut down in the 1980s but the stump has continued to grow. Native Black Poplars are becoming increasingly rare in Britain.
D. At Long Road follow the permissive path along the field edge and under the old railway bridge. You are now on the disused railway line that ran between Cambridge and Bedford before being abandoned in1968. During the summer the verges are alive with colourful wildflowers including Field Scabious, Campion and Greater Knapwee.
E. Follow the old railway until you meet the public footpath heading towards Addenbrookes. Turn left, cross the railway line with care, then turn right. The surrounding farmland has been in cereal rotation since Doomsday if not before. An iron age farm was revealed during the excavations for Addenbrookes Hospital. Watch for Lapwings feeding on the fields during the winter.
F. Nine Wells is jointly owned by the City Council and the University; their association dates from the time when the springs were first canalised. There are four main springs here and numerous other seepage points. Look for the Spindle growing near the monument. Spindle is a small bush with bright pink fruits in autumn. It gets its name from its very hard white wood that can be used to make skewers, pegs and spindles. Deadly nightshade is another feature of the site. It grows to over three feet in size and has purple bell shaped flowers, followed by shiny black berries that are poisonous. Stinking Iris is common in the shaded areas. The leaves smell of fresh meat when crushed.
1. Retrace footsteps back to Cambridge
2. Retrace footpath back to the railway crossing and follow the public footpath to Addenbrookes. For information on the bus services to and from Addenbrookes contact Cambus on (01223) 423554.
3. Follow the footpath up and over White Hill, turn right and continue with care along the road to Great Shelford. For information on bus and rail services to and from Great Shelford contact Cambus on (01223) 423553 or rail enquiries on (08457 484950).
