U3AC walks

"U3AC" is Cambridge University of the Third Age. Here are some Cambridge walks that I have designed for a U3AC course. The intention is a walk, not a guided tour - to walk round Cambridge looking at things. There won't be time to give much information, so I'm giving it here instead. Click on link below to see a walk. Click here for a map showing all the walks.

The walk course number in Summer 2025 is FIT 41, led by me, Jo Edkins, starting at Quayside.

Apr 22 - City Centre

Apr 29 - Castle

May 6 - Kings Ditch

May 13 - Maids Causeway

May 20 - Northampton Street

May 27 - Backs

Jun 3 - Christs Pieces

Jun 10 - Jesus Green

Each walk lasts an hour. They start from Quayside. The length of the walks is 2 miles or less. Some of them don't end at the start point. I will always walk back to the start point with anyone who doesn't know where they are, but that may make the total walk longer than 2 miles.

Quayside is close to the U3AC office. It is by Magdalene Bridge, and it is an open area with some seats. I usually sit by the telephone box.

This is a short term, only 8 weeks, so we won't be doing the following walks: Grange Road and Hobsons Conduit

Here are my rules for the walks. I hope you find them reasonable!

Each walk will start on time, and we won't wait for anyone.
The walks will be at the pace that the slowest person finds comfortable. There will be frequent pauses for people to catch up. No-one should feel that they have to hurry.
Please keep on the pavement and don't step casually into the road.
There will be tourists, students and shoppers. Don't fill the entire pavement. Let other people through. This will mean that occasionally we need to be in single file (I'll tell you when).
When we have to cross roads, you should do it at your own risk, in your own time. I'll wait until everyone is across, naturally. We will use pedestrian crossings for busy roads.
Keep an eye out for cyclists and various electrical vehicles, which often use pedestrian routes.
Pavements can be uneven due to broken paving stones. They can also be slippy because of fallen leaves, especially when damp. We're all getting older, and don't want to fall over, so be careful.
If the weather is bad, such as torrential rain or heavy snow on the ground, then I may cancel the walk. You will be notified if this happens. Otherwise I will turn up at the start point, and see if anyone else arrives.
For very hot weather in summer, the walk will still happen, but feel free to miss that day if worried. If you come, bring water, and use sun cream and perhaps a hat. We will have water breaks, and keep to the shade wherever possible.
I don't mind if anyone wants to leave a walk before the end, perhaps because we've overrun, or for any other reason. That is fine, but please tell me you're leaving, so I don't think I've lost you.

Please note the following:

All members are responsible for their own health and safety and join the walk at their own risk.
U3AC's insurance policy includes cover for public liability that extends to the walks detailed in U3AC's Programme.
Members are covered for any accidental injury or damage that they may cause to a third party whilst on the walk (but not travelling to or from it).
If a member injures themselves, or suffers loss or damage to their personal property as a result of their own actions, this is not covered by U3AC's insurance.

Most of the buildings on the walks are listed. A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building which has been placed on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. There are just under 500,000 buildings in the UK to which this applies. A listed building may not be demolished, extended or altered without special permission from the local planning authority.

Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important. Just 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I.
Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. 5.5% of listed buildings are Grade II*.
Grade II buildings are nationally important and of special interest. 92% of all listed buildings are in this class and it is the most likely grade of listing for a private residential building.

During past summers, I have done one-off walks in Cambridge. Here they are in case anyone wishes to do them by themselves:
Barnwell Priory and Chesterton - start at the Grafton Centre
Public Art round the Railway Station - start at the station
Art in Mill Road - start at Parkers Piece, corner near swimming pool - finish in Mill Road cemetery
Art in the city centre - start and finish at the bus station
Saxon Cambridge - start at Quayside - finish at Sussex Street
Coe Fen and Sheep's Green - start and finish at Silver Street bridge

I have a website about Cambridge, which I have used to design these walks, in particular, listed buildings, but also covering public art, passage ways, and lots more, including Dinky Doors!

Here are some other websites (by other people) which may interest you:
Historic core appraisal - these were done by the City Council. There is a separate pdf for each street in the city centre.
Cambridge churches - a description of nearly all the Cambridge churches.
Cambridge University colleges - these are the college websites. They often have a section on their history.
Cambridge Blue Plaques
A brief history of Cambridge