posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Sep 15
Cambridgeshire is a county in the east midlands area of England surrounded by the counties of Rutland, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex and Lincolnshire. Cambridgeshire might not possess any sandy beaches however there is a wide range of places to visit which make this an outstanding place to take a vacation. In the following article I explain why folk should consider a trip to this most beautiful part of Great Britain.
The English county of Cambridgeshire features exciting waterways, outstanding cathedrals, breathtaking countryside, prestigious stately homes, busy picturesque market towns and the fascinating city of Cambridge. The city of Cambridge is a very popular visitor attraction which is very suitable for vacations at any time of the year.
Attractions in the intensely photogenic university town include The Folk Museum, The Backs, The Fitzwilliam Museum, The Round Church, Denny Abbey and The Orchard Tea Garden, but many people arrive in Cambridge to look at the sights belonging to some of the thirty one colleges such as King’s College & King’s College Chapel and Cambridge University Botanic Garden. It can take a good few days to visit all of the university colleges however the best buildings to wander around are those of St John’s College, Corpus Christi, Magdalene College and Trinity College.
The Fenlands
The Fens are a generally marshy district virtually at sea-level. There has been a great many attempts at draining the land some dating back to Roman Times. It wasn’t until the 17th Century that serious efforts were made. Unfortunately these attempts were a failure and it wasn’t until the Eighteenth Century that they successfully drained the land and the land was used for agriculture.
These days the intriguing landscape of salt and fresh water marshes provide a superb environment for wildlife and leisure. Cambridgeshire has some of the county’s least congested waterways, perfect for trips on a narrow boat.
If you wish to learn more about the highly interesting Fenlands then you will find that the towns of Chatteris, Wisbech, Whittlesey and March are each home to an excellent local museum.
The Market Towns
Across the area are situated picturesque little market towns, which, way back in the past were actually islands. The town of March grew up as a port in the Tudor era and has an amazing history. Other small island communities included Littleport, Ramsey, Chatteris and Whittlesey. The small towns have superb architecture spanning a few centuries such as the Seventeenth Century Butter Cross at Whittlesey. A few hours can be passed enjoyable looking at the many stalls, shops and independent businesses.
Other Cambridgeshire Tourist Attractions
There is a huge list of local visitor attractions. Heritage railways include the Wisbech and March Bramley Line and the Nene Valley Railway and there are a few fascinating buildings worth seeing including Lode Watermill, Down Field Windmill, Houghton Mill and Great Gransden Post Mill.
The county is home to a small number of religious buildings of historical importance for example the abbeys of Spinney, Denny, Anglesey and Ramsey, Peterborough Cathedral and Ely Cathedral as well as the Old Vicarage at Grantchester and Duxford Chapel. The list of stately homes, historic houses and castles is simply so big that it could not be shown here, it is similar with the listings of art galleries & museums.
If you are currently considering a vacation in Cambridgeshire and are booking Cambridge hotels please take a look at our comprehensive bed & breakfast in Cambridge