Unlike Wellsnextthe and Brightling Horningsea is absolutely nowhere near the sea. In the summer it’s not unusual* to see hoardes of children arrive, buckets and spades in hand only to leave disappointed mere moments later. It’s right on the river though, so they’re foolish, because although you can’t build castles on the river bank you can still have a jolly time messing about by the water and you don’t get sand in your paste sandwiches.
The village is only a couple of miles north of the city, through Fen Ditton (where the nearest primary school is) or you can hop onto the towpath beside the river at Baits Bite Lock and amble or cycle down to Ditton Meadows and Stourbridge Common and join the Chisholm cycle and walking trail into the heart of the city. Imagine that commute on a crisp winter morning as the sun comes up with just the swans and moorhens for company.
Imagine that commute on a crisp winter morning as the sun comes up with just the swans and moorhens for company.
If you tire of the two lovely pubs in Horningsea itself you can head north along the towpath (or the road) to the next village of Waterbeach which is a bit larger and has a primary school, café, more pubs, shops, takeaways and the like. Cathedral fans can keep going along that towpath and eventually get all the way to Ely.
There’s a big garden centre in Horningsea too, which has a nice café and Big road enthusiasts can enjoy the westbound A14 from junction 34 less than a mile from the village.
* - This would be pretty unusual really.
