Ferry Meadows Nene Way Walk

 

Back on the Nene Way or (Neen) as they tend to say over in these parts near Peterborough. It is a bright day but showers are not ruled out. I'm well kitted out though for all eventualities.

We are starting out from close to Ferry Meadows Country Park. A large part of Nene Park which stretches for six miles (10 km) along the banks of the River Nene.

We approach by the railway line near to Overton Station, just a few minutes away from the Country Park. We are just in time to see 'Helga' a Swedish 1212Y7 Railcar making It's way toward the station. 

 

Built for Swedish State Railways in 1958, 1212 was moved to the UK and into preservation in 1984 at the Nene Valley Railway.

1212 was made operational and operated some off peak services until 1989 when the owner passed away.It was moved to Fleggburgh Bygone Village in Great Yarmouth where it was put on static display alongside a Swedish steam locomotive until the village shut down in 2004. 1212 was moved to Tweddle Animal Farm in Hartlepool where it was used as an undercover picnic area, again in static use.

January 2011 saw the start of a two year transformation for 1212. It was purchased by an individual who immediately set about returning the vehicle to fully operational condition. During 2012 the bodywork (particularly around the cabs) was completely stripped away and replaced. It was discovered that the framework of the vehicle was mainly in excellent condition, with only the panels to replace.

October 2012 saw 1212's debut in traffic, the end of a rapid restoration. The vehicle was returned to service in original orange/yellow colours. The line is 7+1⁄2 miles (12.1 km) in length. There are stations at each terminus, and three stops en route: Orton Mere, Ferry Meadows and Wansford. 

It didn't take long to realise that once again I'd 'over-layered' once again. If you count the fleece inner of the 'big coat' there were 5, including a long sleeve thermal base layer. I certainly wasn't going to be cold today! 

When your walking partner dumps his rucksack on you, then disappears into the thick undergrowth armed with a toilet roll it is time to move on. Even more disconcerting is when he then emerges some time later and asks you to close your eyes and hold your hands out... Call me suspicious if you will, but I was having none of it. Particularly as whatever was concealed in the toilet roll filled both his hands. While he was attending to lets just say a 'call of nature' he happened upon a dead mole. Where it came from is open to further conjecture.....The said mole looked very healthy actually, well apart from being deceased of course. I put it up on a fence post to take a better picture. 

We are getting closer to Peterborough centre, you can tell this by the amount of rubbish that has been dumped by the river. We come across a sight you don't see every day, an RTV31 Tracked Hovercraft. A prototype hover train which was tested in the Cambridgeshire Fens. It has been residing at 'Railworld Wildlife Haven' since 1996. A former coal storage yard which once served Peterborough Powerstation. Tracked Hovercraft was developed in the 60's combining two British inventions; the hovercraft and linear induction motor. The aim being to produce a train system that would provide a 250 mph inter city service. It was scrapped in 1973 due to escalating costs.

The walk today is starting to have a slightly surreal feel about it. We have reached our furthest point and cross the bridge to come back again on the other side. We are now on the Nene Way, total length 110 miles, ending at Sutton Bridge Lincolnshire. Once again litter is a big problem but clears as we move further away from the built up area. A pair of Swans are busy building  a nest out of the reeds. Almost oblivious to our presence. They seem to know what they are doing even if progress is slow.

Isn't it always the way? Just as things are going well there is a problem. First of all it has started to rain. Sweeping in, the sort that makes you wet unlike the other sort that keeps you dry. We need to cross the bridge, but the bridge is closed. Judging by all the branches blocking the path they don't want you to cross it either. There is a detour, along one it is too, far too long. Surveying the scene from behind the branches there doesn't seem to be a problem. The decision is made 'were going over the top'. After an ungainly ascent followed by an equally unimpressive descent the problem becomes more obvious. The bridge has a big hole in it to put it bluntly. Most of the path is rotten and near to collapse.  Of course we don't let a silly little thing like that de-rail us for long and make light work of avoiding the potential death trap. Safely over the other side we continue onwards as the rain falls.

In the distance a strange unidentified object lurks on the riverbank. From a distance it looks like some sort of spaceship or giant piece of patio furniture. Closer inspection reveals it to be a ship on the banks of the Nene. Commissioned from the Sculptor Sokari Douglas Camp, as part of the final Festival of Sculpture in 1989. It marked the end of the Development Corporation in Peterborough.'Festival Boat' takes as its source the festival boats used ceremonially in the artist's native Nigeria.

 

We have now reached Orton Mere lock. It's a nice stretch of the Nene with the boats moored by the cabins.

Milton Ferry Bridge is very impressive. Built over 300 years old and is both a Grade II listed structure and a Scheduled Monument. It was built from local Barnack limestone by the Fitzwilliam family to replace a ferry service which operated on the River Nene and helps tell the story of how Ferry Meadows got its name.This area is quite well known for 'wild swimming' I understand. The closest I will get was when I crossed that rickety old bridge a while back. 

Ferry Meadows was officially opened to visitors on July 1st 1978, by broadcaster and environmental campaigner David Bellamy.  It has been another really enjoyable walk with plenty to see and discover.

I cant resist throwing in one more picture of our old friend the RTV 31in it's final resting place. It could do with a was and brush up and a lick of paint but I still think it is a great sight.

 

Before I forget to mention it the walk today came in at a pleasant 9.22 miles.