Cambridge motte and bailey castle, Civil War earthworks and the buried remains of an Iron Age defended settlement, Roman town and former county gaol
1 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🌳Ancient🦉Wildlife
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome1 ha
Getting here
52.21252, 0.11447
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦40+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Blue Tit
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- ☕Garden Kitchen at Kettle's Yard — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦40+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Blue Tit
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- ☕Garden Kitchen at Kettle's Yard — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food
Best for
12 activities🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Robin +37 more · last seen 2026; Ancient woodland — owls, woodpeckers, warblers
🌳Ancient woodland
Strong match
Ancient woodland — continuous woodland since before 1600
Birds — Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Robin +37 more · last seen 2026; Ancient woodland
playground, café, parking
🛝Family friendly
Strong match
playground, café
Historic site with public access
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km18 signed routes nearby · 15 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Rowan's WalkWalking route2.6 km▾
Rowans Walk is a 2.57km circular walk on grassy tracks
Named routeLength 2.6 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Lark Rise Farm Walks (Route 2 - Yellow Markers)Walking route2.8 km▾
A short circular walk around Lark Rise Farm fields, passing close to Bourn Brook and a small wood called The Spinney
Named routeLength 2.8 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Harcamlow WayWalking route▾
Named routeRef HARRegional walking route
Fen Rivers Way (Cambridge to Ely)Walking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Lark Rise Farm Walks (Route 3 - Blue Markers)Walking route3.7 km▾
A circular walk around several Lark Rise Farm fields, passing close to Bourn Brook
Named routeLength 3.7 kmRound tripLocal walking route
141 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
NCN 51Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 51National Cycle Network
SE Cambridge Cycle RouteCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Cambridge station to Trumpington Park and RideCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Cambridge secondary cycle networkCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Coton CyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Cambridge signed cycle routes networkCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
2 public paths nearby
Public paths
Whymans Lanebridleway · 43 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 43 mSurface asphaltPath type: service
Whymans Lanebridleway · 14 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 14 mSurface asphaltPath type: cycleway
Photos
21 photos from nearby open sources
County Hall, Cambridge, with fallen branches
Photos
County Hall, Cambridge, with fallen branches
Facilities
☕Café
Garden Kitchen at Kettle's Yard · 180m
🅿️Parking
Castle Hill · Paid · 52m
✓ Public accessFree entry🐶 Dogs
Good to know
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Wildlife to spot
69,640 records from NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
69,640 records · NBN Atlas🐦Birds40 species
winterspring
2026Woodpigeon · Blue Tit · Robin · Blackbird · Great Tit
+35 more speciesHide species list
All 40 birds recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Great TitParus major
- MagpiePica pica
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- PochardAythya ferina
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
Grey Squirrel · Red Fox · Muntjac · Badger · Wood Mouse
+4 more speciesHide species list
All 9 mammals recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes
- MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi
- BadgerMeles meles
- Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus
- Bank VoleMyodes glareolus
- Hedgehog
🐸Amphibians4 species
winter
2026Smooth Newt · Common Frog · Common Toad · Great Crested Newt
7-spot Ladybird · Pea-leaf Weevil · Dark-edged Bee-fly · Otiorhynchus crataegi · Trioza centranthi
+19 more speciesHide species list
All 24 insects recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Pea-leaf WeevilSitona lineatus
- Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major
- Otiorhynchus crataegiOtiorhynchus crataegi
- Trioza centranthiTrioza centranthi
- Red-belted CleaverAglaostigma aucupariae
White Dead-nettle · Dove's-foot Crane's-bill · Green Alkanet · Red Dead-nettle · Bee Orchid
+32 more speciesHide species list
All 37 plants recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- White Dead-nettleLamium album
- Dove's-foot Crane's-billGeranium molle
- Green AlkanetPentaglottis sempervirens
- Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum
- Bee OrchidOphrys apifera
- PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
69,640 records · NBN Atlas🐦Birds40 species
winterspring
2026Woodpigeon · Blue Tit · Robin · Blackbird · Great Tit
+35 more speciesHide species list
All 40 birds recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Great TitParus major
- MagpiePica pica
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- PochardAythya ferina
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
Grey Squirrel · Red Fox · Muntjac · Badger · Wood Mouse
+4 more speciesHide species list
All 9 mammals recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes
- MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi
- BadgerMeles meles
- Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus
- Bank VoleMyodes glareolus
- Hedgehog
🐸Amphibians4 species
winter
2026Smooth Newt · Common Frog · Common Toad · Great Crested Newt
7-spot Ladybird · Pea-leaf Weevil · Dark-edged Bee-fly · Otiorhynchus crataegi · Trioza centranthi
+19 more speciesHide species list
All 24 insects recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Pea-leaf WeevilSitona lineatus
- Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major
- Otiorhynchus crataegiOtiorhynchus crataegi
- Trioza centranthiTrioza centranthi
- Red-belted CleaverAglaostigma aucupariae
White Dead-nettle · Dove's-foot Crane's-bill · Green Alkanet · Red Dead-nettle · Bee Orchid
+32 more speciesHide species list
All 37 plants recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- White Dead-nettleLamium album
- Dove's-foot Crane's-billGeranium molle
- Green AlkanetPentaglottis sempervirens
- Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum
- Bee OrchidOphrys apifera
- PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Erinaceus europaeus
Erinaceus europaeus
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolusRoe DeerCapreolus capreolusYellow-necked MouseApodemus flavicollisYellow-necked MouseApodemus flavicollisCorizus hyoscyamiCorizus hyoscyamiCorizus hyoscyamiCorizus hyoscyamiHelina evectaHelina evectaHelina evectaHelina evectaWater ScorpionNepa cinereaWater ScorpionNepa cinereaPhaonia subventaPhaonia subventaPhaonia subventaPhaonia subventaScathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercorariaEpistrophe eligansEpistrophe eligansEpistrophe eligansEpistrophe eligansBlack ClockPterostichus madidusBlack ClockPterostichus madidusHawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidaleHawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidaleEudasyphora cyanellaEudasyphora cyanellaEudasyphora cyanellaEudasyphora cyanellaLesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedusLesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedusFace FlyMusca autumnalisFace FlyMusca autumnalisAnthicus antherinusAnthicus antherinusAnthicus antherinusAnthicus antherinusPine LadybirdExochomus quadripustulatusPine LadybirdExochomus quadripustulatusCream-spot LadybirdCalvia quattuordecimguttataCream-spot LadybirdCalvia quattuordecimguttataHollyhock WeevilRhopalapion longirostreHollyhock WeevilRhopalapion longirostre10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctataMarmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatusMarmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctataGroundsel
Groundsel
Senecio vulgaris
Senecio vulgaris
DaisyBellis perennisDaisyBellis perennisMugwortArtemisia vulgarisMugwortArtemisia vulgarisPetty SpurgeEuphorbia peplusPetty SpurgeEuphorbia peplusSmall TeaselDipsacus pilosusSmall TeaselDipsacus pilosusLords-and-LadiesArum maculatumLords-and-LadiesArum maculatumCowslipPrimula verisCowslipPrimula verisRed CampionSilene dioicaRed CampionSilene dioicaCommon ChickweedStellaria mediaCommon ChickweedStellaria mediaCommon FumitoryFumaria officinalisCommon FumitoryFumaria officinalisCommon MallowMalva sylvestrisCommon MallowMalva sylvestrisCommon NettleUrtica dioicaCommon NettleUrtica dioicaShepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastorisShepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastorisGround-elderAegopodium podagrariaGround-elderAegopodium podagrariaCommon SorrelRumex acetosaCommon SorrelRumex acetosaCreeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptansCreeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptansCut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectumCut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectumCleaversGalium aparineCleaversGalium aparineWall LettuceMycelis muralisWall LettuceMycelis muralisColtsfootTussilago farfaraColtsfootTussilago farfaraCommon Stork's-billErodium cicutariumCommon Stork's-billErodium cicutariumSiberian SquillScilla sibericaSiberian SquillScilla sibericaSlender SpeedwellVeronica filiformisSlender SpeedwellVeronica filiformisBulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosusBulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosusLesser CelandineFicaria vernaLesser CelandineFicaria vernaYewTaxus baccataYewTaxus baccataWinter AconiteEranthis hyemalisWinter AconiteEranthis hyemalisSowbreadCyclamen hederifoliumSowbreadCyclamen hederifoliumMusk-mallowMalva moschataMusk-mallowMalva moschataCock's-footDactylis glomerataCock's-footDactylis glomerataSnowdropGalanthus nivalisSnowdropGalanthus nivalisEvents & activities nearby
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