Cambridge is another town that I have wanted to visit for a long time, but I never really had the opportunity. When I told a friend of mine that I wanted to go to Cambridge for the week-end , she told me that I should go to Ely. Voilà, I had my trip sorted!
List of the campsites and car parks
Day 1: Cambridge
I left late morning to arrive early afternoon in Cambridge, so that I would have time to visit the town. I booked two nights at the Camping and Caravanning site in Cambridge , and you can arrive between 1 pm and 8 pm, so I arrived just after 1 pm.
The wardens were really nice and after they had showed me my pitch, I settled down. When I travel on my own, I am not too keen on eating in a pub or a restaurant, I prefer having diner in the campervan. That when my slow cooker comes handy if the camper stays on the campsite. Some vegetables, one or two potatoes, some chicken (or any other meat), a stock cube, herbs, onion, garlic, wine or beer (or water), whatever ingredients you fancy, put everything in the slow cooker, turn it on and that’s it. When you come back you have a nice casserole waiting for you.
Right, ready to visit Cambridge, I walked to the bus stop which is only a few minutes from the campsite. The bus journey is quick and Cambridge is not a town I would like to drive the campervan in. But it is a beautiful town. I had bought a guide book (Pitkin City Guides, Cambridge) to have a map, and it also suggested two walks around the city, but you should be able to get this kind of information from the tourist office. Of course you have to see the University colleges, and “The Backs”, the land between the Cam and Queen’s road, at the back of some colleges. There is also Kettle’s Yard, a contemporary and modern art gallery. There are many restaurant restaurants and cafes where you ac eat or just stop for a drink and to rest.
Day 2: Ely
Direction Ely, north of Cambridge. Ely is a city, which means that there is a cathedral. It’s a small town on the left bank of the Great Ouse.
I parked my campervan on Ship Lane car park . It’s free for 23 hours if you arrive after 8:30 am and there are spaces especially for motorhome that you need to use. It’s near the cathedral and the river. Ely is a small city where you can just go where your steps take you, you can also walk along the river. For lunch, I bought a picnic which I ate on a bench on the green behind the cathedral, but there are also a pub and a cafe that look very nice on the river. Walking in Jubilee Gardens, I was nicely surprised to see, and hear, a brass band in the music stand. I don’t know if it was for a special occasion or just because it was Sunday. After a walk along the river, if was time to go back to the campsite, before heading home the next day.
List of the campsites and car parks
Camping Cambridge, Great Shelford
Cambridge Camping and Caravanning Club
19 Cabbage Moor
Cambridgeshire
CB22 5NB
Cambridge Camping and Caravanning Club
Ship Lane car park
Ship Lane
Ely
CB7 4BB
Ship Lane car park
Les ballades en camping-car de Véro 