More polite walks with a closed pub at the end, though this one is sort of open.
Look how close to home I am !
You can walk to Lode from mine through the Fens, though be careful of the naturist pool (and Mrs RM, of course).
I started from just off the A14 at Quy, for reasons you’ll see later.
Around the time of Lockdown I’d attempted the walk along Quy Waters from Stow-cum-Quy to Anglesey Abbey, only failing due to sinking into six inches of mud 10 minutes into the walk.
I saved the OS map but the jacket was a write-off.
Three months later it looks gorgeous.
This is “polite” Fen Edge, with passive aggressive notices about footpaths only being for Quy villagers,
stables and lily ponds.
As is traditional, I find a mislaid BRAPA hat half-way.
Anglesey Abbey, along with Wimpole, is the capital of polite Cambs. The riverbank leading from Lodge to the Mill is packed with folk in Pringle and pashminas taking their 1 mile flat walk at a leisurely pace, interrupted by exaggerated social distancing.
You’ll be wanting your pastel hue and thatch fix by now, I guess.
Regular reader Mark will remember Lode as the tiny village which hosted a small music festival a decade ago; sending the strains of Sir Bob Geldof’s memorable solo hit(s) wafting over Waterbeach.
In 2016 it finally got its pub back.
Well, a dining room with handpumps, anyway.
Actually, good food and OK beer, as good as you could reasonably expect.
The most unexpected Lode art comes late, a different sort of House.
The Abbey Gardens are actually back open this week; along with Kew that feels a major step on the way to normality. No doubt Dad will make his way there once he works out how to book on-line.
Back in Quy, the Swan looked inviting but forlorn.
But the Landlord saw me hovering and invited me in to buy a couple of points of those Crafty beers from down the road and chat about re-opening.
His pub is a simple classic, beloved of gentlefolk and escapees from the Anglesey tea-room and I still dream of their Sunday roasts.
His beer survived the 10 minute journey home and 10 minutes later was gone.
retiredmartin 
You can’t help but wonder what incident led to the nudity notice on the sign. Very unusual to feel the need to add that warning to a sign.
LikeLike
It’s a known naturist site. https://cam.misc.narkive.com/AE1JJQ9j/quy-fen-naked-men
Surprised you didn’t explore on your Greater Waterbeach trip !
LikeLike
17 years ago for that post!
LikeLike
Time moves slowly here, Dave. Bill Clinton is still US president here.
Footnote : Just back from a walk out to the lake and they’ve now banned nudism there.
LikeLike
Did you have to borrow a towel for the walk home?
LikeLiked by 1 person
A towelling robe.
LikeLike
Alright for Quy villagers but what about Quy workers?
LikeLike
Does IT consultancy count as “work” ?
LikeLike
“Nudity can cause offence ……” so why hasn’t Humphrey banned it from his pubs ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely photos, but private footpaths for locals only – whatever next? Is it necessary to show some form of ID before setting out on these paths, or is Quy the type of place where everyone knows everyone else and they’re all related to each other, anyway?
LikeLike
I think you’re getting Quy mixed up with Dereham, Paul, no inbreeding here.
I imagine the gentlefolk here who have butlers who walk ahead to make sure there’s no oiks from the cheaper villages.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I couldn’t’ possibly comment on Dereham Martin, but I work in a small village and quite a few of our workforce are related to one another.
Despite this, there are no landed gentry left around these parts, so footpaths are open to everyone – even “outsiders” like me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Commenting on Norfolk is a national sport.
LikeLike
It’s a local footpath. For local people. Nothing for you here.
LikeLiked by 1 person