5k Run Whittlesey: Journey Along the Scenic Hereward Way

Route Overview & Local Insights

This fast and flat 5km out-and-back route offers a perfect slice of the Cambridgeshire Fens, following a key section of the historic Hereward Way. Starting in the market town of Whittlesey, runners will enjoy a predominantly paved surface (90%) that makes it an ideal choice for a tempo session or a PB attempt. The course is characterized by its absolute lack of elevation, providing an unobstructed path along the water. The turnaround point at Morton's Leam bridge offers a natural halfway marker where you can catch your breath and admire the vast, open horizon that defines the local landscape before heading back for a strong finish.

Steeped in Anglo-Saxon history, the Hereward Way is named after Hereward the Wake, the legendary figure who led the local resistance against the Norman Conquest. Running through Whittlesey, you are traversing land that was once an island in the vast marshlands before the Fens were drained in the 17th century. The route takes you alongside Morton's Leam, a man-made drainage channel commissioned by the Bishop of Ely in the 1470s, which stands as one of the oldest and most significant engineering feats in the region. Today, it serves as a peaceful corridor for local wildlife and a favorite stretch for the Whittlesey running community who appreciate the quiet, rural charm of the outskirts.