“What a wonderful day… Magnificent route enjoying some wonderful English countryside.”

A great time was had on Saturday 13th May when trustees and supporters of The Waterberg Trust set off on bikes to take part in a challenge ride through Bedfordshire and Cambridge.

The event was held to raise funds for projects that the uplift the lives of young people in the Waterberg. You can read about the challenges they face on our website here.

As well as funding Save The Waterberg Rhino, the Waterberg Trust provides a school nurse who runs an Environmental Club and manages a number of small but effective projects from school vegetable gardens and recycling initiatives to the distribution of food parcels for the needy. You can see recent photos here.

If you would like to support The Waterberg Trust, they have a Justgiving page for donations here and can accept cheques or CAF cheques – details here

The route was designed to suit every level of rider and all types of bikes were encouraged. Cyclists took in the glorious countryside and were provided with lunch at Southill Park near Biggleswade and refreshments enroute. 37 riders completed the 80 mile route, with 10 taking the 47 mile option.

“Lunch was magnificent and the mid morning scotch egg and flap jacks a highlight.”

Many thanks to the back up team and all who took part

We met at 8.30am at the Orme family’s house Fen Ditton – close to Cambridge North Station for those arriving by train and headed down the cycleway to St Ives, enjoying our first party-stop at Gravely. Refreshed, we headed south west through the pretty villages of Bedfordshire to Sir John Soane’s Moggerhanger Hall before reaching Southill Park for some Whitbread family hospitality. This is where the 47-mile route ended. Most cycled on through the villages of South Cambridgeshire, pedalling via Grantchester, the cycle lanes of historic Cambridge and along the River Cam, to finish back in Fen Ditton for a riders’ & supporters’ party.

“What an absolutely splendid and fabulous day of cycling and general merriment – thank you for organising everything so beautifully (most esp a nice flat car free route ) and for wining and dining us throughout.“

“The setting for lunch was like something from the pages of the novel, everyone was so friendly and interesting.”  

The cyclists loved the fen flat, no potholes, totally traffic free cycleway from Cambridge North station to St Ives. Many commented on St Ives’ pretty town centre and the historic stone bridge we crossed. Our mid-morning tea & coffee stop at the George’s, with the now legendary Franklin’s homemade scotch eggs, was a highlight for many. The prettiest countryside came in Bedfordshire after we crossed the A1, as we peddled through Moggerhanger, Northill, Ickwell, and past Shutteworth to arrive at stunning Southill Park for lunch in the garden.

Many made a mountain out of a (mole) hill at Barrington Hill, the only real climb we had all day. Some enjoyed the slower pace of the cycleways through Cambridge, even stopping for a millpond-side pub for a pint amongst the punts. Others cursed the bumpy surface and strollers for slowing them down.

The day was not without its dramas, starting with an exploding tyre only a few 100 yards from the start and a couple of cyclists coming off on slippery corners, thankfully only scratches and bumps. Charlie and Jane provided a magnificent back up service.

“Thank you so much for hosting us and organising such an awesome day yesterday! Loved it.”

Everyone raised or donated at least £100 and it looks as if we have generated a total of £9,000, which is fantastic.

TWT trustee William Orme has an Orme Family Justgiving page for the cycle ride here

TWT Chairman Barry Burles has a Justgiving page dedicated to the ride here

Please let us know via the comments box below if you’d like to commit to a date and start training for 2024. Why not persuade your club or family and friends to come too. Think of organizing a team!