A winding hike alongside one of England's greatest rivers — Ouse Valley Way

The Great Ouse is one of England’s finest and longest rivers. It is a watercourse that has shaped the gentle lands through which it flows, forging their often unique character and fascinating history. The river supports communities that have in turn harnessed its energy. It powers industry, provides havens for wildlife and feeds verdant pastures for crops and livestock.

Winding through this gorgeous land, hand-in-hand with the river, is the Ouse Valley Way long-distance trail. The Way travels 150 miles (241 km), from the Ouse’s source near Syresham, Northamptonshire, through historic market towns, grand country parks, vibrant nature reserves, a majestic cathedral city and the enchanting, pancake-flat landscape of the Fens.

The Way ends at King’s Lynn, beyond which the Ouse empties into the Wash and flows out into the North Sea. It is a wonderful journey that gets under the skin of this remarkable watercourse and the spellbinding landscapes it passes through.

The Ouse is a river that has been shaped by human influence over the centuries, providing transport, turning the cogs of industry and rewarding leisure seekers. What would have once been a wilful river, prone to great extremes in volume and shifting its course with every coming flood, is today a river that has been harnessed, channelled and drained.

Yet it is no less beautiful for it. This transformation has led to pools, lagoons and lakes brimming with wildlife. New, artificial channels carry barges and rowing boats, provide fertile land for agriculture and the energy that powered the Industrial Revolution. Along the Way, you experience the slow evolution in the river’s character, from its meandering course through the verdant home counties to the managed, navigable channel it becomes in the fertile Fens.

As you hike the Way, you will grow an appreciation for the river and its history. It is a long-distance route suitable for all levels of fitness and experience, as it follows remarkably flat trails that are mostly straightforward to follow.

The warmer months are ideal, particularly for nature lovers, as there’s a plethora of wildlife to discover. History buffs will also be in heaven, as the tale of the river unfurls with each mill, town, engine house and church.

Highlights along the Way include: Stowe House, a Grade I-listed country house with sumptuous landscaped gardens; Harrold-Odell Country Park, a tranquil parkland with picturesque lakes and vibrant water meadows; Bedford, a county town boasting tremendous riverside parkland and nature reserves; Houghton Mill, a working watermill in a truly idyllic setting; St Ives, a lovely town most notable for its 15th-century bridge and adorning chapel; Ely, a small city that rises above the Fens, crowned by its magnificent Romanesque cathedral; and King’s Lynn, the historic port town at the mouth of the Great Ouse.

In this Collection, I have split the Way into 12 stages of between 10 and 17 miles (16 to 27 km) that each end at accommodation and evening meal options. Where options are sparse, I name specifics in the stage descriptions.

You can plan in rest days en route, as the river winds through many historic towns with lots of things to see and do. There are many riverside pubs to relax in at the end of a long day and the best thing is all the drinks are on the Ouse (please excuse). There’s also nothing to stop you doing the whole thing in reverse, should you choose.

The very nature of this walk means sturdy, waterproof boots are recommended. You have the option of exploring numerous wetland reserves en route and some of the woodland trails are prone to be boggy. Sun cream is essential in the warmer months and it’s a good idea to carry water and snacks. This is particularly recommended during the latter stages in the Fens, when settlements are less frequent.

Syresham, at the start of the Way, is not easily accessed by public transport. The closest mainline stations are Banbury, Bicester and Milton Keynes, however you would still need to get a taxi from any of those options. A better alternative is the number 87 bus service between Northampton and Brackley, which occasionally stops in Syresham. For motorists, it is relatively close to the M1 and the M40.

At the end of the Way, King’s Lynn is less than a two-hour train ride from Central London, as well as being easily accessed by car.