Nene Valley Railway & Ferry Meadows
Step back in time travelling on the historic Nene Valley Railway, enjoying a nostalgic steam train ride through the picturesque Nene Valley. The more adventurous visitor will love the array of water sports available at Nene Park too!
MORNING
PETERBOROUGH STATION
Hop on either a CrossCountry or Greater Anglia Train from Ely, Manea or March and take the short trip to Peterborough (East Midlands Trains also serve Ely and March, but not Manea).
On arrival at Peterborough, take the short, 5-minute walk to NVR’s city centre station, located next to Railworld.
Peterborough Station
Peterborough station
Station Road
Peterborough
Cambridgeshire
PE1 1QL
FERRY MEADOWS
From the city centre station, depending on the day, you can join the NVR’s service through to Wansford Station, using an all-day rover ticket.
After exploring the historic station, hop back on the service to Overton Station and depart here for the short walk into Ferry Meadows.
*** NVR’s standard running days are weekends between February and Easter and then Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Easter to September. Other special running days and events are also available, so it’s best to check the website before travelling.
If you prefer to take a shorter journey, then you can always buy a single ticket from the city centre to Overton, and not travel out as far as Wansford.
Alternatively, if you prefer to travel by bus, you can take the short walk from Peterborough railway station over to the main bus station, located in Queensgate Shopping Centre and pick up one of the regular services to Orton Mere. Visit the Stagecoach or Central-connect websites for more information.
LUNCH
You can either enjoy your own picnic in the park, and with ample space and benches, you’ll be spoilt for choice, or alternatively, make use of one of the cafés on site. If you’re feeling adventurous, then there are lots of brick built barbecues in the park, so you can always cook up your own tasty al-fresco barbeque lunch!
AFTERNOON
NENE OUTDOORS
After lunch, why not partake in some water sports?
An array of options are available at Nene Outdoors on their “Pay and Play” system.
You could enjoy a leisurely pedalo or rowing boat, or for the more adventurous, why not hire a kayak, canoe, or dingy? Paddle boards are also available to hire and all equipment can be hired too. Check out their website for more details.
For those who prefer to stay on dry land, you can always enjoy a quiet walk around the lake or a gentle wander along one of the many trails, including a stunning sculpture trail. A mixture of shorter trails and longer walks are available, as well as organised activities in the summer months, with something for everybody to enjoy.
Details of all of the routes and events can be found on the website.
Before you leave the park, why not sit down and enjoy a refreshing cuppa or ice cream from one of the park’s outlets before you take the short walk back to Overton Station (or the bus station).
Explore More
You may also choose to explore Longthorpe Tower – one of Peterborough’s historic gems.
The stone tower, built between about 1290 and 1300, is the only surviving part of a 14th century fortified manor house open to the public. Its great significance derives from the spectacular wall paintings which are among the most impressive examples of medieval domestic wall painting in northern Europe.