The circular walk where you can explore Roman roads and Victorian railways

Walkers will come across Roman villas, as well as a Victorian railway that is still used today

A circular walk through the Cambridgeshire countryside has some historic sites, including Roman villas and a Victorian railway station. The Emperors Trail between Ailsworth and Sutton offers a step into part of Cambridgeshire’s history.

The walk, which is around 3.6 miles, is one of Nene Park Trust’s ‘walking in time’ trails. These are self-guided walks that explore the heritage and history of the area.

Along the way, walkers will come across Roman roads and Victorian railways. On the Nene Park website, it said: “You will walk in the footsteps of Roman Emperors, discover the medieval village of Sutton, then pass under the Victorian-built Nene Valley railway before returning to Ailsworth along the River Nene.”

Along the walk, people will see the line of Ermine Street, which was a main route that connected Roman London (Londinium) with York (Eboracum), and this is still visible today.

Here are some points you will come across on the walk:

• Walkers start at a railway crossing gate at the end of Station Road, Ailsworth, which was formerly the site of Castor Station
• Walk along Ermine Street and the Roman agger (mound), which was an important route busy with traffic, bringing goods, messengers, soldiers and travellers
• Along Manor Road in Sutton, there is a stone built platform. This dates back to when milk churns were collected from the then dairy
• People will go past Nene Valley Railway’s Wansford Station, which has been open since 1845
• Along the Nene Valley Railway, there are fields that contain evidence of a Bronze Age burial mount or barrows, alongside two Roman villas.

To find out more about the Emperors Trail walk, visit the Nene Park Trust website.