The picturesque Cambridgeshire village with an unusual spot ideal for family walks

The village also has a pub described as a “little gem”

A charming village sat on the edge of the county has a unique nature reserve. Barnack is a quaint village nestled between Peterborough and Stamford.

It is relatively small, with a population of 1,000, according to the 2021 census. The village was once claimed by Northamptonshire and was historically part of the Soke of Peterborough, which was associated with Northamptonshire.

Despite its small size, Barnack is still mighty in history. It is most notable for its past industry in limestone, which was quarried from the village and used to build important monuments including abbeys in Peterborough, Crowland, Ramsey, Sawtry, and Ely.

Most famously, stone from Barnack was used to build Peterborough and Ely Cathedrals. Blocks of stone were transported on sleds to the River Nene and loaded onto barges to travel down the river towards the Fenland waterways.

The limestone was originally formed in Jurassic times and made from the remains of billions of tiny sea-creatures which lived in a shallow sea. The former quarry is now a gorgeous nature reserve, known as The Hills and Holes, which makes a unique place for a family walk.

Acting as a meeting point in the heart of the village is The Millstone pub, which offers plenty of cosy atmosphere in the colder months or a picturesque outdoor area where you can bask in the sun before autumn well and truly hits.

The welcoming pub has been described by previous customers as a “little gem” with a “nice atmosphere” and “out of this world” food. The venue stands on a site dating back to 1672. The pub’s menu “blends tradition with fresh, local ingredients and a passion for great food”, according to its website.

The village was also the site of an important early Bronze Age find. The Barnack burial comes from a complicated monument which was previously expanded and altered. The original burial was particularly rich for a period and the final monument contained at least 23 bodies and had a diameter of 50 metres.

Gravel quarrying threatened the barrow in 1974 and the decision was made to evacuate it as a result. The objects recovered were handed to the British Museum and replicas are displayed in Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery.

According to Rightmove, house prices in Barnack had an overall average of £464,000 over the last year. The majority of sold properties were detached properties, selling for an average price of £513,600. Meanwhile, semi-detached properties sold for a cheaper average of £216,000.