Nene Reaches

The Nene Reaches follow the river west from Peterborough, through Longthorpe, Orton Mere, Ferry Meadows, Castor, Ailsworth, Water Newton, and Wansford. Here, meadows, wooded banks, and heritage-rich villages meet one of the city’s most treasured public assets — Nene Park.

Gifted to Peterborough’s residents in the 1970s, Nene Park stretches from Orton Mere to Milton Bridge at Castor, acting as both a leisure hub and the gateway to the rural Nene corridor. Its riverside trails connect directly to historic settlements, nature reserves, and the Nene Valley Railway — a living heritage line that links the industrial and transport story of the past with the River & Rail Quarter of today.

On its eastern edge, The Nene Reaches also encompasses Bretton and Marholm. Bretton brings the green expanse of Bretton Woods and the cultural anchor of The Cresset Theatre, while Marholm offers a conservation village setting with a Norman church and direct links to the Milton Hall estate — adding both rural charm and aristocratic heritage to the quarter’s story.

The heritage of the Nene Reaches is exceptional, with layers of national and even international significance. Castor and Ailsworth sit on the site of Durobrivae, one of Roman Britain’s most important settlements, commanding a key crossing of the Nene and surrounded by Normangate Field — one of the largest Roman industrial production zones in the country. Here, vast pottery kilns, metalworking sites, and trade goods supplied the Roman military and civilian populations across the province.

Just downstream lies Water Newton, home to one of Britain’s most important early Christian sites. The discovery of the Water Newton Treasure — a hoard of 3rd–4th century silver and inscribed vessels — provides the earliest known Christian liturgical objects from anywhere in the Roman Empire. This unparalleled find places Water Newton firmly on the map of international heritage and offers a unique narrative link between faith, empire, and the Nene as a trade and communication route.

Beyond these ancient sites, Wansford tells a story of medieval commerce and travel, with its stone bridge, market tradition, and historic coaching inns serving travellers for centuries. Longthorpe Tower, closer to the city, preserves the most complete set of medieval domestic wall paintings in northern Europe, offering a vivid glimpse into life, faith, and symbolism in the 14th century. The meadows and floodplains themselves, rich in wildlife and seasonal beauty, complete the picture — making The Nene Reaches a living landscape where history and nature are inseparable.