Hardwick: Church, History and Walking Routes

Hardwick offers two distinct points of interest for planning a trip: historic buildings and specific walking opportunities. St Mary and Chequers represent different building and usage histories; the Hardwick Millennium Footpath, the Greenwich Meridian Trail – Cambridge loop and the Wellbeing Walks differ in route type or schedule. If you are planning a stay, you can consider these topics separately: the historic landmarks on the one hand, and the route and fixed monthly dates on the other.

Church, mural and former inn

Today’s church of St Mary in Hardwick dates mostly from the 14th century. St Mary also contains the remains of a colourful medieval mural depicting the Seven Deadly Sins. This brings together architectural history and religious art: most of the present-day church dates from the 14th century, while the mural is considered medieval. This distinction gives you two points of interest for a culturally focused visit, without conflating the building’s history with the mural. If you would like to see the mural inside, check in advance whether it is possible to enter the church.

Chequers in Hardwick is a Grade II listed former inn dating from the late 16th or early 17th century. Its former use sets it apart from St Mary, the present-day church: Chequers is historically associated with its past as an inn, while St Mary is associated with ecclesiastical architectural history and the medieval mural. The two buildings therefore represent different types of structures and different historical themes. If you are including historic architecture in your itinerary, you can consider the church and the former inn as separate points of interest.

There is also a clear difference in age: St Mary dates mostly from the 14th century, while Chequers is dated to the late 16th or early 17th century. The two sites therefore represent different periods as well as different uses. This comparison of their dates is another point to consider when choosing cultural and historical sites.

Walking routes and monthly dates

The Hardwick Millennium Footpath is a circular route that starts and ends at the Hardwick village sign; along the way, it crosses the Greenwich Meridian twice. The Greenwich Meridian Trail – Cambridge loop reaches Hardwick via the Wimpole Way. This distinction matters when choosing a route: the Millennium Footpath has a clearly specified start and end point, while the trail runs via the Wimpole Way to Hardwick. The routes also differ in their connection to the meridian: the circular route crosses it twice, while it is part of the trail’s name. Check local path conditions before setting out.

The Wellbeing Walks also differ by their monthly dates. The Wellbeing Walk at The Blue Lion in Hardwick takes place on the first Friday of each month, while the one at Frankies Snack Bar in Hardwick takes place on the third Friday. For your trip planning, this means two different Fridays during the month; check the exact dates before your visit. This lets you match the relevant date with the period of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Ramsey, Soham, Elton, Croydon, St Neots, Little Wilbraham, Isleham, Yaxley

For the wider travel overview: Cambridgeshire.