Photographed on 10th August 2021, apart from Cow 24 “Udders and Rudders”, which was being repainted following repair and hence revisited the next day.
Introduction
This walk covers the Cows About Cambridge Large Cows Trail, which I completed as a sponsored walk along with the Mini-Moos Trail to fundraise for Break Charity. The walk visits 41 large cow sculptures decorated and sponsored by various artists and organisations, which were placed at locations across the city from late June to early September 2021.
This page illustrates the trail as walked, including each of the 41 large cows in their settings, with streetscapes and landmarks along the route.
For more photos and details of just the cows, without the description of the walking trail, see the Large Cows Gallery page.
Route
The route starts from and ends at Home. It’s split into several sections on the map because Google My Maps won’t let me create a single route with more than ten points.
The Large Cows trail itself runs from Cambridge Main Station to Cambridge North Station, but my sponsored walk was for the complete circuit from and back to Home. The 41 cows were visited in numerical order. Unlike with the Mini-Moos Trail, little distance would have been saved by visiting any out-of-turn.
Home to Cambridge Station
If you aren’t interested in this part, skip to the first cow.
At about 9:45 a.m. I set out from Home. For other streetscapes of this part of the route, see the Station Square walk and the Mini-Moos Trail.
I head off down Radegund Road. The street sign looks distinctly out of alignment.
Along Davy Road past Coleridge Rec. Nobody on the tennis court or benches this morning.
I’ve turned right onto Rustat Road. There are new-build flats on the west side, on what used to be called the Leica site.
These flats at the Carter Bridge end have distinctive curved roofs.
The approach to the neglected Carter Bridge is becoming overgrown with weeds.
Cambridge Station
For more photos of the Station and surrounding area, see the Station Square walk.
Cow 1 “Around the City”
Cow 1 is located on the station forecourt to the left of the entrance.
It features drawings of Cambridge landmarks and white animal outlines. It’s other side is plainer.
Cow 2 “The Bovine Line”
Cow 2 is to the right of the station entrance. Here’s the view from the station side.
It’s decorated with Cambridge scenes and trains.
This is the first with people standing and walking behind it. To complete the trail in one day I’ve had to settle for cow photos without people or vehicles in front of them, and not wait for there to be none behind either. When I create a cow photo gallery page I may revisit a few at quieter times to get better shots.
Cow 3 “Top Cow”
Cow 3 is outside the entrance to One Station Square, opposite the station itself.
It’s covered in plastic milk bottle tops in several colours.
Cow 4 “The Botanicow”
Cow 4 is outside the Clayton Hotel on Station Road.
Its design is inspired by Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
Mill Park
The next destination on the trail is Mill Park, part of the large CB1 Quarter redevelopment.
Much of this development consists of medium-rise blocks of flats. The original Spillers Mill building can be seen between them in the background.
Cow 5 “Mooshu”
Cow 5 is in Mill Park near Brookgate.
Its design is inspired by a Chinese dragon.
Cambridge Leisure Park
The next cow is located in the Cambridge Leisure Park off Clifton Road.
The trail continues over the Hills Road railway bridge, and I go down the steps on the left leading to the leisure park.
This is the view across the leisure park square towards the main entrance to the IMAX cinema, tenpin bowling alley and gym.
Cow 6 “At the Moovies”
Cow 6 is positioned just outside the entrance.
It’s decorated with stars, cinema film and popcorn.
This is the only one of the cow sculptures located in Coleridge. None are in Romsey.
Cambridge Assessment
The next cow is some distance away, outside Cambridge Assessment on Shaftesbury Road.
I’m now returning across the leisure park square past the Junction to the Hills Road railway bridge steps.
The trail route crosses back over to the city side of the railway bridge before turning left onto Brooklands Avenue.
Whenever anyone says “Brooklands Avenue”, this is the view that comes to mind.
Finding Cambridge Assessment has taken a little while as I’ve never been to this site before. You have to enter through the gates signposted “Cambridge University Press”.
It’s some way in to the site, on the left.
Cow 7 “Moodle Yoodle”
Cow 7 is in the square outside Cambridge Assessment.
It has a doodle-style design.
University Botanic Garden
Next are two cows outside the entrance to the Botanic Garden opposite Station Road.
Having retraced my steps along Shaftesbury Road and Brooklands Avenue, I continue along Hills Road towards the Botanic Garden entrance.
Cow 8 “Moss Cow”
Cow 8 is to the left of the Botanic Gardens entrance.
It’s covered entirely in moss and fitted with solar cells and an air quality sensor that can be read on a website.
Cow 9 “Wandering Lions”
Cow 9 is to the right of the Botanic Gardens entrance.
It’s inspired by the lions at the Fitzwilliam Museum.
The refreshment seller kindly moved her large water bottle, seen in this photo, to enable me to photograph this cow from the front, but I seem to have been distracted by that and forgotten to photograph its left side altogether!
Judge Business School
The next leg of the trail leads to the Judge Business School, in the Old Addenbrooke’s site on Trumpington Street.
I’m continuing into town along Hills Road, past St Paul’s Church.
I’m now turning left into Lensfield Road at the junction.
Passing a reminder of my student days – the University Chemistry Labs. In my first year I attended lectures, chemistry practicals and supervisions here.
I’m approaching the Trumpington Street end of Lensfield Road.
I’ve turned right to head along Trumpington Street to the Judge Business School.
Cow 10 “Animal Farm”
Cow 10 is located outside the entrance to the Old Addenbrooke’s site.
Its design depicts the eponymous novel by George Orwell.
The Graduate Hotel
The next stop on the trail is the Graduate Hotel in Granta Place.
Continuing along Trumpington Street I pass the Fitzwilliam Museum on the other side.
I’ve now crossed over and am about to turn left into Mill Lane.
Another nostalgic reminder of my student days. In the 1980s Computer Science was mainly based in the New Museums site, but some lectures were here.
At one time I thought they were going to redevelop this site. For now they’re leaving the lecture hall alone and converting the adjacent Stuart House, formerly the University Careers Service, for other uses.
Here there are lots of punts for hire, but not much activity today.
Cow 11 “Punting Along the Cam”
According to the Cows About Cambridge website, Cow 11 is due to be moved into the hotel garden, but at the moment it’s still by the entrance road.
Its design shows the Bridge of Sighs in St John’s College.
Queens’ Green
Next I need to head across the river to visit Cow 12 on Queens’ Green.
Leaving Granta Place, the University Centre, A.K.A. “Grad Pad”, is closed for refurbishment until late next year. All University alumni can use its cafeteria etc. but those like me who live in Cambridge but have no active involvement with the University should do so sparingly – really it’s somewhere for people returning to Cambridge to meet up.
The view of Queens’ College across Silver Street Bridge.
Cow 12 “STEM Cow”
Cow 12 is located on Queens’ Green just outside the college.
Its design illustrates Cambridge’s scientific heritage.
University Museum of Zoology
The cow trail continues to the New Museums Site in Pembroke Street.
I’m now crossing back over Silver Street Bridge. The famous wooden bridge can be viewed across the lawn from the approach to it. Myths about it abound, including that it was built by Sir Isaac Newton, uses no metal bolts, and was later dismantled by people who couldn’t then reassemble it properly. In fact Isaac Newton died before it was built, and iron spikes in the joints were driven in so they can’t be seen at the surface.
That lawn is amazing! I wonder if their groundsmen could achieve the same with mine, which bears more resemblance to the Chalk Pit landfills.
The route returns southwards along Trumpington Street towards Pembroke Street.
Pembroke Street contains a variety of college and University buildings.
The Zoology Museum is located in the New Museums Site. It has been here since 1865, but the glass-fronted entrance hall was built in 2013 and is accessed via the podium behind the Babbage Lecture Theatre. What we used to know as the Arup Building when I was a student is now named the David Attenborough Building – I guess ArupyMcArupFace doesn’t really work.
Cow 13 “The Moostery Sculpture”
“Cow” 13 is located to the left of the entrance and can be seen just above the red barrier. I’ve used inverted commas deliberately here…
This one is actually a rhinoceros! It represents the collections and conservation work of the Department of Zoology, and is decorated with animals on display in the Museum.
Perhaps they don’t want a cow here as they don’t want to be called the MOOniversity MOOseum of MOOlogy.
Hilton Hotel, Downing Street
The next cow is just along from the New Museums Site, outside the Hilton Hotel.
I’m heading east along Downing Street.
Here’s the Hilton Hotel.
Cow 14 “MOOOre Gin Please”
Cow 14 is to the left of the hotel entrance on Downing Street. The New Museums site is on the left of the road up the side.
Its design is inspired by plants used in the production of craft gin.
Grand Arcade and Lion Yard
Several cows are located inside Grand Arcade and Lion Yard.
The first one is in the John Lewis department store, on the corner of Downing Street and Regent Street, which I can enter here.
Cow 15 “Beef Wellington”
Cow 15 is in the basement of John Lewis by the escalators, accompanied by a pair of Friesian-patterned tables and some glass milk bottles.
It’s covered in patterned wellington boots.
Cow 16 “Entwining of Two Worlds”
Cow 16 is on the first floor in Grand Arcade, on the bridge outside the Central Library.
It contains natural images and was created by prisoners at Warren Hill as a tribute to Jack Merritt, who was killed in the Fishmongers’ Hall terror attack.
Cow 17 “Penny”
Cow 17 is on the ground floor of Grand Arcade near the Lion Yard end.
It’s covered in naturally tarnishing copper and silver coins.
Cow 18 “The Moooon”
Cow 18 is in a space-themed exhibit in the Lion Yard atrium by the escalators.
It has the moon on its left side and a blood moon on the other side.
Guildhall
I’m now heading out of Lion Yard and past the Market Square to the next cow location beside the Guildhall.
I’ve left Lion Yard via the rear exit, to the courtyard by the Chapel of St John Fisher, the University Catholic chaplaincy.
I’m now at the Market Square in front of the Guildhall.
The Guildhall, viewed from the market side.
Cow 19 “MooMoo-o-Tron III”
Cow 19 is located beside the Guildhall at the entrance to the Peas Hill passage.
It’s a reconnaissance cow used by an alien search party to look for their Supreme Leader, who is lost somewhere in Cambridge.
Great St Mary’s
The next two cows are located outside the Senate House Hill entrance to Great St Mary’s.
From the Guildhall I head along St Mary’s Passage towards King’s Parade. This end of King’s College Chapel looks just like the other end facing the river, but the view is spoilt a little by a row of bins.
Great St Mary’s viewed from outside the Senate House.
Cow 20 “Strength in Numbers”
Cow 20 is located outside Great St Mary’s on the corner near St Mary’s Passage.
It’s decorated with figures reaching out to each other.
Cow 21 “Hey Diddle Diddle”
Cow 21 is located closer to Great St Mary’s entrance.
Its design is based on the nursery rhyme with a cow jumping over the moon.
Sussex Street
From Great St Mary’s the cow trail continues to Sussex Street. I go back past the market and along Market Street to Sidney Street.
Sussex Street is a short way up Sidney Street on the right.
The entrance to Sussex Street. Cow 22 can be seen in the distance.
Cow 22 “Etheridge”
Cow 22 is in front of the curved arcade of shops in Sussex Street.
Its geometric design is inspired by the Queens’ College Mathematical Bridge and named after its designer, William Etheridge.
St John’s Street
The next cow on the trail is back on the other side of Sidney Street, in St John’s Street.
I’m carrying on north up Sidney Street. When I was a student “Sidney Sainsbury’s” had a narrow corridor-like entrance into a much wider space behind. Over the years it’s expanded into at least two adjoining shop units.
I’m now opposite the Round Church, which is used as a visitor centre. What used to be its congregation relocated to nearby St Andrew the Great (“STAG”), which had closed earlier. References to “the Round Church at St Andrew the Great” can still be found. From here I head a short distance down St John’s Street.
Cow 23 “Sir Isaac Mooton”
Cow 23 is outside the St John’s College Old Divinity School.
Its design features some of Sir Isaac Newton’s discoveries and inventions.
Quayside
From St John’s Street I return towards the Round Church and head up Bridge Street to the next cow location on Quayside.
Bridge Street is full of picturesque old buildings.
Here’s another view looking back towards the city centre from closer to the bridge.
There are more punts on the river here today than there were at Silver Street.
Cow 24 “Udders & Rudders”
I arrived in the square on Quayside to find Cow 24 with a sheet over its plinth and surrounded by open paint cans. Its artist, Paula Wilson, was there carrying out some “field maintenance” on it. Vandals had damaged it and broken off one ear, and the cows’ creators had been out and repaired it. There were patches on the head of plain cream fibreglass on which she was repainting the design.
Naturally she wanted it to be seen at its best, so I took the photos below the following day, on a short diversion from the Mini-Moos Trail.
Cow 24 is on a path sandwiched between two outdoor dining areas, so I haven’t been able to photograph it side-on. I don’t know if it was moved here from a less supervised spot after it was vandalised.
The oars are painted in the colours of the Cambridge rowing clubs. The turquoise background is “Cambridge Blue”, as seen in the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race.
Jesus Green
The next cow, on Jesus Green, can be reached by walking along the river.
The view across the river towards Magdalene College. The bridge is to the far left.
This stretch of the river has a wooden pier alongside it leading to Jesus Green.
Cow 25 “Messing About on the Cam”
Cow 25 is on Jesus Green at the west end of Park Parade.
It’s decorated with activities and wildlife along the Cam.
Midsummer Common
After a cluster (or should I say herd?) of cows around the historic city centre, for the first time in a while the trail gives me some distance to walk to reach the next one, on Midsummer Common.
I’m now walking along the towpath towards Jesus Lock.
At Jesus Lock I head along the avenue towards Victoria Avenue, then cross over onto Midsummer Common.
Crossing Midsummer Common towards Maid’s Causeway, the cow can just be seen to the left of the path in the distance.
Cow 26 “ButterCup”
Cow 26 is towards the south side of Midsummer Common where the paths cross.
Its face has been adapted to have petals and it is decorated with buttercups.
New Square and Christ’s Pieces
The next four cows are distributed across the New Square and Christ’s Pieces parks. For more photos of the area around New Square, including the first two of these cows, see the Grafton Centre and Kite Area walk.
From Midsummer Common I cross Maid’s Causeway and walk down Fair Street.
Cow 27 “The Enviromoontal Cow”
Cow 27 is in New Square near the Eden Baptist Church.
It’s decorated with facts about the impact cows have on the environment.
Cow 28 “Honey”
Cow 28 is in New Square near the corner leading to Jesus Terrace.
It’s painted with bees and a selection of British wild flowers that support them.
Cow 29 “May-Belle”
Cow 29 is on Christ’s Pieces close to Emmanuel Road.
It’s painted with sunset scenes of King’s College Chapel and cows grazing by the Cam.
Cow 30 “Dairy Curie”
Cow 30 is located between Christ’s Pieces and the Drummer Street bus station.
Its design is inspired by the research and discoveries of Cambridge chemists.
Parker’s Piece
The next three cows are all on or next to Parker’s Piece.
I walk along Drummer Street and Parker Street to Parkside.
Cow 31 “Cowmono”
Cow 31 is on the north corner of Parker’s Piece by Parkside and Park Terrace.
Its design is inspired by Japanese art as used on kimono fabric.
Cow 32 “Monty Rushmoo”
Cow 32 is in front of Hobbs’ Pavilion.
Its design celebrates Great British cow breeds.
Cow 33 “Cowbridges”
Cow 33 is to the right of the University Arms Hotel entrance on Regent Street.
Its design illustrates the bridges over the River Cam.
Gonville Place
The next two cows are on the Gonville Place side of Parker’s Piece.
From the University Arms Hotel I head along Regent Street.
I’ve now reached the corner opposite the Roman Catholic Church of our Lady and the English Martyrs.
I’ve turned left to walk along Gonville Place.
Cow 34 “Mooto Cow”
Cow 34 has taken some finding. It’s just inside an entrance to the Gonville Hotel garden up the side on Gresham Road, and can’t be reached via the main entrance on Gonville Place. As a result I’m now better acquainted with the hotel’s car park than I need to be. It’s also positioned right by a hedge so I can’t photograph its left side.
The design represents robotics, science and the environment.
Donkey Common
It’s a short distance to the next cow, on Donkey Common.
I return to Gonville Place from the Gonville Hotel garden and carry on towards Donkey Common. They’re setting up a bouncy castle and other activities on Parker’s Piece.
I’ve now reached Donkey Common by the pool and skateboard park.
Cow 35 “Four-Four-Moo”
Cow 35 is beside the path across Donkey Common between the pool and skateboard park.
It’s painted in Cambridge United colours and named after the football formation. Presumably this location was chosen for its proximity to the Cambridge Rules sculpture nearby on Parker’s Piece.
Anglia Ruskin University
The next cow on the trail is outside Anglia Ruskin University, on East Road. This one has already appeared in the Grafton Centre and Kite Area walk.
I cross Mill Road by the pool and walk across Petersfield to East Road.
Cow 36 “Art Attack Splat”
Cow 36 is right outside the entrance to Anglia Ruskin University.
Its design was created by many people splattering it with different paint colours.
Grafton Centre
The trail continues to the Grafton Centre, which is the location of the next three cows. For more photos of this area, including the first of these cows, see the Grafton Centre and Kite Area walk.
I carry on up East Road, then cross over at Norfolk Street and walk along Burleigh Street.
I’m now approaching the Fitzroy Street end near the Grafton Centre entrance.
Cow 37 “Doodle Cow”
Cow 37 is by the Grafton Centre entrance, in front of the Old Eden Chapel.
It’s decorated with doodles of facts, figures and quirky references to Cambridge.
Cow 38 “Now for Something Udderly Different”
Cow 38 is inside the Grafton Centre next to the escalators.
Its design is a tribute to Monty Python.
Cow 39 “Stardust”
Cow 39 is on the first floor of the Grafton Centre outside the restaurants.
It’s covered in a mosaic of glistening mirror tiles.
Cambridge North Station
The final two cows are at Cambridge North Station. This is the long tail of the Large Cows Trail – the distance from the Grafton Centre to Cambridge North Station is about as great as that between the furthest apart of all the other cows: those at Cambridge Assessment and Jesus Green. It’s mainly a walk along the river.
I leave the Grafton Centre by its rear (bus station) entrance and cross to East Road.
I’m passing the Crown Court on the other side.
Continuing past Mackay’s shop towards the Elizabeth Way Roundabout.
I cross the sunken courtyard to the northeast exit by Abbey Road. For more pictures of the courtyard and all the murals, see the Elizabeth Way Roundabout walk and the Elizabeth Way Murals Gallery.
I then walk down Abbey Road to Riverside.
Along Riverside, new blocks of flats have replaced the former gasworks (along with Tesco’s on the Newmarket Road side).
I’m getting towards Stanley Road now. There used to be a scout hut where the flats on the right are now.
Now I’ve reached Stourbridge Common and continue along the towpath.
I’ve reached the Green Dragon Bridge, where I need to cross over to Chesterton.
The Green Dragon – a pub I often used to visit when I lived close by in Stanley Road.
These houses stand on the site of the former Pike and Eel pub, later renamed the Penny Ferry. I read that while these were being built protestors wrote graffiti on them about the lack of affordable housing – in Latin. Only in Cambridge…
I’m now continuing along the river on the north side.
I’ve reached the railway line. Through the railway bridge, the new cycle and footbridge that will form part of the Chisholm Trail can be seen behind it. That hasn’t opened yet and the footpath is currently closed, so I have to turn left onto Fen Road.
To reach the station I turn left before the level crossing and walk up Moss Bank. The final part of the route to Cambridge North Station is on the foot/cycle path alongside the railway.
Cow 40 “Connecting Tails”
Cow 40 is in the square in front of Cambridge North Station.
It’s decorated with Cambridge scenes within a geometric pattern.
Cow 41 “Can You Find 100 Beetles?”
Last but not least, Cow 41 is also in the square in front of Cambridge North Station, closer to the station building.
Its design of brightly coloured leaves has 100 beetles on it.
Home from Cambridge North Station
I’ve now completed the Large Cows Trail. Once the Chisholm Trail is complete, I’ll be able to return Home from here using the new cycle/footbridge over the river mentioned earlier, across Ditton Meadows to Newmarket Road and via the new underpass to reach Coldham’s Common. For now I have to retrace my steps to Stourbridge Common, walk across it and up Garlic Row to Newmarket Road, then over the railway bridge and across to the common by the Abbey Stadium.
I’ve returned to Moss Bank via the path alongside the railway, and am heading towards Fen Road.
I return along the riverside path to Water Street.
I’m back to the Green Dragon now.
This is the view east along the river from the bridge.
I’m crossing Stourbridge Common towards Garlic Row.
I walk up here to Newmarket Road. This section of the walk provides a progress update on the Construction of the Chisholm Trail which I photographed in June.
The east side of the railway bridge, where construction of the underpass is ongoing. I wonder if it’ll contain murals. A Cambridge United match on the Abbey side and a peloton of lycra-clad cyclists on the city side maybe?
Things have progressed since I was here in June, but it’s nowhere near finished yet.
A new, wider path is still being constructed beside the Abbey Stadium.
The plastic jigsaw pieces of temporary path have now appeared where the path crosses Coldham’s Brook.
The temporary path continues across the middle of the common between the brook and the railway. The permanent path to the right is being widened and resurfaced.
Further on the new path is complete.
Most of the graffiti in the railway bridge is unsightly scrawl, but the green man has some artistic merit. Not up to the standard of the proper murals in Elizabeth Way though.
This is where construction of the new path was underway during the Chisholm Trail Phase 1 Construction walk a couple of months ago.
What’s that I can see in the distance?
Bonus Cows
I thought I’d finished photographing cows today! The Coldham’s Common cows are near the path today, although not facing towards it.
I’ve now reached Coldham’s Lane. This stretch has no particular significance, but it’s shortly after 6 p.m. and this is where the first lull occurred in the rush-hour traffic.
A single 1930s bungalow here was demolished to build these three houses. This sort of ‘densification’ is common around here.
The detached house to the right of this new development is the right-hand half of a former semi, whose left half was demolished to create the access road. The same thing has been done to a semi on Perne Road where there was some land that could be built on behind the gardens.
I’ve now reached the roundabout by Sainsbury’s.
I’m on the home straight now!
Walk complete! It’s now about 6:30 p.m. – a little over 8.5 hours since I left here.
