Photographed on 11th August 2021, apart from Mini-Moos 6-13, which were in University museums on Downing Street that were closed on the day and visited on 19th August. Mini-Moos 22 and 24 were revisited on 12th August because the photos taken the day before through the shop window glass were unsatisfactory.
Introduction
This walk covers the Cows About Cambridge Mini-Moos Trail, which I completed along with the Large Cows Trail as a sponsored walk to fundraise for Break Charity. The walk visits 45 small cow sculptures decorated by Cambridgeshire schools and community groups, 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 45 Mini-Moos in their settings, with streetscapes and landmarks along the route.
Several Mini-Moos were located in shop window displays, where photos had to be taken through the glass and are affected by reflections.
For more photos and details of just the Mini-Moos, without the description of the walking trail, see the Mini-Moos Gallery page.
Route
The route starts from and ends at Home. It’s split into two sections on the map because Google My Maps won’t let me create a single route with more than ten points.
The Mini-Moos trail itself runs from the Polar Museum on Lensfield Road to Cambridge Museum of Technology on Riverside, but my sponsored walk was for the complete circuit from and back to Home.
The 45 cows were visited in numerical order. This resulted in a large loop from the Grafton Centre to Mill Road then back towards Newmarket Road. Had I just wanted to visit all the cows in the most convenient order, I’d have gone from Home to Lensfield Road along Mill Road and Gonville Place, passing Mini-Moo 41 on the way, and later headed straight across from the Grafton Centre to New Street.
The detour via Jesus Green was to pay a return visit to photograph Large Cow 24 on Quayside, then stop there for lunch. The route to the Museum of Technology via New Street and Home via the Newmarket Road retail park was chosen to avoid repeating parts of the Large Cows Trail route.
Home to Lensfield Road
If you aren’t interested in this part, skip to the first Mini-Moo.
I set out from Home along Radegund Road, on the other side to photograph different views from those on the Large Cows Trail.
The school clock shows I’ve set out at around 10 a.m.
I’m passing Coleridge Rec. and the flats on Davy Road.
I walk along Rustat Road to the Carter Bridge.
I noticed weeds were growing in the Carter Bridge entrance while walking the Large Cows Trail yesterday. I think it’s mainly ivy, and not Japanese Knotweed.
Instead of going down the steps to the station car park I carry on down the ramp past Ravensworth Gardens.
I leave the cycle bridge and walk west along Devonshire Road.
And continue along Lyndewode Road.
In Glisson Road at the end of Lyndewode Road there’s an interesting building, reminiscent of Bolton’s Warehouse. Its original name has been blanked out and Google Maps shows it as “Bodyworks Company Dance Studios”. I turn left down Glisson Road to Hills Road.
I continue along Hills Road towards Lensfield Road. The Roman Catholic Church can be seen at the far end.
Polar Museum
The first Mini-Moo on the trail is in the Polar Museum, part of the Scott Polar Research Institute, next to the University Chemistry Laboratory in Lensfield Road.
The Cows About Cambridge website says Mini-Moo 1 is “viewable from outside facing river”. I think if a building on Lensfield Road was actually facing the river, I’d be at home moving my possessions upstairs rather than out looking for cows. Anyway the entrance is round the back.
Mini-Moo 1 “MORCA”
Mini-Moo 1 is just inside the museum entrance on the right. It isn’t necessary to enter the museum itself to view it.
It’s decorated with construction industry drawings and building plans.
Fitzwilliam Museum
The second stop on the trail is the Fitzwilliam Museum.
I continue along Lensfield Road towards Trumpington Street.
I’ve reached Hobson’s Conduit fountain on the corner.
I turn right along Trumpington Street.
I’ve arrived at the Fitzwilliam Museum. I anticipate that I may have to book a visit here, but the museum official helpfully lets me through to the museum shop to photograph the Mini-Moos on condition I don’t enter the museum itself. They’re continuing to restrict visitor numbers to avoid the risk of spreading COVID.
Mini-Moos 2-4
Mini-Moos 2-4 are in a row along the side of the museum shop.
Mini-Moo 2 “Sunshine + Rain = Rainbow”
Mini-Moo 2’s design was created by several children, and lots of people added coloured fingerprints.
Mini-Moo 3 “Art Mooterials”
Mini-Moo 3 shows the equipment and materials used in Art.
Mini-Moo 4 “Milky-Way”
Mini-Moo 4’s design illustrates careers within the arts sector.
Fitzbillies, Trumpington Street
The next cow on the trail is located in Fitzbillies.
I continue along Trumpington Street past Peterhouse College towards Downing Street.
Mini-Moo 5 “Faith”
Mini-Moo 5 is inside Fitzbillies’ window display.
Its design is inspired by Aboriginal Dreamtime stories.
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
The next three Mini-Moos on the trail are in the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology on Downing Street.
From Fitzbillies I walk along Pembroke Street to Downing Street.
The museum is in the corner of the Downing Site, with its entrance facing onto the street. It’s closed on the day I walk the trail, but when I’m in the area on August 19th the staff allow me to enter to photograph the Mini-Moos without an advance booking.
Mini-Moo 6 “A Cow Full of Curiosity”
Mini-Moo 6 is inside the museum, on the ground floor.
It’s decorated with objects that were special to the schoolchildren who designed it.
Mini-Moo 7 “Where the Wild Things Are”
Mini-Moo 7 is located on the top floor of the museum.
Its design is inspired by children’s author and illustrator Maurice Sendak.
Mini-Moo 8 “StapleMoo”
Mini-Moo 8 is positioned in the museum entrance.
Its design has an environmental theme.
Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
The next five Mini-Moos are in the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, which is within the Downing Site.
Continuing along Downing Street, I’ve just passed the New Museums Site on the other side. When I was a student in the 1980s most of these buildings were soot-blackened; much cleaning and restoration has taken place over the years since.
I continue to the entrance to the Downing Site.
The museum isn’t open on the day I walk the trail, so I book a visit on August 19th and photograph the Mini-Moos then.
This is the first time I’ve been into the Downing Site since 1985. As a first-year student I attended practical sessions for a Crystalline Materials course module here. I never visited the museum then, but I well remember its entrance steps. This building dates from 1904, although the museum itself is older.
Mini-Moos 9-13
Mini-Moos 9-13 are in a pen to the left of the museum entrance.
Mini-Moo 9 “Girls can do anything!”
Mini-Moo 9 is decorated with a Girlguiding theme.
Mini-Moo 10 “Gretton Mini Moo”
Mini-Moo 10 is decorated with building images from in and around Cambridge.
Mini-Moo 11 “Marshland Mini Moo”
Mini-Moo 11 is decorated with scenery of the local area on this side, and aspects of school life on its other side.
Mini-Moo 12 “Pete the Fla’moo’go”
Mini-Moo 12 is decorated with wildlife images.
Mini-Moo 13 “Belle the Bellbird Cow”
Mini-Moo 13’s design is based on the Bellbird School logo with birds and handprints.
Grand Arcade
The trail continues to the Grand Arcade. The next six Mini-Moos are in three pairs, on the first and second floors of the Grand Arcade and in the Central Library.
From Downing Street I walk along Regent Street past John Lewis.
I enter the Grand Arcade here and go up the escalator.
Mini-Moos 14 and 15
Mini-Moos 14 and 15 are in a pen on the first floor outside Starbucks.
Mini-Moo 14 “Gerty”
Mini-Moo 14 is decorated with coloured leaves.
Mini-Moo 15 “The Barrington Peacow”
Mini-Moo 15’s design is inspired by a peacock tail.
Mini-Moos 16 and 17
Mini-Moos 16 and 17 are in a pen on the second floor outside Castle Fine Art.
Mini-Moo 16 “Captain Moovel”
Mini-Moo 16 is decorated with bees and endangered species.
Mini-Moo 17 “Ms Mary Moo”
Mini-Moo 17 is decorated with symbols depicting creative school subjects.
Mini-Moos 18 and 19
Mini-Moos 18 and 19 are in the Central Library two floors up from the entrance, i.e. at third floor level.
Mini-Moo 18 “St Matthew’s Meadows”
Mini-Moo 18 is decorated with flowers.
Mini-Moo 19 “The Grove Com-moo-nity Cow”
Mini-Moo 19’s design is a celebration of nature and local landmarks.
Kings Parade
The trail continues to Kings Parade.
From the Central Library I leave Lion Yard via the exit by the Chapel of St John Fisher.
While on the subject of cows, Honest Burgers used to be a pub called the Red Cow.
The Corn Exchange is now an entertainment venue. It was closed and being converted into its current form while I was a student in the mid-1980s.
Zizzi in Bene’t Street was my bank (Barclays) as a student. It remained a bank into the 2000s.
Mini-Moo 20 “Wassily Cow-dinsky”
Mini-Moo 20 is in the window of the Cambridge Chop House, on the corner of Bene’t Street and Kings Parade.
It’s decorated with an artistic pattern of irregular concentric circles within squares.
Market Street
The next Mini-Moo is in Market Street. I return along Bene’t Street and Peas Hill to the Market Square.
The Bath House in Mill Road was originally a place where you could go to have a bath. Presumably at one time this Bath House was too.
I’m now walking around the Market Square to Market Street.
Mini-Moo 21 “Lazy Cow”
Mini-Moo 21 is in the left window of the Market Street entrance to TK Maxx, partially obscured by a notice about wearing masks. Approaching from the left I walk into the store without spotting it, and as it can’t be seen from inside I end up asking where it is at the checkout. I’ll be glad when we don’t need to wear masks in shops anymore!
TK Maxx used to be Borders bookshop, and before that part of Eaden Lilley.
Its design depicts a punt on the river. I wonder if it’s named in honour of Doreen Lazy.
Trinity Street
The next six Mini-Moos are all in shop windows in Trinity Street.
I return past the Market Square and carry on to Senate House Hill.
Outside the Senate House I turn right into Trinity Street.
Mini-Moo 22 “OaTiE”
Mini-Moo 22 is in the window of Jacks. Although I was able to go in and photograph its right side, other items in the window display partially obstruct the view.
This side is decorated with coloured happy figures, and its right side shows shadow figures holding hands.
Mini-Moos 23-25
These are all in the windows of Jigsaw. Number 24 is partially in the shade here but can’t be seen clearly from inside, so its close-up picture was taken on a return visit.
Mini-Moo 23 “MeMoo”
Mini-Moo 23 depicts the theme “What we love about Little Paxton”.
Mini-Moo 24 “Studio-moo-dio”
Mini-Moo 24’s design represents the diverse students and cultures welcomed at the Studio Cambridge language school.
Mini-Moo 25 “And So The Flower Will Bloom Again”
Mini-Moo 25 is decorated with flowers, rainbows and butterflies.
Mini-Moos 26-27
Mini-Moos 26 and 27 are in the window of Heffers, Blackwell’s or whatever it’s decided to call itself these days – not obvious from the current state of the shop fascia.
Mini-Moo 26 “Meadow Moo”
Mini-Moo 26 has an English meadow theme.
Mini-Moo 27 “Downham Feoffees Primary Academy”
Mini-Moo 27 is covered in rainbow-coloured handprints.
Museum of Cambridge
From Trinity Street, the Mini-Moos trail continues to the Museum of Cambridge in Castle Street, past some more quintessential Cambridge scenery. For some more photos of this area see the Large Cows Trail.
I walk along Trinity Street towards St John’s Street.
Along St John’s Street to Bridge Street.
Past the Round Church heritage centre.
I’m approaching Magdalene Bridge.
A typical view of punting from the bridge looking back towards Quayside.
I carry on over the bridge.
A view further up Bridge Street. The museum can just be seen on the far right.
I cross Northampton Street to the museum.
Mini-Moo 28 “Philippa”
Mini-Moo 28 is outside the museum, reached through the side gate that can be seen in the previous picture.
It depicts a rocking-horse race across a night sky.
Burleigh Street
The next two Mini-Moos on the trail are in Primark in Burleigh Street.
I return along Bridge Street as far as Magdalene Bridge.
The most direct route from there to Burleigh Street is along Jesus Lane, Short Street, New Square and Fitzroy Street, but as I want to re-photograph Large Cow 24 on Quayside and stop for lunch, I walk the route shown on the map to Fitzroy Street via Quayside, Park Street, Jesus Green, Midsummer Common and Fair Street.
From Quayside I walk to Jesus Green along Park Street.
At Jesus Green I take the path along Jesus Ditch.
Where the paths cross I take the one that continues beside Jesus Ditch to Victoria Avenue.
After crossing Victoria Avenue I walk across Midsummer Common to Maids Causeway, then cross over to Fair Street.
On Fair Street, the Hopbine pub, which closed in 2019, has become a squat.
From Fair Street I walk up Fitzroy Street towards the Grafton Centre.
Primark is on the south corner of Burleigh Street near the Grafton Centre entrance. It was a temporary John Lewis store while the Grand Arcade area including the current John Lewis store was being redeveloped.
Mini-Moos 29 and 30
Mini-Moos 29 and 30 are in a closed window display in Primark, so I can only photograph them through the glass.
Mini-Moo 29 “McFlurry the Fen Cow”
Mini-Moo 29’s design reflects the Fens, with corn, trees and flowers.
Mini-Moo 30 “Dandelion Eco-Cow”
Mini-Moo 30 is decorated with flora and fauna designs by young children.
Grafton Centre
The next ten Mini-Moos are all located inside the Grafton Centre, in two groups.
I return from Burleigh Street to the Grafton Centre.
Since I did the Grafton Centre and Kite Area walk on 5th July, the Grafton Centre has really come back to life! Then it was gloomy and deadly quiet; now it’s full of people and voices, with music playing over the tannoy, and even hoardings around one of the vacant units announcing a new Ted Baker store opening soon. It seems a lot of people have had enough of lockdown and are out shopping. Today I get to sit in Costa Coffee, whereas yesterday on the Large Cows Trail, later in the afternoon, they would only sell me a coffee in a paper cup to take way.
Mini-Moos 31 to 36
Mini-Moos 31 to 36 are in a pen on the Grafton Centre concourse.
Mini-Moo 31 “Cowmeo”
Mini-Moo 31’s design is a representation of the film making process.
Mini-Moo 32 “Mooving Towards a Green Future”
Mini-Moo 32 is covered in single-use plastic packaging for crisps and biscuits.
Mini-Moo 33 “Unity”
Mini-Moo 33 is decorated with “Welcome” in various languages, illustrated in their flag colours.
Mini-Moo 34 “MOOzy ‘because cows do a little bit of mooing'”
Mini-Moo 34 is decorated with children’s illustrations of Histon and wearing wellington boots.
Mini-Moo 35 “Commoonity Cow”
Mini-Moo 35 is decorated with ‘Zentangle’ images.
Mini-Moo 36 “Starry Starry Moo”
Mini-Moo 36 has a design based on landscapes of Cambridge at night.
Mini-Moos 37 to 40
Mini-Moos 37 to 40 are in the window display of a closed shop unit referred to as “Heard by the Herd Cow-Munity Project” in the Cows About Cambridge leaflet. The shop’s other window contains Large Cows 42-44 and Trash Mini-Moo, which aren’t part of the trails.
When I took these photos I hoped to be able to return at a time when the shop was open to take better ones from inside; however the Grafton Centre security guards told me it doesn’t open. A few specific events may have taken place here.
Mini-Moo 37 “Psychedelic Moo”
Mini-Moo 37 has a vibrant, psychedelic design.
Mini-Moo 38 “Moonet Picowso”
Mini-Moo 38 contains various artistic design ideas stitched together.
Mini-Moo 39 “Ermine-trude”
Mini-Moo 39’s design represents a dragon with wings and school uniform.
Mini-Moo 40 “Through God’s Grace, Growing in Knowledge and Understanding”
Mini-Moo 40 is decorated with St Laurence Catholic Primary School’s logo of a gold cross on a grid, with photos of students learning in the grid squares.
Mill Road
The trail continues to Mill Road, the location of the next Mini-Moo.
I leave the Grafton Centre via the East Road entrance and head south past Anglia Ruskin University and the Zion Baptist Church.
From East Road I cut across Petersfield to Mill Road.
Since I did the Mill Road walk in June, the railway bridge has reopened to traffic and all the red-and-white barriers have been removed.
Mini-Moo 41 “Vegan Geometry”
Mini-Moo 41 is in the window of the Vanderlyle Restaurant. At the moment the restaurant frontage (which I haven’t photographed) doesn’t bear its name, only the faint remains of a former “Barney’s” shop sign.
It has a design on the theme of veganism, sustainability and decorative impact.
Cambridge Museum of Technology
Like the Large Cows Trail, the Mini-Moos Trail has a long ‘tail’ to the end, some distance from Mill Road.
The last four Mini-Moos are outside the Museum of Technology on Riverside. For this part of the trail I’ve chosen a route via Mill Road Cemetery, St Matthew’s Street, New Street and Newmarket Road. The route via Abbey Road and along Riverside is more scenic, but I included that in the Large Cows Trail.
Along the avenue leading from Mill Road to the cemetery lodge, the trees have all been pruned back since I photographed them on the Mill Road walk.
I walk through the cemetery to Norfolk Street along the path on its west side alongside Anglia Ruskin University.
I’ve exited the cemetery via the north entrance opposite the Norfolk Street shops, and walk up St Matthew’s Street to New Street.
This new building on the south side of New Street has unusually shaped chimneys.
By contrast, on the north side, Mackay’s Engineering looks authentically old and industrial.
Further along New Street is another variation on the Victorian-style terrace theme – No chimneys! I could compile a walking trail called “Cambridge Victorian-style new-builds and their quirks”. Round window, arched window, bricked-up window, Juliet balcony, mock corner shop, chimneys on door side, you name it…
Across the allotments, new blocks of flats built along Newmarket Road can be seen.
On Coldham’s Lane at the end of New Street, these two buildings are among the last relics of the former Coral Park industrial estate that was redeveloped as the Retail Park. Judging by the metal fencing, weeds and apparent emptiness, I imagine they won’t be here for much longer.
What used to be West’s Garage and Renault showroom has been redeveloped as flats.
Here I was intending to walk down to Riverside along River Lane, between the flats shown above and the Corner House pub. But the first pelican crossing this side of Coldham’s Lane is at the Retail Park entrance, so I cross Newmarket Road there and walk along to Cheddar’s Lane beside the Wrestler’s.
From Cheddar’s Lane I walk along the foot/cycle path beside Tesco to Riverside.
From here it’s a short walk along Riverside to the museum. The museum, unlike the cafe in the Engineer’s House, isn’t open, but the Mini-Moos are visible outside.
Mini-Moos 42-45
Mini-Moos 42-45 are all in the garden beside the museum.
Mini-Moo 42 “Cherry”
Mini-Moo 42’s design represents the colours and values of Coleville Primary School, in Cherry Hinton hence its name.
Mini-Moo 43 “Sabrina”
Mini-Moo 43’s design represents Trumpington Community College and comments about it.
Mini-Moo 44 “Neon Cow”
Mini-Moo 44 is decorated with brightly coloured acrylic paints and varnished.
Mini-Moo 45 “Flower”
Mini-Moo 45 is decorated with trees, bees and flowers.
Home from Cambridge Museum of Technology
Rather than repeating the route Home across Coldham’s Common that I walked yesterday in the Large Cows Trail, today I’ll return to Coldham’s Lane from Riverside via Stanley Road and the Retail Park.
Opposite the end of Stanley Road, several blocks of flats have been built on what used to be the Philips/Simoco site in Chesterton.
I walk up Stanley Road past where I used to live from 1993-2002.
I’ve crossed Newmarket Road by Stanley Road and entered the retail park to walk along to Coldham’s Lane in front of the stores. The Newmarket Road Retail Park and Beehive area is potentially a location for another “Time Capsule” walk – this sort of area tends to change a lot from one decade to the next.
I’ve crossed Coldham’s Lane and am about to go over the foot/cycle bridge whose entrance is just visible on the far left.
Bonus Cows
Today the cows grazing on Coldham’s Common are gathered by the pelican crossing at the end of Cromwell Road.
They’re following me home alongside the road – perhaps I’ve been “Heard by the Herd”! Their progress from here is blocked by the recreation ground, so perhaps I’d better get a move on before they realise that if they were determined they could jump those railings.
I’ve left the cows behind now.
On crossing Brookfields I almost walk into this. Having completed both cow trails I’ll try to get home intact.
On the home straight now…
Back Home. It’s around 4:30 p.m. and the complete Mini-Moos Trail walk has taken me about 6.5 hours.
