Cambridge Bumps. Parking/viewing?

[JeanBrodie64]

My nephew is rowing in the bumps this week. I am in the area this weekend and offered to watch as my sister is abroad and sad to miss it!

would it be possible to park in Cambridge north train station and walk along the river to view? Or would it be better to park in the city centre and get a taxi somewhere?

is there a better side of the river to be/to watch?

from what I understand the race isn’t that long but I don’t want to be hanging around aimlessly

thanks for any advice.

One option is to park and view from the Plough https://www.theploughfenditton.co.uk/#/ you’ll be on the opposite bank to where the boats start and the general chows of people/bikes on the tow path, but a good view of races passing.

Or yes, park somewhere in Chesterton/station area and walk down the tow path. That way you can get right up to the crews as they wait to start. Keep your wits about you while racing is on - the crews’ bank parties (often on bikes) have their eyes on the water and not on pedestrians in my experience! Have fun and good luck to your nephew.

There's a pub on the river in Fulbourn/Six Mile Bottom (wonderful name for a place 🤣🤣) where DH and I watched DD as she took part in it a couple of years ago. I'm trying to remember what it was called (perhaps it was The Plough as mentioned upthread?).

It was fine and had a good car park with a nice garden along the Cam

Dress up warmly though wherever you decide to watch from. It was the March bumps we were watching and it was very cold. We enjoyed it and it was great fun to watch, though we were relieved afterwards to dive into the pub for a creamy hot chocolate to warm up with before driving into Cambridge to chat with DD. 🤣

So jealous - its a great fun thing to watch. I've only ever been to June bumps, and ended up at the Plough but walked up and down a lot on the other side. There was a boat that you could take across to get to the other side, but guess that might be summer only. Wear comfy shoes - we walked a massive amount. The first time I went DC made a guesstimate as to where they thought they might bump, and so we went there - and saw the bump as predicted. Never managed to repeat that! DC not involved this year, as trialling, which is something else again...

It would be useful to learn from your nephew roughly where they will be starting their race - there’s no guarantee they will reach any particular viewing point due to the nature of the races: they have to stop as soon as they are bumped! I know from (distant) experience thus can happen right out in the boondocks where very few people are watching!

In case you haven't discovered it yet, there is lots of useful info here:
https://www.cucbc.org/bumps

And you'll need the start order, which you can find here
https://www.cucbc.org/lents

Then these is this page - https://bumps.camfm.co.uk/
click on the Division you're interested in, and you'll see how they've done so far. Recommend you print out so you can follow who is who as they pass.

Enjoy!

Always go by the Plough in Fen Ditton though always for the May Bumps. Can watch from either side.

Thanks everyone for replying. Looks like the plough it is then
fingers crossed he bumps!