Hobson's Conduit Monument

A modest stone monument marking where Cambridge's water supply actually came from - that's Hobson's Conduit, and it's the sort of thing you walk past without realising it's quietly important. Built in the early 1600s, this marks the end point of an ingenious engineering project that piped fresh water into the city from springs nine miles away. The monument itself is fairly understated, which feels appropriate for a Jacobean-era infrastructure project.

Why bother with it? Well, if you're interested in how cities actually functioned before Victorian engineering took over, this tells a real story. The conduit was the brainchild of Thomas Hobson - yes, the same chap the phrase "Hobson's choice" supposedly came from - and locals still call the monument by his name. It's free to view and takes roughly five minutes, though you might spend longer reading the inscriptions if you're the type who enjoys old lettering.

The location is east of Cambridge, making it a convenient spot to include in a walking route rather than a destination in itself. If you're camping at Cherry Hinton or the Camping and Caravanning Club site - both within a couple of miles - it's worth a brief detour on an afternoon stroll. History buffs will appreciate the engineering backstory; everyone else will probably be satisfied with a photo and then pressing on to somewhere with more immediate visual appeal. Don't expect queues or facilities. It's just a monument and some space around it.