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More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Cambridgeshire is not short of places to shop. However, one retail village on the outskirts of Ely stands out for being unlike anything else in the county. Ben's Yard is located on the Stuntney Estate and is described by its website as "the perfect place to pause and recharge".
It offers visitors a restaurant, café, adventure playground, wildlife trails and a plethora of independent shops. I'd heard of it, but had never actually been before. So I decided to check it out for myself to see if it lived up to the hype.
Read more: 33-hour heat health alert issued for Cambridgeshire as Met Office forecasts highs of 28C Read more: Duxford Air Show leaves skies glowing with spectacular plane and firework display It is described on its website as "a must-visit attraction" and "the perfect place to pause and recharge" (Image: CambridgeshireLive) When I arrived, the car park was already filling up, with very few spaces available, so it became clear to me that this was a popular stopping point. I wasn't too sure what to expect when I walked into the village, but it was definitely a lot smaller than I had imagined. That didn't matter though as from what I saw, it had a very clean, modern and welcoming appearance, with each building pleasing on the eye and the range of trees and plants adding to the atmosphere.
The first thing I did was walk around to see what kind of shops were on offer. Even though the car park was busy when I arrived, it was actually relatively quite in the village, with not too many people outside and presumably in either the café, restaurant or going on one of the walking trails. Ben's Yard is open from 9am to 5pm Monday-Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays (Image: CambridgeshireLive) Shops include gift shop (Freda & Bert), A clothing store (Something About Rose), A salon (The Hair Company), A furniture store (Arlo & Jacob), A florist (Thatch & Roses), and many more.
You're definitely spoilt for choice with the amount of products you could buy, with the website describing it as "a unique blend of boutique shopping, wellness and food experiences." I took a brief detour from the village to check out some of the walking route that were dotted around the area. This involved going around the Wildflower Trails and reservoir, providing plenty of beautiful natural surroundings and a chance to enjoy the calmness of the countryside.
As it was such a nice day, I took the full scenic route and it made for a very relaxing and peaceful walk. The playground is particularly well-known for its design being inspired by Ely Cathedral (Image: CambridgeshireLive) Once I got back, I set my sights on one of the key highlights of Ben's Yard, which was it's Ely Cathedral-themed Adventure playground. Obviously, I didn't go on any of the slides or swings (that would have looked a bit strange), but I thought the design was very impressive and incredibly faithful to the city's historic landmark.
I stopped for a quick break for lunch at the on-site cafe Amelie Cafe and Bakeshop, before having one last look around Freda & Bert gift shop to see what products they had on offer. I also sat on the benches outside to take in my surroundings, before deciding to make my way out of the village. Overall, I was definitely able to see why Ben's Yard was so popular among visitors.
With a pleasant atmosphere, wonderful shops and plenty of things to see and do, it is definitely a place I would recommend to anyone who lives nearby and one that I would be happy to return to in the future. Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Peterborough, Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in.
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