Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire – Nature Reserve on the Fen Rivers Way

Open Wetland, Boardwalk Paths, and Wide Fenland Skies

Wicken Fen is a lowland wetland landscape in Cambridgeshire on the Fen Rivers Way, managed as a nature reserve by the National Trust. Set between Cambridge and Ely, routes cross grassland, reedbed, and drainage channels, forming one of the last remaining areas of undrained fen in eastern England.

The reserve is arranged around a network of boardwalks, gravel tracks, and field paths leading out from the visitor centre and car park. Paths run across open fen and along waterways, allowing continuous walking through flat, exposed terrain shaped by water levels and big skies.

Wicken Fen has limited but useful facilities for walkers. There is a visitor centre with toilets and refreshments near the entrance, with additional services and accommodation available in nearby villages and towns including Soham and Ely. This makes it a practical short stop rather than a full service base.

Beyond Wicken Fen, the Fen Rivers Way continues north toward Ely across open farmland and riverside ground or south toward Cambridge along the River Cam. The terrain remains flat and open, with firm tracks and long views across fields, reeds, and waterways.