A riverside hike through enchanting East Anglia — Fen Rivers Way

The Fen Rivers Way is a long-distance walk that follows the Cam and Great Ouse rivers through the alluring East Anglian fens. Despite its level nature, you can expect many highs on this historic and wildlife-rich riverside ramble.

Starting in the university city of Cambridge, the 51-mile (82 km) route heads northeast alongside the River Cam to Fish and Duck Marina. Here, the trail joins the River Great Ouse and continues northeast along its banks past Ely, Littleport and Downham Market to finish in the old port city of King’s Lynn.

East Anglia is an oft-overlooked destination for hikers. While there are no dizzy summits to conquer, the expansive landscapes and big skies of eastern England afford a real sense of solitude. The area is home to unique flora and fauna as well as countless historical sites.

Highlights along the Way include: Cambridge, a beautiful city brimming with learning, culture and history; Wicken Fen, the National Trust's oldest nature reserve and England's most famous fen; Kingfishers Bridge Nature Reserve, which provides an essential habitat for many endangered species; Ely Cathedral, a magnificent 11th-century place of worship; Roswell Pits, a nature reserve that developed naturally from old clay pits; Denver Sluice, a mighty structure essential to the area’s water management; St Peter’s, an enchanting ruin on the banks of the River Great Ouse; and King's Lynn, which was medieval England’s most important port.

In this Collection, I have split the route into three stages, between 13.6 miles (21.9 km) and 18.8 miles (30.3 km). All hikes finish near accommodation and places to eat and drink.

Owing to the ambitious nature of this itinerary, I have made a suggestion on how to split the first two lengthier hikes, resulting in a much steadier five-stage itinerary. Of course, you can divide the Collection into as many days as you feel comfortable with or walk single stages.

As this is a riverside hike, waterproof boots are essential. Waterproof clothing is recommended all year round and sunscreen is essential in the warmer months. Some stretches do traverse remote countryside, so ensure you have enough food and water on hikes.

In this Collection, I cover the route from south to north, the standard itinerary. However, there is nothing stopping you hiking the other direction. The walk is suitable for all seasons.

Getting to and from the start and finish of the trail is easy as both Cambridge and King’s Lynn have mainline train stations and good transport links.