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Cuckoo Fen Campsite

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· Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England

3 acres hosted by Tim F.

Classic camping in Cambridgeshire fenland with simple facilities and natural surroundings

Pitch a tent at Cuckoo Fen Campsite and you’ve a good chance of spotting marsh harriers soaring high overhead. It’s a lovely sight but imagine for a moment what they can see. They’ll see beyond the hedgerows that shelter this three-acre site to miles of farmland and fens. They’ll spy the reeds and waterways of the neighbouring nature reserve and, not much further away, kayaks and canoes on the Great Ouse River. The village of Over with its lively pub garden is just down the lane and, in the distance, there’s an outline of Cambridge rooftops.

This is a rural site but there’s a surprising amount within walking distance and even more within cycling distance. Situated on the very outskirts of Over, it’s a new pop-up site (opened in 2020) with a classic feel. It’s tents and campervans only; all off grid with no designated pitches. It follows in the footsteps of a traditional farm campsite; set up with simple facilities in a field that’s usually grazed by cows but it has infinitely more charm than that suggests. There are butler sinks to wash-up in and handcrafted timber cabins for immaculately clean compost loos and hot water showers. It’s all been put together by Tim and Emma, who live on site for the duration of their season. As committed campers themselves, they know what makes a good campsite and have got this one just right for the kind of campers who like to pitch their own tents, light their own campfires and make their own entertainment. There’s no playground for the kids but there is a stack of hay bales; no music allowed but the sound of the wind in the trees of the small on-site woodland. You’ll want to bring bikes if you’ve got them and, if you’re inclined, a kayak, canoe or paddleboard for a day on the river. There’s a public slipway into the Great Ouse less than a mile away. If that sounds too much like hard work, head in to Cambridge and let someone else do the punting. An evening walk as the sun goes down over the reedbeds of RSPB Ouse Fen is as much of a must as a pint in the sunny beer garden of The Admiral Vernon; the simple summer pleasures of a simple summer campsite

Activities

Biking

Boating

Fishing

Hiking

Natural features

Field

Farm

Not currently accepting bookings on Hipcamp

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17 Ratings · 15 reviews

Brendan B.recommends

August 18, 2022

Grass Pitch (tents only)

Return to camping.

Beautiful site with excellent amenities. Tim was very welcoming and all the information and signage very clear.

Robert P.recommends

August 9, 2022

Grass Pitch (tents only)

Gorgeous site.

Gorgeous campsite. Very wild, lots of fabulous wildlife (badgers, deer, peregrine falcon, rabbits, endless dragonflies). Felt spacious even when full. First time using composting toilets; they were clean and far more pleasant than many "normal" toilets. Showers were great. Tim was very welcoming and can offer plenty of guidance about the local area. Already looking at booking again.

Na T.recommends

August 7, 2022

Grass Pitch (tents only)

Wonderful.

One of the best sites we've been to in a long while. The facilities are immaculately clean and the water is hot. It's peaceful and quiet with the only sound coming from the local wildlife. There are two shops close by and a lovely micro pub in the village of Willingham; as well as a quality butcher. There's a little honesty shop with crisps and snacks. We took advantage of the opportunity to book a canoe trip on the Great Ouse. This was really fun as the river is nice and gentle and the scenery was wonderful. You choose where to camp and there is plenty if room. Tim is a lovely host.

Liz D.recommends

July 12, 2022

Grass Pitch (campervans or tents)

Really comfortable good site. Showers fantastic. Perfect for ourv2 night stay

Simon D.recommends

July 10, 2022

Grass Pitch (tents only)

Hi. Fantastic campsite. Small and simple but beautiful and facilities were great. Had a lovely day kayaking and swimming in the river nearby. Highly recommend.

Jayne T.recommends

June 16, 2022

Grass Pitch (campervans or tents)

So much birdsong!

This is such a lovely spot - so tranquil and serene. Cute little welcoming tent on entry, and really nicely-kept facilities. Perfect for anyone looking to recharge and/or explore the local countryside.

Location

Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Tim F.Joined in February 2021

From the host

Our three-acre campsite, newly opened in 2020, is a serene spot for lazing away while watching and hearing the fledglings in the surrounding hedgerows. Many more birds are in the vicinity too, as the site’s a 5 minute walk from the nesting bitterns, marsh harriers, bearded tits and more of the RSPB Ouse Fen nature reserve, the UK's largest reedbed creation project. With a back-to-basics ethos, our eco-friendly site is proud of having low-impact facilities. At Cuckoo Fen, though, We don't use the 'eco' as an excuse to cut corners on comfort. Our "surprisingly excellent" facilities are kept spotlessly clean with piping hot water always on tap in our showers and washing up sinks, and our low-impact compost toilets are as clean and fresh as any of their contemporary water-guzzling cousins. A short walk (15 minutes) leads to the village of Over with its local pub, well-stocked shop and other amenities, and the park is also half a mile from a public slipway on the River Great Ouse for launching canoes if you fancy wending your way around the local waterways.

Nearby attractions

Cuckoo Fen is less than a mile from a slipway into the Great Ouse river where you can paddleboard, canoe or kayak. It’s also less than a mile (about a 10-minute walk) into the village of Over and just a five-minute walk from RSPB Ouse Fen. There’s another RSPB Reserve four miles away too, RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes. Cambridge is about 14 miles away, a drive of around 25 minutes. An alternative way to get there is to travel on the unusual Cambridge Busway; a re-purposed railway track that's now used only by buses or alongside it on a leafy and traffic-free cycle route that, like everywhere around here, is extremely flat and makes for pleasant pedalling.

Food and drink

The closest pub is the lively village local, The Admiral Vernon (01954 232357) a ten-minute walk from the campsite. There’s also a shop in the village for supplies but, for meat, buy direct from the farm, by pre-ordering (01954 232796). For a longer walk (or a short drive), head for Willingham, two miles from Cuckoo Fen Campsite, where you can try one of the famous pies on the menu at the Duke of Wellington (01954 261622), the pizzas at The Porterhouse (01954 488080) or the craft beers on offer at micro-brewery, The Bank. A similar distance in the other direction takes you to Swavesey and its White Horse pub (01954 231665). The Three Tuns (01954 230242) at Fen Drayton (four miles away), is also recommended.

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