Walking in Wicken Fen

Boardwalks, Birdsong, and England’s Oldest Wetland Reserve

A landscape of reeds, water, and sky — perfect for peaceful, nature-filled walking.

Wicken Fen is one of the oldest nature reserves in the UK and one of the few surviving fragments of the ancient East Anglian fenlands. Managed by the National Trust, it offers a walking experience like no other — where boardwalks weave through reedbeds, sedge fields, and open water under huge skies alive with birds and breeze.

This is a place for gentle, sensory walking, especially rewarding for wildlife lovers and photographers. The Wicken Fen Nature Trail is a short, accessible loop that takes you deep into the heart of the reserve, while longer trails branch out toward Reach, Soham, and Burwell, connecting fenland villages and countryside.

You can also link Wicken Fen into the Fen Rivers Way or walk from Ely or Cambridge over several days. However you visit, it offers something rare: a chance to walk in one of England’s most unique and fragile landscapes.

Why Walk Here

• Explore the UK’s oldest wetland reserve, full of rare wildlife
• Boardwalks and wide paths ideal for all levels of walker
• Link to nearby villages and riverside paths
• Part of the Fen Rivers Way and broader East Anglia trail network