WALK: East of England - Wicken Fen

Walk summary

This 4.8 mile walk will explore Adventurer's Fen - part of wider Wicken Fen Nature Reserve. It's a flat walk at a gentle pace with time for a break part way through the route and an optional visit to the National Trust cafe at the end.

This event is for plus size people only to create a safe and inclusive space. We do not set a size restriction on this, but if you are smaller than a size 18 we would ask you to consider if there might be other groups that you could attend.

Route description

Wicken Fen is a 254.5-hectare (629-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Cambridgeshire. The reserve includes fenland, farmland, marsh, and reedbeds. Wicken Fen is one of only four wild fens which still survive in the enormous Great Fen Basin area of East Anglia, where 99.9% of the former fens have now been replaced by arable cultivation.

Our 4.8 mile walk around Wicken Fen will start out from the car park and visitor's centre. It's a flat walk with the only incline being a few metres onto or off the banks of the waterways. Our route will follow a gravel path alongside Wicken Lode and Monks Lode, before heading across Adventurer's Fen where there's a high chance of seeing konik ponies and grazing cattle from our route. To protect the livestock the walking route is mostly kept separate from the grazing herds with a small section we'll need to cross with options either via cattle grids or a series of gates. Just before we reach Burwell Lode, about 2 miles into the walk, we'll stop for lunch in the picnic area.

From here our path is mostly grass and we'll follow Burwell Lode back to its confluence with Wicken Lode. A lode is stretch of human-made waterway that connects a village with a major river - on this route we'll be seeing these channels that ultimately connect the villages of Wicken, Burwell and Reach with the River Ouse. Finally we'll follow Wicken Lode back to towards the village and finish at the visitor's centre and cafe. 

Link to the Komoot route: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1336909356?ref=wtd&share_token=avxM4QEKzblIbVssHxgpzoYIJAMUgJopVLmWQjE0mZJUUw3ccN

More info

• We will meet in the National Trust Wicken Fen car park. Parking is £3.20 for the whole day or free for National Trust members with your card. A lift from Ely train station may be possible (please contact us if this is something you might need). 

• There is a toilet block at the start and end of the walk. There is a female gendered toilet with 3 cubicles and a male gendered toilet with urinals and 2 cubicles. There is also a non-gendered accessible toilet with its own separate entrance. 

• Dogs are allowed, though must be kept on a lead during the walk due to the protected livestock.

• We will be going at a gentle pace that will work for everyone, and nobody will be left behind. The walk will be led with this in mind and numbers will be capped.

• You should bring all clothing and kit that you need for the weather - including sturdy footwear, a waterproof jacket and warm layers. Even if it is dry, the fen can be very windy and a windproof layer is recommended. 

• Please bring any food or snacks you need for a walk of this length, and plenty of water. There will be a cafe at the beginning/end of the walk. 

• Wicken Fen is a great spot for bird-watching, so feel free to bring some binoculars with you if you'd like. 

About Every Body Outdoors

Every Body Outdoors are fighting for clothing, gear, and representation for larger/plus-size bodies in the outdoors movement in the UK, so Every Body can feel safe and welcome on the hills, trails, lakes, and more. We are working with brands and retailers to improve the availability and fit of plus size outdoors clothing and kit, whilst also providing online and in-person opportunities for our community to gain skills and confidence and meet other plus size outdoors lovers.

We have a code of conduct that we expect all event attendees to adhere to, and you will be asked to agree to this when you register.

The small print
Walking is an outdoor activity that comes with risks. You are responsible for your safety at all times when on an Every Body Outdoors walk.