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Cuckoo Fen Campsite

100%

· 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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Reviews

100% Recommend17 Ratings · 15 reviews

Recommends

· August 2022

Return to camping.

Grass Pitch (tents only)

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

Brendan B.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2022

Gorgeous site.

With kids ·

Grass Pitch (tents only)

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.

Robert P.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2022

Wonderful.

Grass Pitch (tents only)

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.

Na T.

7 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2022

13 ft Class B ·

Grass Pitch (campervans or tents)

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

Liz D.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2022

Tent · With pets ·

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.

Simon D.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2022

So much birdsong!

9 ft car ·

Grass Pitch (campervans or tents)

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.

Jayne T.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2022

Grass Pitch (tents only)

We were the only campers (apart from the owners) and it was very quiet - easy bike ride into St Ives for coffee. Nice facilities and the family were all very friendly. Happy to stay here again

Gemma C.

5 years on Hipcamp

April 2022

We had an amazing stay at Cuckoo Fen Campsite. The setting is perfect, surrounded by nature, The facilities (toilets and showers and washing-up area) are fantastic too!

Keithshadbolt B.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2021

Grass Pitch (tents only)

Really enjoyed camping at cuckoo Fen..actually looked forward to showers and earth closets were clean and well organised...the site allows everyone plenty of space and the natural features; wooded area, hay play bales, wooden log etc were great for the kids. Friendly, relaxed and welcoming. Listening to the owls at dusk was a treat.

Mel C.

4 years on Hipcamp

August 2021

Absolutly adored this site so tranquil and the compost toilets and showers were amazing. Everything was so well done and so well thought out. Definetly will be using again.

Lucy W.

4 years on Hipcamp

August 2021

Excellent campsite to just rock up and put up your tent. Small but very relaxing with an entertaining tour available in the next door nature reserve.. very good place for kids and perfect amenities.. sociable owners with kids nicely integrating and going around.. very relaxed and recommended..

Yno W.

5 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2021

Grass Pitch (campervans or tents)

You can tell this site is owned and run by people who camp. Everything has been thought through so well. The little woodland area at the edge of the campsite was perfect for children to explore and they loved climbing and playing on the hay bales. Toilets were kept immaculately clean and the showers were some of the best we have ever experienced on a campsite! Pizza on Friday night and a coffee van with coffee and fresh croissants on Saturday morning were both very welcome without being intrusive. Thank you for a fantastic stay.

Emma H.

6 years on Hipcamp

July 2021

I loved that the campsite is not overbooked. The facilities were immaculate and very Covid secure. The owner was really friendly.

Sarah W.

4 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2021

Grass Pitch (campervans or tents)

This was my second time at Cuckoo Fen campsite. Last year my wife and I stayed in our campervan and used the site as a base to explore the area on our bikes. This time I came on my own as part of a cycle camping break. The site is ideal placed for exploring the area. There are walks and good cycle paths, especially next to the guided busway, so Cambridge and Huntingdon are easy to get to. The facilities are kept very clean, the showers are amazing and everything is constructed with the minimum of environmental impact. The owners are friendly and welcoming. I hope they will be able to get the necessary permissions to open throughout the year soon. I shall definitely be back.

Jan D.

4 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2021

Grass Pitch (tents only)

Look no further! What wonderful owners! We only booked for a night as a trial for our three year old (not knowing how she’ll sleep etc). So to make the most of it we arrived quite early, before lunch. Very easy to find. The owner let us set up anywhere we liked. The perfect spot is everything right?! We’ve been to sites where they allocate you a spot and it’s never what you’d choose so this was a great start. There was lots of room and having to keep at least 6 meters from others gave a lot of privacy and personal space. Perfect! Everything was minimal, just a couple of showers, sinks for washing up and three toilets. It isn’t one of those luxurious places. But who would look for luxury when coming to connect with the nature, right? Nevertheless everything is clean, toilets being compost doesn’t smell at all. It’s just a simple clean place that allows you to relax to the max. The next day we asked the owner when should we leave by and he wasn’t bothered at all. Most places want you out by certain time and it’s a lot of packing to do to leave by “10am”.. we took our time, BBQed our lunch and left in our own time. But we didn’t leave for long!! Will definitely be coming back this year again!!! If you’re looking to relax and nothing else but relax - look no more. Cannot recommend enough! Thank you.

Inga ?.

4 years on Hipcamp

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.

Cuckoo Fen Campsite

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Reviews

Location

Hosted by Tim F.

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