Camping in Outwell

Outwell sits deep in the Cambridgeshire and Norfolk Fens, a landscape of drained marshland, drove roads and long waterways that feels a world away from Britain’s hillier camping country — but that flat, open character has its own quiet appeal for campers who enjoy big skies and reed-fringed water. As with anywhere in England, wild camping without the landowner’s permission is not legal here, so a proper site is the way to go, and the fen countryside around Outwell has a scattering of caravan and camping sites, many taking advantage of the network of drainage channels and rivers for coarse fishing and mooring alongside pitches.

The terrain is famously level, which makes the area easy going for cyclists and walkers moving between sites, though it also means there is little natural shelter from wind sweeping in off the fens, so a sturdy tent and decent pegs are worth having for anything other than the calmest summer weekends. Spring through early autumn tends to be the most comfortable season for camping here, with the ground drier underfoot and long evening light over the fields; the depths of winter can bring standing water and biting fen winds, though it is also when the Ouse Washes and nearby Welney Wetland Centre are at their most spectacular for wildlife watching, drawing tens of thousands of wintering swans and wildfowl within easy reach of the village.

For those who prefer a roof over their heads without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping options in the wider Fenland area range from static caravans to more characterful conversions, including at least one former pub in the district now let out as a group stay. Combined with the flat cycling country, the birdlife of the Ouse Washes, and the quiet waterside walking along Well Creek itself, Outwell and its surrounding villages make a peaceful, low-cost base for a Fenland camping trip, provided you come prepared for open, exposed ground rather than sheltered woodland pitches.