Camping in Three Holes

The flat, open farmland around Three Holes is classic Fenland: big skies, dead-straight droves and quiet back roads, but it is also intensively farmed, privately owned and criss-crossed by drains and pumping stations, so wild camping here is not an option - as across England, it is illegal without the landowner's explicit permission, and there is little truly open access land in this part of the Fens in any case. Anyone wanting to camp near Three Holes should look to established campsites and small farm-based sites in the surrounding villages and market towns, several of which welcome tents, campervans and touring caravans and make good bases for exploring the Middle Level waterways, Welney Wetland Centre and Wisbech.

The terrain itself is entirely flat, low-lying and criss-crossed by drainage channels, so pitches tend to be level and easy, though the ground can be soft and prone to standing water after heavy rain given how much of the surrounding land relies on active pumping to stay dry. Late spring through to early autumn is the most reliable window for camping in this part of the Fens, when the ground is firmer and the long summer evenings suit the wide-open landscape, while the exposed, breezy nature of the Fens means shelter and decent kit matter more here than in more sheltered parts of the country. Winter camping is a harder sell given the wet ground and short days, though it does coincide with the spectacular gathering of wintering swans and wildfowl on the Ouse Washes near Welney.

For those who prefer a roof without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping options such as shepherd's huts, pods and static caravans can be found scattered across the wider Fenland countryside around Wisbech, Upwell and Outwell, offering a comfortable way to enjoy the area's waterways, birdlife and vast horizons without pitching a tent on ground that's often wetter than it looks.