Camping in Wisbech St Mary

The flat, open expanse around Wisbech St Mary is classic Fenland camping country: big skies, dead-straight droves and a horizon that barely dips, with the Nene Washes close by for early-morning birdwatching from your tent flap. As everywhere in England, wild camping is not permitted without the landowner's explicit permission, so plan on a proper site rather than pitching on the verge of a drove or the bank of a wash, however tempting the space looks. The reward for booking ahead is a genuinely peaceful stay; this is one of the quietest, darkest corners of Cambridgeshire, well away from major towns and light pollution, which makes for excellent stargazing on a clear night.

Because the land is almost perfectly flat and largely arable, campsites in the immediate area tend to be small, family-run affairs on working farms rather than large commercial parks, and pitches are usually well drained even after wet weather thanks to the Fens' extensive drainage network. Facilities can be simple, so it is worth checking what is included, whether that is electric hook-up, showers or a farm shop, before you book. The lack of hills also makes the area ideal for those touring by bike or towing a caravan, since routes in and out of most sites are level and straightforward.

Late spring through to early autumn is the most comfortable season, when the surrounding arable land is at its most colourful and the long Fenland evenings make the most of the flat horizon at sunset. Outside those months, the exposed landscape means wind rather than cold is usually the main consideration, so a sheltered pitch or a site with windbreaks is worth seeking out. For those who prefer a roof over their head without leaving the landscape behind, glamping options such as shepherd's huts, pods and static caravans have sprung up on farms across the wider Fenland area, offering an easier way to experience the same wide-open scenery and dark skies without the packing and unpacking of a full camping kit.