Riverside camping in Cambridgeshire
Literary legends and Nobel Prize winners have drawn inspiration from Cambridgeshire’s storied landscapes.
- Cambridgeshire
Popular camping styles for Cambridgeshire
Top river, stream, or creek campsites in cambridgeshire
Riverside camping in Cambridgeshire guide
Overview
The university city of Cambridge is the star attraction of this East England county, brimming with history, culture, and heritage. Outside the city, Cambridgeshire’s rural landscapes and meandering waterways provide an oasis of calm to contrast with the fast-paced student lifestyle. Camping in Cambridgeshire is all about embracing a slower pace of life. Pitch your tent amid miles of open farmlands, enjoy leisurely walks and bike rides around the marshes, or soak up the scenery while punting along the river. May through September provides the best weather for camping, but be sure to book ahead if traveling during student holidays.
Where to go
South Cambridgeshire
Cambridge is top of the to-do for most travelers to South Cambridgeshire. Follow in the footsteps of Sir Isaac Newton and Lord Byron as you admire the Gothic architecture, stroll the riverside parklands, and go punting along the Cam River. Outside the city, sloping chalk hills and rural farmlands provide options for country campers.
Fenland
Patchwork farmlands give way to pancake-flat marshlands north of Cambridge. Enjoy leisurely bike rides or wildlife walks around the Fens, take to the water for a narrowboat cruise, or enjoy fishing along the riverbanks. The market towns of Whittlesey, Chatteris, and Wisbech are the main hubs, and peaceful camping grounds dot the surrounding countryside.
East Cambridgeshire
Horse racing enthusiasts won’t want to miss a visit to Newmarket, the birthplace of thoroughbred horse racing. Nearby, the cathedral city of Ely makes a scenic base from which to explore along the River Great Ouse. Set sail on a boat cruise, pitch your tent at a riverside campsite, or enjoy cycling or horseback riding around the Fens.
Huntingdonshire
Northwest of Cambridge, the market towns of Huntingdon and St Ives lie along the Great River Ouse. This rural region provides plenty of ways to escape the crowds, from fishing and bird-watching at Fen Drayton Lakes to woodland walks in the Hinchingbrooke Country Park. Both towns have a choice of camping sites and caravan parks, and you’re never far from the water.
