Four Winds Camping and Canoeing

The River Nene runs along one side of the camping field (fenced with a coded gate) and Four Winds Camping has two moorings from which you can fish (if you have your own rod and licence) and launch paddleboards, kayaks and canoes. Campers are welcome to bring their own or to hire a Canadian-style canoe or single-person kayak from site. Be sure to reserve these in advance by calling 01354 658737. The flat fenland is perfect for cycling and a public footpath runs along the river bank and provides a scenic route into the market town of March (about a mile and a half away) or further out into the fenland. March has shops, pubs and eateries as well as a couple of little museums: the small free-to-enter town museum and Fossils Galore, which charges a small entry fee. The North London Skydiving Centre is about three miles away and, if you don’t fancy it yourself, you can sometimes spot people making the jump from site. You can hop aboard the steam trains of the Nene Valley Railway in Peterborough (11 miles away), visit the mighty Ely Cathedral (20 miles away) or even head to Cambridge for punting and sightseeing (30 miles away). There’s also good birdwatching at RSPB Ouse Washes and Welney Wetland Centre, both around 15 miles from Four Winds Camping.

Campers are well catered for at Four Winds Campsite with an on-demand shop open for snacks, drinks, ice cream, coffees and campfire basics from 8am–8pm. You can also order a cooked breakfast or join a Friday-night barbecue, both made using ingredients from a nearby farm. Hannah and Debs can point you to the award-winning butcher’s shop they use in Market Deeping should you wish to stock up on stuff for your own barbecue. Otherwise, the closest pubs and shops are in March, just a mile-and-a-half away, with more options in Ely. If you’re walking or paddling into March, you might like to try the riverside pub The Acre (01354 656735) for a bite to eat or The Ship, which has its own moorings, for a drink. The Oliver Twist in Guyhirn, four miles away, is popular for Sunday roasts.