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  • Fen Drayton Lakes

Fen Drayton Lakes

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Address
RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes, Fen Drayton Road, Cambridge, CB24 4RB
Grid ref
TL352680

Fen Drayton Lakes began life as a flooded sand and gravel quarry next to riverside meadows. Now, a huge variety of wildlife is drawn to the area, including otters, dragonflies, ducks, swans and geese. There's something to see (and hear) all year round.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Open at all times.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free, but donations are very welcome
Children
Free, but donations are very welcome
Car park cost

Free

Facilities

  • No visitor centre
  • Car park
  • Toilets off-site
  • Accessible toilets off-site
  • Pushchair friendly
  • No Refreshments
  • Picnic area
  • Viewing point
  • Nature trails
  • Shop off-site
  • Educational facilities

Accessibility

  • Download full accessibility statement (PDF)

How to get here

By train

Huntingdon and Cambridge rail stations are the nearest. You can then take the Guided Bus.

By bus

The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway runs between Huntingdon and Cambridge has a request stop at Fen Drayton Lakes. Please note that the driver will need to be made aware that you wish to alight.

By bike

National Cycle Route 51 passes through the centre of the reserve. There are cycle racks located on this route close to the Guided Busway stop.

By road

The reserve is signposted with brown tourist signs.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Get directions from Google Maps
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Group booking information

Groups are welcome but there is no access for visits by coach at this time. 

What will the weather be like?

10 degrees, Partly cloudy (day)

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 391kb

Fen Drayton Lakes trail guide

Contact Fen Drayton Lakes

  • RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes, Fen Drayton Road, Cambridge, CB24 4RB
  • fendraytonlakes@rspb.org.uk
  • 01954 233260
  • @RSPBFens
  • Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

    Common tern

    Common tern

    Common terns migrate to Fen Drayton from west Africa, arriving in April. They can be seen flying gracefully over the lakes as they hover and swoop to grab fish and other small morsels of food from the water's surface. You might see male terns carrying fish to give to their mates as courtship gifts.

    Great crested grebe, summer plumage

    Great crested grebe

    Watch the amazing courtship ritual of great crested grebes on the open water in spring. You may see pairs performing their 'weed dance' when they present one another with weed and patter across the surface of the water together.

    Gadwall male

    Gadwall

    This subtly plumaged dabbling duck occurs here in nationally-important numbers in winter. You can watch them 'upending' for aquatic vegetation. They look plain brown and grey from a distance, but closer up you can see their remarkably intricate plumage.

    Bullfinch male

    Bullfinch

    Bullfinches flit in and along the hedgerows, feeding on buds and seeds.

    Hobby

    Hobby

    Hobbies are falcons which arrive at Fen Drayton in late April, leaving in September. They are very agile and fast - they hunt small birds like martins, and dragonflies, which they catch with their feet. Watch carefully and you'll see them passing their prey up to their beaks to eat in flight!

    Lapwing

    Lapwing

    Huge numbers of lapwings gather here in winter. If a bird of prey, such as a peregrine, is in the area, they take to the air in a vast wheeling mass.

Recent sightings

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis, perched on a branch in amongst reeds, Co. Durham

Find out about recent wildlife sightings at Fen Drayton Lakes.

read more

Nature spectacles

 

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

In spring, look for stripy-headed grebe chicks and downy cygnets. Listen to the songs of reed and sedge warblers around the lake margins, or catch the distinctive call of the cuckoo. Watch the common terns which nest on the rafts in the lakes. You may see them plunge-dive into the water to catch little fish to feed to their chicks.

On warm, sunny days look in sheltered spots for dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies. May is the best time to see hobbies. If it’s cool and windy you can watch swifts, swallows and house martins swooping on insects over the lakes. Ducks will have downy youngsters by May. 

By the end of summer mute swans, geese and ducks gather to moult in safety. On the lakes, you can see large flocks of ducks - you might find gadwalls, mallards, wigeons, teals and tufted ducks. Keep a sharp eye on the reedbeds - you may spot a bittern stalking through the reeds or flying across the lakes.

In autumn, warblers feed up on berries in September before migrating south for the winter. From September to December, starling flocks gather at dusk to roost in the reedbeds.

As you wander by hawthorn hedges in early winter, you may see and hear redwings and fieldfares. In late winter, great crested grebes and goldeneye ducks start their courtship displays.

About Fen Drayton Lakes

Habitat

Fen Drayton Lakes stands at one end of a string of wetlands and fens that runs for 25 miles (40km) along the Great Ouse floodplain.

It's made up of a variety of habitats - 46 per cent open water/wetland, 43 per cent grassland and 9 per cent scrub/woodland.

Conservation

The RSPB has been looking after Fen Drayton Lakes since 2007. We’ve been transforming the lakes and meadows into an even better home for nature. We’re creating more wildlife-friendly features, such as sheltered bays around the lake edges and shallow pools or “scrapes” in the wetland margins. Here ducks and other waterbirds can rest and feed.

Where there was once just bare sand and gravel, you can now hear the sounds of nature again, and watch great crested grebes performing their astonishing courtship dances, against the backdrop of blue lakes, lush, green meadows and the wooded fringes of the river valley.

Site information

You’re never far from water and wildlife here; it surrounds you wherever you wander. Explore through the woods and catch glimpses of secluded bays and pools. You won’t be able to miss majestic mute swans on the lakes but you’ll need to look a little harder to see the many colourful insects. The riverside meadows are alive with nature – reeds rustling, birds warbling, grasshoppers chirping and bees a buzzin’.

Fen Drayton is a County Wildlife Site, and 391 ha in size.

Latest forum posts

  • White Stork

    White Stork spotted in flooded meadow by the iron bridge this evening 25/4/18

    Posted 26/04/2018 by Rustywater
  • Recent sightings

    Lots to see at Fen Drayton Lakes at current. Moore lake has been graced by up to 2 Great white egrets and double figures of little egret. Also present are 3 smew and a supporting cast of wigeon, teal and over 200 lapwing. Drayton lagoon holds a slavo...

    Posted 16/11/2016 by Luke W
  • Sightings

    Great Egret spotted hunting on lake edge on the Saturday morning 17/9/16

    Posted 19/09/2016 by Rustywater
  • Seen at Fen Drayton Lakes this morning

    Great morning at Fen Drayton spotted, Kestrel, Heron and a seal all in the area of Far Fen Lake

    Posted 16/02/2016 by Tina P
Read our forum

Latest blog post

  • Whats lurking beneath the surface at Fen Drayton Lakes: Guest blog post by Simon Freedman, Assistant Warden

    A random encounter on a trip to Skokholm Island in Pembrokeshire back in June led me to being introduced to Kev Rowley, a freshwater invertebrate enthusiast, predominantly beetles and bugs, who I was told “would be interested in doing some surveys at...

    Posted 11/12/2018 by David White
  • An hour at the Welcome Shelter 15/11/18

    There has been a small starling murmuration on the reserve recently. The birds made an impressive spectacle over the reserve car park last weekend. Assistant Warden Simon therefore spent a couple of hours at the Welcome Shelter yesterday afternoon to...

    Posted 16/11/2018 by David White
  • Important information: Car park and facilities closed Monday 2 April

    Unfortunately, the car park and facilities are closed today due to the recent rainfall and high water levels. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused. Hopefully, the water levels will drop soon!

    Posted 02/04/2018 by Tim Fisher - FDL Warden
  • Easter Willow weaving workshop Sunday 25 March, 10am-4pm

    Good afternoon. Are you looking for an unusual gift for a loved one this Easter? If you are, then read on: On Sunday 25 March, 10am-4pm, we have an Easter willow weaving workshop. Reserve volunteer Alan will be leading the workshop and he will show y...

    Posted 20/03/2018 by Tim Fisher - FDL Warden
read our blog

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

Join in our family friends events. How about taking part in a willow weaving workshop, using willow harvested at the reserve? Or in the autumn, come along to a roost watch to see thousands of starlings performing at dusk.

Kids will love dipping for minibeasts in the lakes and hunting for bugs in the summer.

Why not join one of our regular guided walks? They’re a great way to learn more about the reserve and the wildlife which lives here.

Leisure activities

A 'RunTogether' 5.4 km running route is waymarked around the reserve. Explore the lakes and exercise while you go. Discover RunTogether routes in this area.

Sustrans Traffic-free National Cycle Route 51 provides traffic free cycle access to the heart of the reserve. Start your visit on two wheels. Find a Sustrans cycle route.

Events

  • March
  • April
Wednesday 13 March
Wednesday Wander
Cambridgeshire
Wednesday 10 April
Wednesday Wanders at Fen Drayton Lakes
Cambridgeshire
More events

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