Fen Drayton Lakes

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Address
RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes, Fen Drayton Road, Cambridge, CB24 4RB
Grid ref
TL352680
What3Words
typically.first.manages

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

Nature reserve: open at all times.
Car park: 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

  • Car park
  • Picnic area
  • Viewing point
  • Nature trails

Accessibility

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
View on What3Words
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Information for dog owners

Dogs are welcome on the public footpaths, bridleways and most of the permissive routes on the reserve. Please keep to these designated routes only.

Please keep your dog on a lead and under close, effective control at all times, due to the sensitive wildlife, habitats and livestock here. We know that the countryside is a dog walking paradise. It’s important to remember the special surroundings here are wonderful havens for rare wildlife. Even if dogs are very well behaved, wildlife and livestock can easily become startled by a loose dog they perceive as a predator.

Disturbing wildlife does more than simply causing it to move away; it uses up their energy, decreasing their chance of survival regardless of season. Thank you for protecting the special wildlife here by keeping your dog on a lead and under close, effective control.

  • We have two areas where we exclude dogs as access is permissive and disturbance to wildlife is likely. These are at Moore Lake hide and the path up to and including the seasonal viewpoint at Ferry Mere (and these are clearly marked as such). So sorry, no dogs are permitted here other than assistance dogs.
  • Dogs can die in hot cars, please do not leave your dog in the car when visiting us.
  • There are no dog waste bins on the reserve, we ask that you take the waste home with you to dispose of.

Group booking information

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

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 391kb

Fen Drayton Lakes trail guide

Contact Fen Drayton Lakes

What will you see?

Our star species

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

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

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Latest blog post

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.

For more information on events and to book tickets, please visit events.rspb.org.uk/fendraytonlakes

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.

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