Wicken Fen Figure of 8

This 4.7 mile route at Wicken Fen is a combination of two shorter routes which can be taken alone. There are many other route options around the reserve.

Wicken Fen is the National Trust’s oldest nature reserve and is home to 9000 species. It is a wetland area and as such is prone to being very muddy in places in wet weather. There is however a short raised and accessible boardwalk route.

Wicken Fen

The reserve is free entry and there is a large car park, free for NT members.

1. Leaving the car park turn left and walk towards the reserve.
2. With the café and visitors centre on your right follow the gravel cycle way ahead. Continue on as the cycle way bears left.
3. Go over the bridge on your right and immediately turn left.
4. Follow the cycle track a few metres and take the path on your right.
5. Go through the gate and continue along the grass pathway. Look out for the wild Konik ponies which often graze in the adjacent field.
   
   

   

   Konik ponies at Wicken Fen

   
   
6. Continue on the pathway as it bears right and eventually up onto a bank.
7. Go right, keeping the water on your left and follow the bank until it bears right. Go back over the bridge and continue back along the cycle track to the visitor centre. This is the end of the first half of the walk.
8. Either go around the centre or through and follow the board walk towards and past the wind pump.
   
   

   

   Wind pump, Wicken Fen

   
   
9. Continue on the boardwalk until you reach a hide on your right. Go left and then right.
10. Follow the grass track – depending on the season this could be a passage through high sedge. 
    
    

    

    Wicken Fen

    
    
11. At a ‘cross roads’continue straight over along the summer trail and follow the pathway through the sedge and reed beds.
12. Bear left at the end and then right. Keep the water on your right and continue along the straight grass track. There is a hide on your left about half way down.
13. Bear left at the end still keeping the water on your right and going past the tower hide follow this until you reach the boardwalk.
14. Cross to the boardwalk on your left at the wind pump and go right through a small wooded area. Follow the boardwalk until you reach the visitor’s centre.

Wicken Fen

Our route was 4.7 miles

See the route on mapometer

Terrain: flat apart from short climb up the bank, gravel cycle way then grass tracks. Can be very muddy in wet weather, boardwalk sections.

Habitats: Fields, wetland, reed beds.

Facilities: Toilets near car park and also behind the café. Café and visitor’s centre. Cycle hire and boat trips (seasonal), pub in Wicken village.

Quy Water Circular

A lovely little 4 miles starting and finishing at the NT’s Anglesey Abbey which can also be visited if open.

Parking is available in the NT’s car park (free for members).

• From the car park walk away from the visitor’s centre down the left hand side of the overflow car park. Follow the path until you reach a tennis court and walk diagonally towards the court and follow this path along the back.
• Walk alongside the allotments and turn left at the end. Follow this path until you come out at the end of a road. The back of the mill is on your left and a bridge on your right. 

• Go left around the side of the mill and follow the grass track along the edge of the water which should be on your left.

• Keep following the water’s edge for approximately 2 miles.

• When you reach the road turn right. When you reach some cottages on the left continue right  and then take the track on the right signposted to Quy Fen, Lode and Horningsea.

• Follow this track for about a mile or so until you reach a woodland on your right and enter the woodland at the break in trees.
• Follow the path through the woodland. Continue straight through until you come out with the water in front of you.

• Turn left and follow the path alongside the water (now on your right) towards the mill.

• Turn right to go back around the mill and follow the footpath back past the allotments, tennis court and to the car park where you started

Our route was 3.9 miles
See the route on mapometer
Terrain: Mostly flat, gravel, grass and dirt tracks (can be muddy in wet weather)
Habitats: River, farmland,
Facilities: Café and toilets at Anglesey Abbey

Croyde and Baggy Point Circular (3 miles)

Croyde is a small village in North Devon, popular in the summer with holiday makers and surfers. The bay is overlooked to the west by Baggy Point peninsular (owned by the National Trust) The route on the map starts at Ruda holiday park because we were staying there but there is a National Trust Car Park in Moor Lane. The NT link above also has the route in reverse.

The route uses some NT paths and some of the South West Coast Path with the first mile being a moderate incline.

1.     If coming from the village or beach walk up Moor Lane along the footpath on the left hand side. Cross over where the footpath ends to the stile opposite. If you have parked at the NT car park the go left out of the car park away from the peninsular, past the NT café until you come to a stile.

2.     Go over the stile and follow the track up the hill.

3.     You have two options through the small copse, either will bring you out at a convenient bench to sit and admire the view and catch your breath.

Croyde Beach

4.     Follow the track diagonally left to the corner of the next field and then along the stone wall (which should be on your right).

5.     Continue straight on into the next field and follow the path as it turns left.

6.     Turn right at the next field and again follow the edge until you reach a stile looking out over the sea.

The end of the NT pathway

7.     Go over the stile and down towards the South West Coast Path. The beach of Putsborough is immediately right sweeping to Woolacombe sands and Mortehoe peninsular. On a clear day the Welsh coast is visible.

Woolacombe Sands and Morthoe Point

8.     Take the South West Coast Path to the left and follow this as it goes around the headland.

9.     Go past the coastguard climbing mast and go right following the path down towards the end of Baggy Point. Lundy Island should be visible.

Baggy Point

10. Return back from the point and this time take the path to your right.

11. Follow the SWCP as it hugs the cliffs with Croyde beach ahead of you, continuing until you reach your start point.

Croyde Beach

Our route was 3.2 miles

See route on mapometer

Terrain: Moderate incline. Stiles. Grass tracks. Loose stoned paths.

Habitats: Coastal, farmland, heathland.

Facilities: Toilets at Croyde beach. Cafes and toilets at start/end of route and at Ruda. Further facilities in Croyde village.