On Wednesday I visited Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, a nature reserve owned by the National Trust and one of the few remaining fen areas in East Anglia.

It’s not the easiest of places to get to if you’re car-less. The nearest stations are Ely and Waterbeach, and it’s a reasonable hike or bike ride from there. You can also get a bus, but the nearest stop is Soham Village, three miles away. I went for the bike option, hiring one in Ely and cycling the National Cycle Route 11 all the way there. It’s a wonderful route: clearly signed all the way (it’s a shame that that should be worth commenting on, but there you go) and mostly car-free.

The Fen itself is quite remarkable: as you would imagine, very flat; seemingly endless in places. I also found it quite eerie — the only sounds you could here were the wind in the reeds and the occasional bird call or human voice floating by.

It’s supposed to be rich in birdlife, but to be honest I spotted more en-route (including what might have been a marsh harrier).