Country Walking: Manea and Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire. 3/5/24

The Fenland landscape might not appeal to all, but this 8.5 mile circuit from Manea station, Cambridgeshire turned out to be an interesting and peaceful one. It was quite a sultry day, with a northerly breeze for balance, but one with a decent amount of sunshine.
The station is on the Hereward Line between Peterborough and Ely, but is around a mile from the village centre, where there is a pub and a convenience store/post office.
Shortly after, it's quiet lane walking with big, open skies, and then some farm tracks (droves) for lunch at the RSPB's Welches Dam reserve. This site is part of the Ouse Washes Nature Reserve, a half-mile wide strip of grassland between the Old and New Bedford rivers that floods in winter, attracting thousands of wildfowl (not all of the Wash was filmed today, unfortunately, but a number of hides provide great viewing opportunities, apparently).
The return leg is along a lane, running parallel to the Delph river, to Purl's Bridge, but it might now be possible to walk by the hides on the opposite bank and cross back over a pontoon near Purl's Bridge? Unsure?
Shortly after, it's duplication back to the station.
A very decent walk, with hard surfaces for much of it, which might affect some. A surprising amount of wild-life, from the Rookery (not crows!) at the outset, to Chinese Water Deer, Pied Wagtail (not a Flycatcher), Whitethroats, Swallows and this walker's first Cuckoo of the new season!
Recommended!

[@gillianbridge-tj9bm]

Thank you once again amib. You are right, the fenland landscape is so different from my Pennines ; though it does seem to possess an other worldly beauty, very intriguing. Loved the birdsong and congratulations on the cuckoo ! Apparently the distant views of Ely Cathedral, the " ship of the fens ", can be tremendous. Maybe next time you are in the area. Thank you as always

[@amib]

If you do a search in my 'catalogue' of old videos, I've done one of Ely, though it doesn't contain views from the top of the cathedral. I've been up there though and the views are great. Yes, a surprisingly interesting walk. Thanks for watching again😉👍

[@julieblackstock8650]

Nice and peaceful. I was in Beccles that day and it rained pretty much all day so you definitely did well to miss it, Thats definitely a chinese water deer as they have those huge ears

[@amib]

Yes, I was lucky. Got my tan started that day.😎 I just regret not trying the path past the hides, to get a view of the 'Washes'; views to Ely on a good day, apparently. I concur on the deer, having since checked it. No horns, but tusks. Thanks for watching again😉👍