The marshes are gone. Man took on nature, and won. A natural Manscape!
Today’s Fen landscape is one of lively activity, changing colour and fantastic vistas. But this almost tranquil atmosphere belies one of the most tortuous fights against nature that man has ever undertaken.
Imagine looking out from one of the islands that stood presiding over the Fens at the turn of the 16th century, where your view is clouded by the fog-engulfed marshes that in summer are passable by boat and in parts by foot. In winter you are completely isolated from the rest of the Fens and indeed the rest of England.
It took thousands of years. Those misty, salty marshlands where man scratched a livelihood from the watery land around tiny communities clinging to higher ground were slowly reclaimed, the rich, peaty soil exposed for future generations. There is a magical feel about the Fens, a feeling of rest after a long and arduous battle, of the fight against nature, the fight between men, and the fight of ownership – something you will definitely want to discover for yourself.
Today the wide open Fenlands are beautiful and for you to enjoy. Quiet roads, waterways, footpaths and cycle routes criss cross this fertile plain. Pretty villages punctuate the area, the people friendly and welcoming. The windmills, the land bountiful with fresh food. Find a village pub, eat well, and don’t hurry.
Or why not stay a while and book one of our Fenland short breaks?
For more information about the Fens area follow the links below:
