RSPB Fowlmere — Attraction in South Cambridgeshire

We arrived mid morning to be highly disappointed. As we entered the single track lane, we used the many passing places as cars came towards us. When we eventually got to the car park we discovered that it was full, and we suspected that the cars we passed had left disappointed. We made the decision to go to the nearby garden centre for a cup of tea and a cake and decided what to do for the rest of the day. Cake and tea is always a good idea, and we made the decision to try the car park again and if it was full to go to Therfield Heath about 5 miles away (a beautiful place to visit). However, by now we were very lucky and there were a number of spaces. Once we had booted ourselves up and dug the binoculars and picnic out the car we made our way down the path to be met by the residents of the trees welcoming us with their songs. Further down the path we were then met by one of your (I assume) volunteers who welcomed us and informed us of the highlights of this reserve. He was very well informed and had an obvious passion for Fowlmere and had a very good knowledge of other local RSPB reserves and sightings at these. We then followed the path to the left and found ourselves away from the crowds that we imagined we would meet. The reserve was beautiful, with the secluded pools, the singing of the birds and the trail through the reedbeds on the boardwalk. We stopped to eat our picnic amongst the dragonflies and yet more birdsong, with the marsh harrier soaring above and along the reedbed. We continued our walk and stopped at the Spring Hide, where the water lapped quietly within the reeds. We carried on our walk, seeing and hearing many birds including chiffchaff, Cetti's warbler, movement in the owl nest box and blackcap (we also saw a brown trout in the clear water of the chalk stream). We visited the other hides with the march harrier quartering above the reedbed as if putting on a show to order. In conclusion what a magical and beautiful reserve full of interesting wildlife which we have driven past for many years on our way to Cambridge. A real gem. I also believe that the size of the carpark restricts the number of visitors which really says that it is 'a place...

Went up here on a very chilly Boxing day afternoon. Car park was really busy and unlike Sandy (our usual choixe) is free for non members. No staff to see (although that was to be expected) and if I'm honest there wasn't a great amount of activity from the wildlife either. However, the 3 x different hides during our walk did provide us with action, which the children enjoyed watching and they were all well maintained and comfortable (the hides, not the children!). The main hide at the far end gives a really excellent voewpoint of the central lake and a lot of the marsh and woodland too. Paths were well laid out and free from nasties left by crisp eating oiks or those that can't be bothered to clear up after their dogs. The route is a nice loop with number markers as you walk round to keep track of your progress and it doesn't have any steep slopes, although it does tend to get very boggy in places. That said, we did see a few people with prams and buggies, so clearly not an impossible task. Despite the weather conditions, it was very beautiful at Fowlmere and we will definitely be going again. Well done the...

Beautiful place, occasional buzzing of planes including spitfire, 3 hides, a mile walk round the reserve plus a couple of little extra paths. Springs in one corner, a chalk stream, plenty of birds and a couple of friendly volunteers to help out. £2 parking charge for non-members, members need to have membership card to leave on dashboard. Lost a point for the quite disgusting portaloo - at the end of the day it's in the middle of nowhere so something is better than nothing but it really was grim. Best time to visit has got to be early or late to...