Date of Visit: December 2021
Overall View
Fields End Water is a CAMC Affiliated Site located just outside the village of Doddington in the middle of the Cambridgeshire Fens, located a short distance from the A141. Access is straightforward, please see our Site Arrival Video. It is part of the Tranquil Parks group and is adults only. There are 73 pitches which are divided into discreet areas.
There are also a few glamping pods surrounding the recently developed Waterside area. In addition there are several full camping lodges with log burners and a hot tub each.
There is also a CL at the side of the site which is grass only, non serviced pitches and is closed during the winter months. Again this is adults only and available to members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club.
Facilities
The site has a main reception block which also houses a small shop selling basic food items and caravan essentials. There is also fishing equipment and supplies available.
There are two main facilities blocks, both of which have a disabled bathroom attached. There is also a facilities block specifically for the CL. The newer block on Waterside has a small leaflet stand. It should be noted that the facility block at Waterside is only allowed to be used by people pitched on that area.
Pitches are a mixture of hard standing, laid to fine shingle. Each can accommodate a car, caravan and awning. The grass pitches, apart from the CL, have artificial grass laid on the pitch and awnings would go on the grass itself. The CL is entirely grass only.
TV and radio reception is extensive and very good.
Vodafone, 02 and Three are listed as good inside and out, according to their Web pages.
EE, based on personal experience is well above average both inside and out in 4G. 5G is currently not available, at the time of writing, on any of the listed networks.
WiFi is available on site but despite showing a reasonable signal strength, we were unable to connect to ascertain charges for using the service.
One of its additional selling points is the fishing which is available. There are 3 ponds throughout the site. For those guests staying on the Waterside area, the fishing is included in their pitch fees and that pond is for their exclusive use.
A large, securely fenced dog exercise area is provided at the front of the site. There are dog bins provided and a bench to sit on. An additional attraction is a small scale agility section with a few jumps and weaving poles for the more athletic pooches!
Review of Site Pitch
We were pitched in the main site area, which is somewhat sheltered to the newer Waterside area. However, as this matures, hedges and trees will enclose it much more.
The majority of pitches, apart from the CL, are fully serviced with both grey water disposal and a tap. There are also Motorhome service points available. Hookups are at 16amp.
Chemical disposal points are provided at each facilities block along with a laundry room in the two main blocks.
Around and about
The nearest petrol station is the Gulf in Wimblington. At the time of writing it was considerably cheaper than fuel stations on the main A141 or even during our travelling around, was cheaper than supermarket petrol stations. This petrol station also houses a small Spar shop.
Public Transport
There are 3-4 buses a day which run past the site itself. These are on a ‘hail’ basis. They run between Wisbech and Manea. Times for these can be found listed outside Reception.
There are additional buses available from the village itself, however it is a 1½ mile walk into Doddington, (please note that the road is only partially paved). From Doddington it is possible to catch the No. 8 to March and Cambridge. There is also the No. 39 between Ely and March.
The nearest railway station is March which is just under 8 miles from the site.
There is a small One-Stop shop, including the Post Office in Doddington village. The nearest takeaway is Doddington Fish Bar.
The George public house is located in the centre of the village, opposite the memorial and the turning for the road to to the site. It has parking and a beer garden. Further along you will also find The Three Tuns Circumstances meant that we did not visit either on this occasion.
The nearest main supermarket is located in nearby market town of Chatteris.
In terms of places to visit, please see www.visitcambridgeshirefens.org as a starting point.
During our time here, we visited a number of places, some of which are weather dependent in order to enjoy fully.
Wisbech, known as the capital of the Cambridgeshire Fens is a Georgian Market Town, situated on the River Nene. It has some beautifully preserved examples of Georgian architecture and a castle, (well, it is named as a castle but is now a manor house built on the site of the original Norman built motte and bailey castle). There are the usual high street shops but the majority of shopping offer is in an out of town retail park. The National Trust property, Peckover House is located by the riverbank but due to the extended Christmas break it was closed on the day of our visit.
You will find Elgoods Brewery here too and even if beer is not your thing, the gardens are said to be worth a look.
March is a small traditional market town which has a range of small shops, including a Tesco Extra at the end of the High Street.
Slightly further afield, (45 minute drive) but very worthy of a visit is Kings Lynn. This is a Hanseatic port based at the confluence of several rivers out into the Wash. It has a very Flemish feel about it and has a long and illustrious history. The port is still operational to this day. For further information please see www.visitwestnorfolk.com Places of note are plentiful and there are several self-guided walking tours around the town available for free either, via web-sites or from the Tourist Information Centre based in the Town Hall. Car parking is plentiful, at charge, in several locations throughout the town. It is not possible to park down by the quayside without special permits. The large car park, named the Tuesday Market Place Car Park has toilets in one corner, just off the square and has a disabled access toilet available. These are currently free of charge.
There is a Kings Lynn Minster church, opposite the Town Hall and is free to enter. The original Hanseatic House has a cafe and facilities overlooking the quayside.
There is also a shopping precinct called Vancouver where you will find all the main high street retailers and car parking. There is also an extensive out of town shopping retail park.
In many ways, the old part of the town and the old quayside are the most interesting parts of the town and we used the Discover Kings Lynn Leaflet as our guide and then picked up others at the Tourist Information Centre.
On our way back to site, we made a stop at the Denver Sluices. These gates are essential in controlling the water levels in the fens. They were originally designed by a Dutch engineer called Sir Cornelius Veymunden in the 17th century. Its thanks to him that the fens are as we see today. The name of Denver appears to be entirely coincidental as they are near the village of Denver. Toilets are available in main season, there is a car park with information boards and walks along the canal.
Flag Fen is a world renowned prehistoric archaeological site near Peterborough. It has featured on many TV series, perhaps most notably C4’s Time Team. Well worth a couple of hours visit. Entrance fee payable. Car parking and a visitor centre with cafe, shop and full range of toilets are at the entrance. It is about 90% accessible but be aware it can get muddy and very slippy underfoot. A children’s interactive trail and the chance to stand inside an iron age roundhouse are two highlights.
Peterborough Cathedral – this is a most impressive building, the front facade is stunning alone. Unfortunately, due to time of year we visited, we arrived with only a very short time before it closed. Website did not give the correct information, so might be worth calling ahead. Inside it has some beautiful stained glass windows and ceilings. There is a small gift shop.
Summary
The site and the wider area, with good access means it is on the list for a return visit at a different time of the year. We had a fabulous Christmas break here.