Fen Drayton Lakes

Fen Drayton Lakes is a group of twelve waters near Fen Drayton, Holywell and Swavesey in Cambridgeshire. The waters fill old gravel pits that were worked from 1953 until 1992. After gravel production ended the pits were left to flood and now form a nature reserve and bird sanctuary beside the River Great Ouse.

The reserve attracts over two hundred bird species, with sixty-five breeding regularly. Recent sightings include bittern, marsh harrier, hobby, glossy ibis and kingfisher. Anglers fish on Drayton Fen, Ferry Lagoon, Holywell Lake and Swavesey Lake for carp, bream, tench and other species. Ferry Lagoon has produced three British record bream, the largest weighing 22 pounds 11 ounces.

Paths wind around the lakes and along the riverbank. Views open across the open waters and reedbeds. The landscape shows the marks of past gravel digging softened by decades of water and wildlife.