NCN 11 - Fenlands, Cambridge and the Ouse

NCN 11 - Fenlands, Cambridge and the Ouse is a 146.2 km road cycling route in East of England with 723 m of climbing, about 8% of it off road, and it splits into about 2 days at a moderate pace.

Saffron Walden to Cambridge is gently rolling farmland on road, then the route drops to the River Cam valley and stays flat for the rest of the way north to King's Lynn. Surfaces are mostly tarmac, with a traffic-free section along the Fen Rivers Way between Barway and Ely as a notable exception. A land access gap on the Cam north of Cambridge forces a detour via Lode before you can rejoin the main line. Beyond Ely the route follows straight drove roads beside drainage channels all the way to Denver lock, then fantastic quiet roads into Downham Market and King's Lynn.

When to ride NCN 11 - Fenlands, Cambridge and the Ouse

Spring and early autumn suit the fenland sections best, when wind is lighter and the exposed droves are not being swept by a winter easterly. The flat, open terrain gives no shelter from headwinds, and a northerly on the run to King's Lynn will slow you considerably.

Worth knowing before you go

Cambridge, Ely, Downham Market and King's Lynn are all on the line, so resupply is regular if uneven along the northern half. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust centre at Welney has a cafe and sits directly on the route, useful as a mid-section stop. The Lode detour north of Cambridge is easy to miss; check the turn before you leave Cambridge rather than after you have overshot it.

NCN 11 - Fenlands, Cambridge and the Ouse in numbers

• Distance: 146.2 km
• Climbing: 723 m
• Off road: 12 km, about 8% of the route
• Riding time: about 7 hours, roughly 2 days at a moderate pace

Water, food, campsites and stations along this route are shown on the interactive map.

Plan it and ride it

The map on this page carries the surface breakdown, the elevation profile and every point of interest. You can split the route into days against your own pace, see what it will cost to ride, and take it with you. Download the GPX.

Read the NCN 11 - Fenlands, Cambridge and the Ouse route guide.

Getting to the start without flying · Browse all routes

Route from Sustrans.

Compiled by Ed Hunton, Cicerone guidebook author, from TourTrax's own route data.