If you live and work in Peterborough it’s often easy to forget that the city is surrounded by miles and miles of beautiful countryside just waiting to be explored.
Many of us are guilty of hibernating over the winter months, but with spring now upon us it’s the perfect time to discover some of the breathtaking towns and villages within a short drive of the city.
The Fenland district in particular is home to dozens of chocolate-box villages that don’t get the love they deserve, often due to their isolated location.
Such is the remote nature of these villages, residents can literally walk for miles without seeing another soul.
With their cosy pubs and thatch cottages, some remote Fenland villages are like a time capsule to a bygone era.
A warm and sunny spring day is the ideal time to set aside a few hours and venture into one of Cambridgeshire’s forgotten villages.
Why the tiny village of Benwick is worth exploring on a sunny spring day
The village of Benwick may only be 14 miles east of Peterborough, but its isolated location deep in the Fenland district means it’s rarely explored by visitors.
Located on the banks of the River Nene, the village is home to just over 1,000 people and surrounded by dozens of acres of farmland.
Like many Fenland villages, once you’re in Benwick, you’re there.
Benwick’s name is thought to have derived from the Old English for ‘bean’, and ‘wic’, meaning “farm where beans are grown”.
Besides a primary school, village shop and pub, there isn’t a great deal more to Benwick, but that only adds to its charm.
The village’s riverside location makes it an ideal stopover for those hiring boats to explore the River Nene.
Some day-trippers choose to moor their boat before discovering the village and surrounding countryside on foot.
The village pub, The Five All’s, is ideal for a refreshing pint after working up a sweat on a warm spring day.
So, if you’re looking for somewhere different to explore this spring, consider spending a couple of hours in Benwick.
Discover more of the village in the gallery below:
