| To quote Andrew Hunter-Blair in his book, “Great Ouse Country” it’s said that in part of this stretch of the Ouse, “it is quite exciting to see a cow on the banks.” But that depends on how you view the fens. Having now joined The Fen Rivers Way, a long- distance path which runs from Cambridge up to King's Lynn, The Ouse Valley Way runs more or less straight up along the riverbank (with a short diversion to the road just before Queen Adelaide) and the London to King's Lynn railway line runs parallel to the bank for part of it.
After Littleport, there’s a long stretch of riverbank which runs right alongside the busy A10 but stick with it. Once away from the road, it is a peaceful and pleasant walk where you can plainly see how centuries of drainage have caused the surrounding land to sink to more than 10 feet/3 metres below the river level. The vast open landscape is awe-inspiring in winter sunlight, dotted with the white of wild Whooper and Bewick swans from the nearby internationally important Ouse Washes which are often to be seen in the fields feeding during the winter months.
After the great lock of Denver Sluice where Vermuyden’s Old and New Bedford Rivers re-join the Old West River or Great Ouse, the river becomes tidal, skirting round the edge of Downham Market, past the Wiggenhall parishes, with their impressive riverside medieval churches, before finally arriving at King’s Lynn’s South Quay. From here the river heads out into the Wash and the sea, while you can explore a town rich in maritime history.
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