Two walks
1 (43) Doddington & Wimblington – being developed
2 (44) March – if you would like to help with this walk, please get in touch.
For a key to the geology see the geology map below and the British Geological Survey map viewer.

The town of March is situated on a ‘fen island’ of higher land that rises above the low-lying fenland that surrounds it. Although some of the island is between 5 and 10 metres above sea level, much of the town is lower. To the south of March, the nearby ‘island’ of Wimblington and Doddington also rises above 5 metres.
The River Nene (old course) flows through the centre of the town and was the main transport route until the mid 19th century. The Fen Edge Trail will link with the current Riverside Walk and Riverside Nature Trail and with the Woodman’s Way between March and Wimblington.

For info on local talks see The March Society website.
The surrounding fenland to the east of the island is mostly peat, formed from undecomposed organic material that accumulated in freshwater, waterlogged conditions. ‘Bog oaks’ occur as in much of the fenland peat. To the west, the surface layer is made up of marine silt deposited when sea level rose and the area consisted of brackish water in a ‘tidal flat’ environment.
Although still at risk of flooding at various times, this strategic area of slightly higher ground would have had great value as shown by its history. For example, in 1981, a hoard of 872 Iceni silver coins, thought to date from the end of the iron Age and now mostly kept in the British Museum, was found at a farm in Field Baulk, March. To the east of March there is another area of glacial material providing dryer ground (although less than 5 metres above sea level) on which Britain’s lowest Hill Fort (at 2 metres), Stonea Camp, is located.









© Cambridgeshire Geological Society
