Ely Cathedral
The cathedral you can see across the fens from the retreat on a clear day.
Ely, about 10 minutesHead Fen Country Retreat, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire
CB6 2ER · 10 minutes from Ely, 30 minutes from Cambridge
Checked 18 Sep 2026 4 fishing lakesHot tub or saunaWebsite offline Sep 2026
Fishing Lodges With Hot Tubs and Saunas Near Ely
Pine lodges beside four fishing lakes in the Cambridgeshire fens, each with a private hot tub or sauna, with Ely Cathedral on the horizon. One lake is reserved for the Cathedral View lodges.
A well reviewed fen retreat, but check it is still trading before you book. Guests describe comfortable lodges, spotless hot tubs, a very good sauna and very good fishing facilities, and one reviewer called it a perfect fishing getaway for the non-angler. When we checked in September 2026, the retreat's own website address had expired, although Visit Ely still lists it. Contact the venue directly and confirm before paying anything.
Good for
- Couples where only one of you fishes
- Big fen skies and sunsets from the decking
- A short break close to Ely
Think twice if
- You cannot reach the venue directly: its website was offline when we checked
- You need confirmed species and rules: they are not published
Call before you book
Visit Ely lists the phone number as 07971 574375. Confirm the retreat is open and taking bookings before paying a deposit through any third-party site.
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What a Stay at Head Fen Country Retreat Is Like
Head Fen Country Retreat is on Head Fen Drove at Little Downham, about ten minutes from Ely, 30 minutes from Cambridge and an hour from Norwich. Visit Ely describes cosy wooden lodges on the banks of fishing lakes, with views across the open fen, and on a clear day Ely Cathedral is visible from the site.
Each lodge has a private hot tub or a sauna. There are four fishing lakes, and a reservoir lake is kept for the Cathedral View lodges. Reviewers praise the spotless hot tub, the sauna, the fishing facilities and the sunsets from the decking.
The caution is practical: in September 2026 the retreat's own web address redirected to a domain sale page, so book only after speaking to the owners.
Written from guest reviews and the venue’s published details. We have not stayed here ourselves.
The Fishing at Head Fen Country Retreat
Four fishing lakes, one of them reserved for the Cathedral View lodges. Species and rules are not published.
4Fishing lakes
Tickets, times and rules
| Exclusive lake | Reservoir lake for Cathedral View lodges |
| Species, rules and night fishing | Not confirmed |
The Lodges
Pine lodges by the lakes, each with a private hot tub or sauna.
Cathedral View lodges
Hot tub or sauna
Every lodge
Fen views
Ely Cathedral on a clear day
What Guests Say
Consistently praised
- Spotless, well maintained hot tub
- Very good sauna
- Comfortable lodges with very good fishing facilities
- Sunsets from the decking
Summarised in our own words from public reviews. Read the reviews on Tripadvisor.
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Things to Do Around Ely
Ely is ten minutes away.
Welney Wetlands Centre
Named by Visit Ely as a nearby attraction.
Welney, north of the retreatQuestions About Head Fen Country Retreat
Is Head Fen Country Retreat open?
Visit Ely still lists it, but its own website address had expired when we checked in September 2026. Call 07971 574375 to confirm before booking.
Source: visitely.org.uk and our check of headfencountryretreat.co.uk
Do the lodges have hot tubs?
Each lodge has a private hot tub or a sauna.
Source: visitely.org.uk
How many fishing lakes are there?
Four, with a reservoir lake reserved for the Cathedral View lodges.
Source: visitely.org.uk and guest reviews
Getting There
Head Fen Drove, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, about ten minutes from Ely. Postcode CB6 2ER.
Open in Google Maps · Phone 07971 574375
Other Fishing Lodges Nearby
Last checked 18 Sep 2026. The facts on this page come from these sources. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.