Cambridgeshire

The scenery ranges from small villages nestling in gently undulating hills in the south to the man-made landscape of the fens in the northeast. The Fens, where Hereward the Wake held out against the Normans in the 11th century, have changed dramatically since their deep drainage in the 17th century. The peat-black agricultural land, criss-crossed by dykes and drainage ditches is largely unpopulated and provides a good environment for bird watching at the County's nature reserves. The River Great Ouse provides the backdrop for nature trails and picnic areas and Grafham Water provides plenty of activities. Hinchingbrooke House. Tudor country house built around an early 13th century Benedictine nunnery. Given, by Henry VIII, to Richard Cromwell at the time of the Dissolution. The house was enlarged and altered and became the ancestral home of the Cromwells in 1538. The next owners of the house were the Montagu family, later the Earls of Sandwich who played an important role in British history.