Viking festival 1 hour from Cambridge where you will be whisked to …

A free festival that will be celebrating the rich history nature and culture of the Nene Valley will be the perfect opportunity for families to immerse themselves in the prehistoric Ice Age history of the county as well as the bloodthirsty Vikings.

Just over the border in Northamptonshire, the festival is taking place at Stanwick Lakes Nature Reserve which is just under an hour's drive from Cambridge. It will be running on Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10 at the launch of the Nene Valley Festival.

The Nene Valley Festival celebrates the natural and historic assets of this beautiful part of the county over a nine-day programme of events, encouraging residents and visitors to explore and immerse themselves in the wonders of the Nene Valley.

During the weekend you will have the unique opportunity to really immerse the entire family in history by stepping inside a remarkable Bronze Age camp and Viking camp that have been perfectly recreated from archaeology. Throughout the camp, not only can you feel like you have stepped into the past but you can also learn some of the skills and ideas from the time.

You can watch how jewellery and bronze tools were made and even have a go at the crafts yourself. The resident blacksmith will be there forging historic replicas for everyone to see and the Iron Age Roundhouse, Bronze Age Round Barrow, Weavers Barn and Heritage Museum will all be on display.

But the history doesn't stop there! Beyond the camp, you will be able to watch the Big Bronze Age Boat Build^[2] continue to take shape which they have been working on for the last few years.

As the festival is taking place on a nature reserve, there are also great opportunities to explore nature and become a Nature Detective. You can learn all about the birds, butterflies and plants of Stanwick Lakes, as well as nature-themed crafts for the younger visitors where they can collect a Nene Valley Explorer badge by participating in any Nene Valley festival activity.

Also at the festival will be some truly exceptional local artists. You can admire a range of beautiful artwork and meet the artists through the Northants Open Studios exhibition “Wings and Waves” in the Visitor Centre, including several additional “pop-up” displays and interactive demonstrations of artists at work.

The café on site will of course be open too with a selection of tasty savouries and sweets made with local products and produce, celebrating the wonderful variety of food produced in and around the Nene Valley.

Further activities will also be taking place throughout the month of September, including a free Sounds of Nature cycle trail between Stanwick Lakes and the Nene Wetlands Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre at Rushden Lakes.

This fabulous family event at Stanwick Lakes is free to attend, although some craft activities will incur a small charge and standard car parking charges apply.

References

1. ^{^} One National Trust site in Cambridgeshire is loved far more than the rest but not everyone agrees (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
2. ^{^} Big Bronze Age Boat Build (stanwicklakes.org.uk)
3. ^{^} The stunning coastal village near Cambs known for its secluded beach and historic lighthouse (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)