narrow boat holiday UK

Approx 18 cruising hours return trip

This trip involves the passage of a short length of tidal river between Salter’s Lode and Denver Sluice so when planning your trip contact the Lock keeper at Denver Lock on 01366 382340 to ascertain the tide times for the outward and return trips. It takes about 5 hours to cruise between Salter’s Lode and our base at March so once you have all this information you will be able to plan your journey.

Turning left from our marina you will shortly come to the fenland market town of March where you will find free visitor moorings on either side of the town bridge. Like all the ancient settlements of the Middle Level, March stands on higher ground that was once an island in the marshes so as you pass under the town bridge the High Street shops are level with the top of the bridge. St Wendreda’s church is a twenty minute walk from the town centre - well worth it according to the late Sir John Betjeman, the Poet Laureate, journalist and architectural critic, who said “It is worth cycling forty miles in a head wind to see”. Follow the cycle route to the Neale Wade College.

Six miles from March is Marmont Priory Lock and above the lock you pass through the twin villages of Upwell and Outwell in what is one of the most interesting sections of the trip as the village streets line both sides of the river and we pass houses, gardens, shops, pubs and churches and several places have visitor moorings. In the springtime the river banks here are crowded with daffodils.

Outwell Basin is a short stretch of water a little wider than the rest of the navigation where the route turns sharp right. There are visitor moorings here provided by the Well Creek Trust. This was once the junction between the Old River Nene, Well Creek and the Wisbech Canal, which was closed in 1926. The Wisbech and Upwell Tramway opened to Outwell in 1883, was extended to Upwell in 1884 and closed in 1966. The Reverend Wilbert Awdry, author of the ’Thomas the Tank Engine’ books, lived in the area and wrote ’Toby the Tram Engine’ based on this line.

Two miles further along Well Creek we cross the Middle Level Main Drain, the waters of which are pumped out to sea by an array of large pumps. After this you cruise through open countryside and the village of Nordelph before arriving at Salter’s Lode Lock.

After you have transversed the tidal reach to Denver you are on the Ely section of the Great Ouse. At Denver there are moorings near the Jenyns Arms pub and in the village is Denver Windmill. Also from here, if you have time to spare, you can go through the new lock into the Relief Channel to visit Downham Market where visitor moorings are provided.

Less than a mile on from Denver is the junction with the River Wissey, which is navigable for 10 miles up to Stoke Ferry, one of the four navigable tributaries of the Great Ouse. You pass two more of these (The Little Ouse or Brandon River, navigable for 13 miles to Brandon Lock and the River Lark navigable for 10 miles to Judes Ferry) as well as the village of Littleport before arriving at Ely.

Ely has a pleasant and busy waterfront with the city centre a short walk away up a steep hill. As well as the magnificent Cathedral there is a fascinating museum to be found at Oliver Cromwell’s House, the Ely Museum at the Old Gaol, and a Stained Glass Museum at the cathedral. In addition there is an Antiques Centre close to the river and many shops in the city centre.

2 Ely to Cambridge

Four and a half miles upstream from Ely we arrive at Popes Corner where the Great Ouse turns right to Bedford and straight ahead is the River Cam leading 14 more miles into Cambridge. The name of the Fish & Duck pub here reminds us of the original harvest of the fens before they were drained 400 years ago.

It is over six miles to the electrified, boater operated, Botisham Lock and on the way we pass the entrance to the short Burwell and Reach lodes at Upware Junction and then Swaffham and Bottisham Lodes. Above the lock we go by the Cam Sailing Club before arriving at Clayhithe Bridge where there are visitor moorings.

Two miles from Clayhithe we come to Bates Bite Lock, another boater operated electric lock, then go under the A14 road bridge and past the village of Fen Ditton. Around this point the usual rule of the river is reversed for the convenience of rowers so look out for the ’Keep Left’ notices that mark this section. Once past this it is only two miles to the head of navigation for powered craft at Jesus Green Lock. If you want to go punting above the lock Scudamore’s offer a wide range of tour and self-hire punting options.

3 March to Ferry Meadows Country Park

12 hours return trip - ideal for a short break

Turning right from our marina along the Old River Nene this route passes Floods Ferry Marina Park with a licensed club house and overnight moorings for patrons. Beyond this is Floods Ferry Junction where the Old Nene forks left and our route turns right down Whittlesey Dyke.

After three miles cruising you approach Angle Corner where to the left Bevill’s Leam joins our route and opposite on the right is the entrance to the Twenty Foot River. Continuing straight on you find the dyke narrows as the outskirts of Whittlesey are approached. Ashline Lock (a boater operated manual lock) marks your arrival at this historic market town and above the lock there are visitor moorings next to the Leisure Centre.

Ashline Lock

Soon after leaving the Whittlesey moorings there is a bridge on a 90° bend which even an experienced boater must treat with respect. You then pass two of the many pubs in the town before heading through some more open country and travelling beside a deep brick pit. Brick making has long been an industry of the town and of much of the area east of Peterborough although most of the clay pits are now worked out. On the approach to Peterborough the cathedral can be seen clearly visible across the flat fields that lead to Stanground Lock.

A short branch of the River Nene leads from the lock, with Stanground Village on the left and a nature reserve on the right, before we go under the railway bridge that takes us out onto the wide waters of the Nene. Turn left here and you will find visitor moorings along the length of the park which are convenient for the city centre.

Working boats moored at Peterborough

As you cruise up river from the centre of Peterborough you will see on the right a series of open spaces and wild areas that form part of the huge Nene Park that occupies some 500 acres of meadows, lakes and woods and runs for around six miles alongside the River Nene. You pass the entrance to the channel that leads to the rowing lake then the sculpture park can be seen.

Two miles up river from Peterborough Bridge is Orton Lock the first of a series of Guillotine locks that are a feature of the Nene. The Guillotine gate is electrically operated by boaters but the top mitre doors (gates) must be manually operated. Above the lock are the moorings of the Peterborough Yacht Club and then you come to the entrance to Ferry Meadows Country Park which is on the left just before the footbridge that crosses the River Nene. A short connecting channel will take you into Orton Lake, one of the many lakes in the park. Head towards the left-hand side of the lake and you will see the pontoons provided for visitor moorings.

Ferry Meadows is the focal point of Nene Park and offers offering a Caravan Club site, cycle hire, visitor centre, shop, play areas, miniature railway, cycling, walking, kite-flying, pony riding, nature-spotting and fishing as well as substantial facilities for various water sports at the water sports centre and on its associated ponds and lakes.

4 Ferry Meadows to Fotheringhay

12 hours return trip - extension to trip number 3

Up the river from the entrance to Orton Lake your journey continues beside the Ferry Meadows Country Park where you can see more lakes, including Gunwade Lake, which is used for sailing. After passing under the Nene Valley Railway bridge you arrive at Alwalton Lock.

Water Newton Lock

This trip goes through verdant countryside and some very attractive villages. By Water Newton Lock the millstream still gushes beneath the old mill buildings and a popular footpath for walkers crosses the lock. From here it is 3¾ miles to the next lock at Wansford.

Before reaching the lock the Nene Valley Railway crosses the river twice more, once close to Wansford Station and the railways rolling stock sidings. You also pass Stibbington Boatyard and pass under the A1 dual carriageway just before Wansford village and the old Wansford Bridge. It is amazing to think that up until 1929 this medieval structure carried all the traffic on the country’s main route between London and the North. Beside the bridge is the old Haycock Inn and inside is displayed the story of Barnaby, his haycock and Wansford-in-England.

The Haycock Hotel

Yarwell Lock, next to Yarwell Mill and its camping and caravan site, follows before we pass the village of Nassington, set back from the main channel of the river. After yet another old mill beside Elton Lock you travel beside the woods before coming to your final lock at Warmington.

Fotheringhay is an attractive little village with a lot of history. The first castle here was built in 1100 and the second in the 14th century. In 1452 Richard III was born here and in 1587 Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded in the castle, an event that proved to be the castle’s ruin as when her son, James I, came to the throne in 1603 he had it demolished and today only a few stones and the castle mound survive. The Collegiate Church at Fotheringhay dates back to the early 15th century and is an imposing building even today following its truncation by the removal of the Choir in the reign of Henry VIII.

There are moorings above the bridge close to the village pub, The Falcon, which has a good restaurant. Alternatively there are moorings below the bridge next to the castle mound. Both sets of moorings are provided by a local farmer and there is a fee payable (see notice boards on the moorings). Fotheringhay is a delightful place that makes a fitting end to your cruise but there are still over forty miles more of Nene cruising so if you have the time the Nene still has a lot of boating to offer.

Fenland Waterways