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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Ely & Cambridge, Fayres & local events, Guest & customer articles

Today as the river Great Ouse hosts the boat race we are fortunate to have a guest post from David Goode Fellow and Praelector of Wolfson College Cambridge regarding the boat race channel on the river Great Ouse.

Cambridge Oxford Boat Race on Ely Ouse Course 2021My friend, and fellow former Senior Proctor (though a year or two before I was Senior Proctor!), Gordon Johnson, asked me to write a few words about the bit of river — Sandall’s Cut — that is hosting the boat race this afternoon, as it also did in 1944. Here are those few words, which I hope you’ll find interesting.

I thought it’d be helpful to overlay a modern map with some reasonable approximations of old courses of some of the Fen rivers, which I’ve colour-coded for convenience. Red shows the course of the Ely Ouse from around 1110 to 1830.

Green shows an old course of the Little Ouse before it was diverted north. No one is entirely sure when that happened. In the Middle Ages, the old Ely Ouse and the old Little Ouse joined roughly where indicated, and then flowed off to the northwest towards Outwell as the Wellenhee (from where Welney gets its name) along what is now the mouth of Littleport Boathaven, and on to Wisbech.

The yellow course is the old course before the river was diverted in the early twelfth century to run through Ely and allow stone to be brought from Barnack Quarry in Northamptonshire, along the Nene to Wisbech, Wellenhee to Littleport, and on to Ely on the red course, to build the cathedral.

This red course via Prickwillow is the one we’re interested in today. Sandall’s Cut, the course used for the boat race, is the long, straight section you can see connecting the two open ends of the old red course.

Before drainage began in the seventeenth century, Wisbech was a sea port on The Wash. Cargo was unloaded there onto smaller boats, which took the Wellenhee across to Littleport, where it was reloaded onto yet smaller boats for the circuitous and difficult journey via Prickwillow to Ely, shown in red.

At some point in the Middle Ages — dating is very difficult, maybe in the fifteenth century, but could possibly have been a bit earlier — a cut was made to connect Lynn (later King’s Lynn) with Littleport, Wisbech’s importance faded, and the once-mighty Wellenhee became a backwater, before finally being bisected by Vermuyden’s Bedford Rivers in the seventeenth century.
Most cargo now came up river from Lynn directly to Littleport in large vessels, but there it met with a problem.

This old, natural, course between Littleport and Ely was too shallow and unreliable for navigation — often too dry in the summer and too boggy in the winter — which is why Sandall’s, or Sandy’s, Cut was dug between 1828 and 1830, offering almost straight navigation on a canalised new river more than 100 feet wide and, at the time, 20 feet deep.

It’s said that some 20,000 navvies dug the cut over two and a half years, all by hand, of course, in those days. The Cutter Inn in Ely took its name not from the boats called cutters, but from those men who cut their way through Middle Fen and Padnal Fen to shorten and straighten the river, and who presumably liked a pint or two at the end of a hard day’s work!

Sandall’s Cut opened in 1830, and there was now a quick, reliable, deep, straight channel, suitable for larger boats, between Littleport and Ely, and river trade flourished.
Well, it didn’t flourish for long. Within twenty years, the railway connecting Ely to the south with Cambridge and London was extended north to King’s Lynn, and from 1850 cargo could travel directly from the docks at Lynn to London on the same day.

Sandall’s Cut’s heyday was short, which is why we’re left today with an impressive four and a half mile long, deep, wide canal that took nearly three years and cost a fortune to cut, connecting two quiet Fenland towns in the middle of nowhere!

If you wish to cruise this route by narrowboat you can check out our holidays and short breaks we recommend a 4 night break to comfortably visit Ely.

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Booking budget tips, Canal Blog, Featured articles

canal boat holiday spring fens

Are you a fan of churches or chocolate?

Bunnies or spring flowers?

And narrowboat holidays?

As springtime approaches let Easter inspire your holiday plans by planning a canal boat route that includes chocolates, churches and newborn spring animals and waterfowl. Here are four reasons why Easter is a great time to book a holiday.

Churches

For stunning and ancient architecture you will be spoilt for choice on a Fox narrowboat trip. As well as Peterborough Cathedral, Ely Cathedral and the churches and colleges of Cambridge, there is also the unusual church at Fotheringhay on the River Nene. Views of this village are dominated by a perpendicular style church, dating in parts to the 15th Century. This was the site of Fotheringhay Castle where Richard III was born, and Mary, Queen of Scots, was tried and beheaded.

In our article Four Churches to Visit When it’s not Even Christmas we highlighted a few impressive churches that you would see when cruising from March to Cambridge. However, if you take the opposite direction when travelling from our March marina, you will eventually come across Wadenhoe Church, before being able to visit Peterborough Cathedral. Read: The Forgotten Churches You Should Visit by Boat

Chocolate Shops

A narrowboat cruise through the quaint villages and market towns of England is a lovely way to visit some charming independent shops. It doesn’t have to be Easter to enjoy a visit to a handmade chocolate shop. All of our boats have WiFi so you can locate your nearest chocolate shop on your chosen cruising route as you travel the waterways.

For example, Cherry Hill Chocolates is set in one of Ely Cathedral’s very own buildings, which fronts the High Street. The atmosphere and setting add to the charm of the freshly handmade chocolates on offer. They also sell ice cream within this beautiful 14th-century vaulted building. There is lots to see in Ely if you moor here during your holiday.

Spring Lambs, Fluffy Chicks, and Cuddly Bunnies

On a narrowboat holiday in East Anglia you may see sheep and cattle grazing in the fields, or ducks, ducklings, geese, goslings, swans and cygnets passing you by. But if you want to actually handle and feed the animals, you could visit a child friendly farm.

Sacrewell Farm is near Wansford, on The River Nene; Foxboat Route 4. Here in 550 acres of outdoor spaces there are animals to meet, as well as a recently restored 18th century watermill and a mini maze to explore. Highlights include horses, pigs, sheep, alpacas, goats, chickens and Jess the farm cat.

Church Farm can be found in Stow Bardolph, 15 miles north of Ely. Here children and grown-ups will be able to make friends with a whole range of ‘tame animals’ and their young. Animals at the farm include horses, sheep, goats, pigs, donkeys, poultry, guinea pigs, and cuddly bunnies. There’s also an adventure playground, or you could even try pig racing. Church Farm, can be visited as part of your narrowboat holiday if you cruise the River Ouse and moor at Downham Market You would be wise to take a taxi ride

(Check up to date information and opening times before travelling to any farm or tourist attraction during the current covid restrictions.)

Spring Flowers

Spring is a beautiful time to visit the Fenland waterways, with blossom on the trees, and primroses and daffodils to discover as you travel. If you are new to narrowboating it’s a wonderful way to travel in comfort while getting up close and personal with the wonders of nature. Boat handling training is provided at the start of your trip. Check availability now and plan your staycation for this spring or summer.

The end of the first lockdown last March saw holidaymakers desperate to get away on holiday, but with travel restrictions in place, it was easier to book a staycation than an overseas trip. So staycations are again anticipated to be popular this year, and early booking is advisable.

Read the full details of our Coronavirus guarantee.

To be notified with new holiday information as it changes, sign up for updates from this blog. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.) Just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and we’ll send you stories, tips and advice about narrowboating around the Fens in 2021.

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Books TV online narrowboating, Canal Blog, Featured articles, Narrowboaters knowledge

 

nature cure richard mabey

Can exploring a new rural landscape rescue you from a mental health crisis?

Maybe.

Richard Mabey’s book ‘Nature Cure’, describes his recovery from severe depression through walking, watching and writing about the Eastern region’s beautiful landscapes. Richard Mabey is a naturalist and award-winning author and journalist. He won wide acclaim on the publication of ‘Food for Free’ back in 1972. This was the definitive illustrated guide for aspiring foragers, listing dozens of edible plants and recipes.

If you want to restore your mental health and lift your low mood by walking in nature, we suggest taking a narrowboat journey to Wicken Fen nature reserve this year.

There you will find “Mother…” an art installation by Studio Morison, which can be found on the adventurers trail in the nature reserve. It is inspired by the restorative qualities of the beautiful fen landscape as described in Mabey’s book ‘Nature Cure’, and childhood memories of visiting the Fens and the Wash. It is a sculptural structure, and also a pavilion, that you can sit inside, and contemplate nature.

If you love to be lost in the landscape, but still keep all home comforts close at hand a Fenland narrowboat break could be just what you are looking for. Fenland, also known as the Fens, is an area of low-lying land in eastern England, with a fascinating number of navigable waterways to explore. As well as stunning countryside a Fenland holiday can included visits to charming villages, bustling market towns, the historic Ely Cathedral, and the famous Cambridge University colleges.

While we do expect to be busy this summer, our local waterways are always less crowded than the Norfolk Broads. So you will find plenty of peace and solitude under our vast Fenland skies. One of our best kept local secrets is the Wicken Fen Nature Reserve.

A fen is a type of wetland, similar to a marsh, swamp or bog. At the National Trust’s Wicken Fen, you can moor up at the end of Wicken Lode, see how the Fens used to look before they were drained, and visit the last working wind pump. There’s also a traditional Fenman’s cottage and a chance to explore the natural history of the area with nature walks.

Wicken Fen is a 12 hour cruise from our hire boat base in March, but you may want to take it slow, over a few days, and visit other places along the way. From our marina you will travel along the Old River Nene through the picturesque village of Outwell, to Salter’s Lode Junction. The River Great Ouse will take you south to the River Cam, and Wicken Lode will take you to Wicken Fen. The term “Lode” is an old English word meaning way or course. (Our suggestion for visiting Wicken Fen would be a holiday of a week or longer as time needs allowing for the tide crossing at Salters Lode.)

Wicken Lode turns off Reach Lode, and crosses Wicken Sedge Fen, running for nearly 1.5 miles to just short of the village of Wicken. There is a right of public navigation as far as its junction with Monk’s Lode.

Wicken Fen is one of the oldest nature reserves in England, as the National Trust bought their first part of it in 1899. The wetland is maintained by a drainage windmill pump and The National Trust Warden’s office includes a display which tells the history of the Fen and how it has been managed.

There are nature trails, boardwalks and a cycle route to explore the wet grassland, reed beds and scrub woodland. Visitors love the big skies, outdoor spaces, nature and wildlife. There are picnic tables in the car park and beside the boat house near the Visitor Centre. Dogs on leads are welcome on routes in the wider reserve. At the time of writing the café is temporarily closed, but you can keep up to date with any changes in current guidelines at The National Trust Website.

If you want to give your mental health a boost by wandering free under Fenland skies, and treading in the footsteps of famous forager Richard Mabey, then check availability now to book yourself a self-catering narrowboat staycation this summer. Wicken Fen is a real favourite for boaters travelling East from our base onto the river Great Ouse and its tributaries.

We want to offer you peace of mind, so Fox Narrowboats have a flexible booking policy for your protection. Read the full details of our Coronavirus guarantee. Also, if you book and pay in full for your 2021 holiday by 31st March you will beat the 15% VAT price increase.

To be notified with new holiday information as it changes, sign up for updates from this blog. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.) Just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and we’ll send you stories, tips and advice about narrowboating around the Fens in 2021.

Image: Wiki CC Paul Tuli Wicken Fen

 

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Booking budget tips, Canal Blog, Featured articles

inside fox canalboat

Is it wise to book a canal boat holiday for this year? Here’s our advice for you, if you’re struggling to decide whether to make any plans for a waterways getaway this summer.

Many of us are really feeling the need for a holiday this year. If after weeks in lockdown your desire to travel is starting to get the better of you, you may even be tempted to start dreaming of travelling abroad. However, The UK government has recently advised against booking a summer holiday abroad, and has even discussed introducing quarantine hotels.

The end of the first lockdown last March saw holidaymakers desperate to get away on holiday, but with so many travel restrictions in place, it was easier to book a staycation than an overseas trip. So staycations are again anticipated to be popular this year, and early booking is advisable.

How could things change later on this year?

A narrowboat staycation could be an attractive option this year, as the coronavirus vaccine continues to be rolled out. There are hopes that the vaccine will allow UK travel restrictions to be eased later in the year.

Previously the Prime Minister said he was “optimistic” people will be able to have holidays this summer, but that it would depend on things like the vaccine programme going well. The government gave an update on lifting lockdown on the 22nd February. Here is a useful BBC Article – Roadmap for lifting lockdown (23/02/21)

We are scheduled to open for holidays on 12th April 2021 if the roadmap allows.

Should I risk booking a canal holiday now?

We want to offer you peace of mind, so Fox Narrowboats have a flexible booking policy for your protection. This means that you could move your holiday to a later date with no ammendment fee if any coronavirus restrictions change your plans. Alternatively we also have a full no quibble refund, (terms apply).

Read the full details of our Coronavirus guarantee.

15% Discount

Now is a good time to book a Fox Boats holiday because there is currently a price discount of 15% available, due to the government’s VAT cut to 5% for the tourism and hospitality sectors. However, this is due to increase in April. So if you book and pay in full for your 2021 holiday by 31st March you will beat the 15% VAT price increase, as we are a cash accounting business.

Safety

We also have a number of Covid-19 safety measures in place. Day boats and holiday hire capacity are reduced to six people per group at the moment. Some of our boat handover procedure is now on video and we undertake triple cleaning between hire customers.

Read more: Holidays 2021: Narrowboat Staycations to Go Ahead

Check the boat you want is available now.

To be notified with new holiday information as it changes, sign up for updates from this blog. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.) Just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and we’ll send you stories, tips and advice about narrowboating around the Fens in 2021.

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Holiday deals & special days

The government has recently advised against booking a summer holiday abroad this summer, and discussed introducing quarantine hotels. Meanwhile, Valentine’s Day has just gone by and many of us are thinking of creative ways to surprise our partners; and yet romantic restaurants and hotels remain closed due to lockdown.

Booking a romantic narrowboat break is the perfect solution.

Your partner deserves a little getaway to look forward to later this year, and booking something in the UK is the safest option right now. England’s stunning countryside and rich heritage make it this year’s most romantic destination! We are looking forward to the day when boating will reopen and our holidays and day trips can continue. (Remember your booking is covered by our Covid guarantee.) Booking early will guarantee the dates that suit you and your plans.

Here are four reasons why narrowboats are the most romantic break right now.

A Different Date Every Day

One day you could be strolling hand in hand through a quiet nature reserve, the next you could be discovering the historical colleges and charming streets of Cambridge. From pretty village walks, quaint churches and cosy pubs, to the nostalgic steam trains of the Nene Valley Railway, the Fens offer an idyllic English countryside experience. Shop in ancient market towns and discover quaint independent shops. Then eat out in a fancy restaurant, or absorb the incredible architecture of Ely Cathedral. A waterways guide book is provided with your boat and will give you lots of ideas of places to stop, whichever boating route you decide to take.

More Glamour Than Glamping

A narrowboat is the perfect way to enjoy being close to nature with all the modern conveniences of staying in a holiday cottage. You may be surprised to discover that your boat comes equipped with radiator central heating, a microwave, hairdryer, WiFi, flatscreen TV with Freeview, full size oven, fridge, electric power points, and comfortable duvets and bed linen. It’s a cosy and secluded place to snuggle up with a glass of wine together at the end of the day. Enjoy the solitude of your own private boat on the quiet East Anglian waterways. Our Rural Fox narrowboat is perfect for a couple, and the price includes VAT, diesel, gas, car parking, towels and bedlinen. Brand new in 2019, Rural Fox is a luxury narrow boat with fully fitted galley and a saloon with a folding table for eating.

The View Changes Daily

A luxury hire boat is the romantic hideaway that moves, and the view changes every day. You may start the day moored in the countryside, with only swans and livestock as your neighbours, but by that evening you could be moored in historic Ely, wandering the ancient streets and deciding on the perfect romantic restaurant. Variety is the spice of life, and will keep your romantic holiday interesting!

New Experiences Create Shared Memories

If it’s your first time learning to navigate and steer a canal boat it can bring you closer together to develop these new skills. (Read: What’s it Like to Actually Steer a Narrowboat?) We offer free boat handling training at the start of your holiday. You get to plan your own route, and decide where to shop and where to eat as you go along. Take lots of photos and reminisce about these memories long after the holiday is over. An adventure shared is a bonding experience.

On a three night weekend break you could cruise to the cathedral city of Ely, or head along the pretty River Nene to Ferry Meadows Country Park. (Read more in: Two Valentine’s Breaks to Fall in Love With.) There’s nothing like spending quality time together cruising the waterways on your own narrowboat; just the two of you. Give yourself something really special for you both to look forward to this year.

Top tip: You can beat the VAT 15% price rise if you book and pay in full by 31st March 2021.

Love canal boating? For more surprising and unusual tips and ideas for days out on the Fenland Waterways, enter your email address in the box in the right side-bar (‘Follow blog’) and we’ll send you articles direct to your in box.

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Narrowboaters knowledge

first time narrowboating

Are you new to narrowboating?

Are you planning your first canal boat holiday?

Do you want to be well-prepared before you set off?

Let us share a few insider secrets that every new boater should know. These simple safety tips will ensure that your first cruise is a great success, and that everyone has the best holiday.

Who’s in charge?

Before you board your narrowboat you may like to choose a skipper for your group. Our trained instructor will make sure the skipper and crew know how to handle your narrowboat, and have all the skills needed for the Fenland waterways. We will also provide any information you may need about our local navigation conditions and tides.

As you board your holiday boat you can rest assured that the Fox Narrowboats team will have already prepared it, checking that the engine and fuel systems are in good condition, and that the boat meets all of the standard Boat Safety Scheme requirements.

Plan Your Route

You can make a rough plan about where you want to go using the waterways guide book provided with the boat. You may also like to plan your route from home before you visit Fox Boats, with an online service such as BoatSatNav or CanalPlanAC. But bear in mind that when cruising you may not always be in an area with a good phone signal, so you will also need the guide book as a backup. To really enjoy yourself it’s important to allow enough time to complete your journey without rushing, and allow plenty of time for stops and visits to local villages, towns, landmarks and other attractions. You can add the number of locks in your route to the number of miles and divide by three to get an idea of the number of hours your cruise will take. However, it may take longer if you need to wait to use a lock, or if you find a lovely place that inspires you to stop for longer!

There should be enough fuel on board for your trip, but depending on how long your planned journey is, and how many crew members are on board, you may need to factor in re-filling the water tank at a waterways service point. These boaters facilities will be marked in your canal guide book.

Make sure you keep your mobile phone charged as you travel, in case of emergency. There are charging points on board. You may like to save the Fox Narrowboats number into your phone.

Safety First

Even though you may be on holiday, boating and drinking is not such a good idea. Alcohol is often a contributory factor to drowning accidents in the UK. The chances of a boating accident happening increase when you drink alcohol, so we advise waiting until you have moored up for the day, before enjoying a drink. We also do not recommend cruising in the dark, or when there is poor visibility. If you do have to do this please take extra care.

Shipshape

Before you set off, spend some time getting to know your boat. The back end is called the stern, the pointy end is the bow! If you are standing at the back of the boat, in the steerer’s position, the right side of the boat will be starboard. The left side of your boat is called port.

And finally, before you begin your cruise make sure you know the location of any safety equipment, such as lifejackets, the fire extinguishers, fire blanket, first aid kit and a torch. Your Foxboats instructor will show you where to find the anchor, bilge pump, mooring stakes and hammer, boat pole, gangplank, and windlasses. A windlass is an essential L-shaped tool that allows you to work the locks. You should also make sure you know where are the emergency shut-offs for the battery, gas and fuel. It may seem like a lot to learn but this will all become clear when you arrive for your Fox Narrowboat handover, and our friendly staff will be there to answer any queries you may have.

Having read this article we hope you now feel confident enough to nominate yourself the skipper of your crew! You may also like to read: What’s it Like to Actually Steer a Narrowboat?

More to read: The Top 10 Narrowboat Holiday Ideas for 2021

For more ideas to add to this year’s holiday plans, sign up for digital updates from this blog. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.) Just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and get insider knowledge about the Fenland Waterways.

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Get healthy

canal lock

Have you been experiencing anxiety?

Are you suffering from low-mood?

Have the events of 2020 left you feeling isolated?

You are not alone. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated many common mental health problems in the UK population, leading to concerns that there is currently a mental health crisis. The NHS, small community groups and national charities have all done their best to support anyone reaching out for help in 2020. But what can you do to support your own mental health and wellbeing?

Good mental wellbeing does not mean that you no longer experience life’s challenges or difficult feelings, but it does mean maintaining your inner resilience so that you can cope with life’s ups and downs as they happen. Here are five ways to improve your mental health in 2021.

Get Active

Taking a narrowboat day trip or canal boat holiday can be a fun way to take part in some gentle physical activity. Boat handling involves pulling mooring ropes, hammering mooring pins, and operating locks. Using a lock includes winding the paddles, pushing balance beams, opening lock gates, holding mooring ropes and sometimes climbing ladders. Between locks you may find yourself walking on the towpath, and when the boat is moored up you may enjoy longer walks, just for fun. Dogs are welcome on most of our hire boats.

Human Connections

If this age of social isolation has taught us anything, it is the value of our friends and family, and connecting with other human beings. Book a narrowboat trip with your family and support bubble this year, and take the opportunity to spend some quality time together. Boats can be hired for weekend, midweek or week breaks, as well as 10, 11 or 14 nights.

Connect With Nature

Spending time outdoors is widely recognised as being beneficial for mental and physical health. Exercising outdoors, or practicing mindfulness outdoors, have both been proven to increase wellbeing. Mindfulness is simply focussing your awareness on the present moment without judgement. Being around animals can also have positive effects. Nature improves mood and reduces stress. It can improve confidence and self-esteem, and improve your physical health by encouraging you to be more active. We hire canal boats near to Cambridge and Ely from our marina in March, Cambridgeshire. The Fenland waterways are a large network of rivers and canals packed with wildlife to enjoy.

Connect With Others

Helping others is a recognised way to improve your own sense of wellbeing as it shifts the focus away from ruminating about your own issues. If you love canals you could use the NCBA website to find your nearest community boating project and get involved. Local projects tend to facilitate access to the waterways for disadvantaged and excluded groups, promote social cohesion and protect the environment. Alternatively you could volunteer with the Canal and Rivers Trust or the Inland Waterways Association to get that feel-good factor that comes with helping others.

Take a Break

Enjoying the outdoors is a real benefit of travelling by canal boat. The activities needed to operate the boat and locks will help you to keep fit and active whilst also experiencing the stunning Fenland waterways. If towpath walking or jogging isn’t your thing, then boost your mental health with a creative hobby such as photography or painting. It’s not all about outdoor activity. A canal boat holiday is taken at a leisurely pace, and at the end of an active day enjoying life on the waterways you can sleep peacefully in a comfortable narrowboat cabin. Remember, self-care is a necessity not a luxury. So check our availability now for a narrowboat break this year. Search canal boat breaks.

Keep up with the latest news: Click ‘Blog’ (top right) and look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the right sidebar to get the latest helpful holiday tips in these changing times. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

 

 

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Fayres & local events, Featured articles

roving traders canal boat market

Photo: RCTA Roving Canal Traders (top.left), WendyBsfloatingartgallery (bottom+middle), nancymoo-22 ebay (right)

After the recent lockdown it’s now more important than ever to support the small businesses and communities around us this festive season. By celebrating canal-based businesses and the products they produce we can celebrate the boaters themselves, and the stories behind them.

We have handpicked a couple of gift suggestions from independent canal traders to create a unique guide that will make your Christmas shopping simple and stress free. We want to showcase the talents of waterways artists, shop owners and independent book sellers whilst also providing a practical way to shop for your loved ones.

The Floating Market

The Roving Canal Traders Association are currently hosting an online Christmas Market Place on Facebook every day until 17th December 2020.  Boating business are posting their wares for sale daily, with links to their websites, Facebook pages, Instagram and Etsy shops.

RCTA Christmas Market: https://www.facebook.com/events/365873371151095/

This virtual online Christmas market is showcasing all canal traders, both floating and land-based.

roving canal traders market boats

Photo: RCTA Roving Canal Traders Market

Unless you have extensively walked or travelled the canals of England and Wales, you will not have seen most of these traders or experienced the talent among them. The real fun of a floating market usually lies in strolling down a crowded towpath, chatting to the many characters that live and work on the “cut”. But this year’s pandemic has put a stop to such social events, and left many independent traders struggling. So please take some time to browse the posts knowing that floating traders are self-sufficient, and leave only a small carbon footprint on our world. It’s a chance to find a special, one-off gift while also supporting small business.

The Floating Traders Online

Wendy Baughn is an international artist who used to be moored at Fox Boats marina. She has been painting all of her life, and offers acrylic paintings on stretched canvas boards. On her floating art gallery Facebook page you can see examples of her portraits, animals, scenic views and canal scenes.

Check out: https://m.facebook.com/WendyBsfloatingartgallery/

She is currently moored on the Shropshire Union canal.

Nancy Moo sells ethnic clothes, shoes, accessories and jewellery from her narrowboat, where she lives aboard with her two dogs. She sources the items herself, when travelling in India, and sells her wares while cruising the Grand Union Canal. Items include embroidered boho bags, a variety of beanies and other wooly hats, Tibetan yak wool shawls and throws, boho earrings, scarves, gloves, and embroidered silk cushion covers from Kashmir.

Check out her eBay shop: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/nancymoo-22/m.html

Word on the Water, the London Bookbarge, is A 100 year old Dutch barge, selling quality second hand and new books. They have classics, cult, contemporary fiction, a large range of children’s books and art and photography, plus some quirky stuff that you would never think to look for but may be very pleased to find. Before Covid-19 restrictions, visitors could enjoy a wood-burning stove, poetry slams, readings and live acoustic music on their roof stage. To request any book for delivery to your door just use the form on their website. They also have a selection of Christmas gift suggestions. Let’s support the little guys instead of Amazon this year.

Word on the Water: https://www.wordonthewater.co.uk/

The Gift of Family Time

Christmas can be a time to appreciate the people we love, despite the struggles our loved ones may have been through this year. Instead of giving gifts under the tree you may like to treat one another to an opportunity to spend quality time together in 2021.

If you book a day-boat hire trip for next spring you could surprise your family with the idea on Christmas Day. Boating appeals to all ages; so family members can be as active or relaxed as they like. You can bring a picnic, buy fish and chips, or find a pub or restaurant along the way. You may even get the kids away from gaming, and the adults away from their smart phones!

Find out more: Day Boat Hire near Cambridge and Ely

Tuition and lifejackets are included and there is no extra charge for fuel. You could ask the whole family to chip in, and agree to make some good memories together in 2021.

You may also like: The Ultimate Canal Boater’s Christmas Gift Guide

Beyond Christmas: The Forgotten Churches You Should Visit by Boat

From all at Fox Narrowboats, Merry Christmas and happy shopping!

PS: One more gift for you! Click ‘Blog’ (top right) and look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the right sidebar to get the latest helpful holiday tips in these changing times. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

Photo: Copyright is held by the respective traders and associations

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Narrowboaters knowledge

steering a narrowboat

Are you new to narrowboating?

Are you wondering if it’s difficult to learn the ropes?

Will you be nervous about turning the boat, or mooring?

“Don’t worry. It will definitely be OK”

When somebody asks me what it’s like to actually steer a narrowboat, my first response is, “Brilliant. I love it.” There is nothing like the feeling of being connected with nature, gliding under tree branches, noticing ducks passing you by on the rippling water. There is an amazing sense of freedom, and a feeling of being part of the world, in a way that you never get when travelling cocooned inside a car. Travelling by boat is slower, obviously, and it is this slowness that allows you to mindfully notice all that is around you.

But can anybody do it? Yes, I think so. Even supervised children can do it, and they did do it during the canal age when whole families lived and worked on boats. The new series of Great Canal Journeys on Channel 4 should be an inspiration to anyone new to boating, as you can watch Gyles (72) and Sheila (87) learn how to steer, moor up and operate locks.

At Fox Narrowboats we have qualified instructors that will give you full training during the boat handover.

“We took our family on March Adventurer out to Whittlesey and back on Saturday. It was a great day, the team at Fox’s was very accommodating and the driving tutorial made the whole thing a doddle (mostly!) Had a fab time, and would highly recommend it to anyone!”

– Lawrence Weetman (Facebook review).

Before you set off, start the engine and keep it in neutral while it warms up a little. Untie the front and back mooring ropes from the bank, but leave them tied to the boat, ready for use when you want to moor up again. On rivers, untie the downstream rope first. Make sure your ropes can’t fall and trail in the water, particularly at the back, as you don’t want them to get accidentally wound around the propeller. Remove any mooring pins from the ground and stow them on board in a place where you can easily get them when mooring up again. Push the boat away from the bank so that you can make an easy departure with your propeller in deep water. In shallow water you may need to reverse the boat away from the bank a bit, before changing into forward gear.

On the waterways we travel on the right, so remember this if you meet another boat approaching from the opposite direction. Take it slowly, particularly past moored boats, fishermen and other waterway users. If your boat is creating a breaking wave behind you, you’re going too fast!

Canal boats are steered with a tiller. Pushing the tiller to the right will make the boat turn left and vice versa. This can feel counter-intuitive at first. You will need to plan ahead, as the boat will take a few seconds to respond to your intentions – nothing happens quickly on the cut! Most boats pivot from around the middle of their length when you are turning. This is useful to remember if you’re passing through a narrow gap like a bridge or a lock. Look out for currents that could push you off course, and be aware that steering on a windy day can be a bit more challenging!

Give yourself plenty of time to stop, because there are no brakes! To stop the boat, move into neutral, and then use reverse gear to slow down until you finally come to a stop. Bear in mind that it’s very difficult to steer a canal boat when you’re going backwards. Don’t let any passengers stand or sit in the way of the tiller – at best they could interfere with your steering, and at worst they may get knocked into the water!

You may like this new pocket book that has just been published, Canal Boat Steering – How to Move Your Boat, by Janul. This book is packed with detailed information on how to get started, or to improve your existing technique. Janul is an experienced RYA Instructor for courses including the RYA Helmsman. Her qualifications also include the MCA Boatmaster, used during many seasons of work on Jason’s Trip, in Little Venice, London. After four decades of diverse boating, including coalboats, tugs and other workboats, Jan’s teaching has an edge of varied technique.

At Foxboats, one of our RYA qualified instructors will not let you begin your boating journey until he is fully confident in you being able to handle the boat and operate the locks. The show round and training can take around an hour at the start of your holiday. You won’t need a licence to drive a Fox narrowboat. The rivers have a speed limit around 4 mph, (about walking pace) with some wider rivers having a slightly higher figure, usually 7mph.

More questions about boating? Check out our FAQs.

I hope this has given you a good introduction into what it’s really like to steer a narrowboat. If you want to try it yourself try booking a daytrip or a holiday for spring 2021. Check availability here.

Hey! Are you new here? Click ‘Blog’ (top right) and look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the right sidebar to receive more helpful holiday tips about the Fenland Waterways. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

image: Fox Narrowboats Day Boat

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Books TV online narrowboating, Canal Blog, Featured articles
Alarmy MTDCKJ licence 10 Nov 2020
Alarmy MTDCKJ licence 10 nov 2020

Alarmy MTDCKJ licence 10 Nov 2020

Do you dream of going on great canal journeys?

Are you stuck at home when you’d rather be boating?

Fancy living vicariously through the travels of others?

You may like to check out Channel 4’s new series of Great Canal Journeys.

After ten series of navigating the canals, lakes and river of the world, Prunella Scales and Timothy West’s televised canal journeys have sadly come to an end. Best known for playing Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers, Pru’s struggle with Alzheimer’s became a poignant aspect of the programme, and has now forced the couple to stop filming. The beloved actors have a lifetime of canal boating experience behind them, and their passion for it made them the ideal presenters of this show.

However, Channel 4 has opted to continue the series with two new presenters, actor Sheila Hancock and author and presenter Gyles Brandreth. They’re not a couple, but they are friends who have previously appeared alongside each other on Celebrity Gogglebox. The charm of the original travel programme really lay in watching Tim and Pru’s wonderful marriage on screen, so I thought that changing the remit to two travelling friends might change the mood somewhat. To ease the transition Timothy West joined Gyles and Sheila in the first episode, which aired on 8th November 2020.

“I don’t even know stern from aft!” says Gyles. The friends confess they know nothing about canal boating, but that Tim and Pru have told them anyone can do it. “We are throwing ourselves in at the deep end, and hoping we float!” says Gyles.

The episode begins with Tim welcoming them onto a day-boat at Broxbourne on the River Lee, for a bit of basic training in steering, operating a lock and mooring up. Then their first real journey beings at Pangbourne on the Thames, where they board a 70 foot wide beam. They investigate the bathroom and there is a comedy moment as Gyles accidentally pulls a handle off the toilet, showing viewers that anyone new to boating can make mistakes! During the episode they cruise towards London through Henley, Cliveden and Royal Windsor, and invite a historian on board to chat about the history of the Thames.

“The waterways teaches history that can’t be found in books. They show us how to go with the flow,” says Sheila. (If you like history you can visit Cambridge Universities, Ely Cathedral and Oliver Cromwell’s House on a Fox Boats holiday.)

Then Sheila, 87, joins a women’s rowing team, proving that it’s never too late to try something new. Gyles also is a likeable character. He jokes about doing a Titanic Leonardo DiCaprio impression, while standing on the bow as they enter London by boat.

I had my reservations about this show going forward without the loveable Tim and Pru, but actually it has the same life-affirming vibe, showing us that getting out on the water can make you feel alive! Although Tim and Pru had 40 years of boating experience to share with the viewers, these two are demonstrating that anyone can give boating a go, and learn new skills. Is it still heart-warming and funny? Absolutely. Are there stunning aerial views of waterways, and intriguing glimpses into life afloat? Of course.

If it’s some time since you’ve been boating, this new version of Great Canal Journeys will inspire you to get back out on the water. At Fox Narrowboats you can ease yourself in gently with day boat hire, or take a week’s long break on a comfortable holiday boat. We are now taking bookings for next year.

If you missed the first episode of Great Canal Journeys you can watch it on demand on All 4, Channel 4’s streaming service. (To watch Channel 4 on demand you simply have to sign up with an email address and view on your TV, tablet or computer.)

You may also like:

How to Experience Some Great Canal Journeys from Your Own Home

Cruise Like Tim and Pru from Great Canal Journeys: How to Reconnect With the Ones You Love

How to Holiday Like a Celebrity Without it Costing a Fortune

Keep in Touch: Subscribe on the right to receive more stories of British canal journeys, by email. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

Photo: Licenced stock photo Alarmy MTDCKJ 10 Nov 2020 OY48986454

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