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

narrowboat books christmas

If you and your family love canal boats and narrowboating, take the pressure off of this year’s Christmas shopping and check out these unusual stocking fillers and gift ideas for your loved ones. We’ve done the research and all of these can be bought on line, so you can just sit back and relax with a lap-top while you’re Christmas shopping this year.

For the narrowboater who has almost everything, a thoughtfully chosen book is always welcome. The Imray canal guides are popular paperback books for river users planning trips along the Rivers Nene, Ouse, Cam and the Middle Levels; they make a great gift for your partner, dad or granddad. They contain maps for planning the cruises, details of moorings to stop at, and things to see and do.

Charlie Fox: Building a Legacy is a book that tells the life story of boat-builder Charlie Fox, founder of Fox Narrowboats. This will especially appeal to canal history enthusiasts and owners of Fox narrowboats. The design and build of one of Charlie’s boats is distinctively recognisable. There is even a Charlie Fox Boat Owners group on Facebook, where boat owners share pictures of their own boats and other ones sighted around the UK waterways.

‘Maidens Trip’ was first published in 1948 and is the semi-fictionalised story of Emma Smith and her two friends’ experiences of working on the Grand Union Canal during wartime. When boatmen were called up to fight, land-dwelling women were recruited to operate the boats. It offers an insight into the forgotten culture of the boat people, and the all-but bygone occupation of cargo carrying on the canals. This book will appeal to the women in your life who love boating.

‘Ramlin Rose: The Boatwoman’s Story’ by Sheila Stewart is my favourite narrowboating book. Sheila Stewart interviewed several women who were born, lived and worked on the waterways, and compiled their anecdotes into a fictional biography of a woman called Rose. It is fascinating to read about the practicalities of day to day life, and how the women managed to cook, clean, shop, birth and bring up babies, all while working the cargo boats. This book is a fascinating read if you are a mother, as it offers an insight into the challenges boating mothers faced in those days.

Do you remember the 1990’s children’s TV series, ‘Rosie and Jim’? Script writer and presenter of the programme, John Cunliffe, turned some of the episodes into children’s story books. John steered the boat ‘Ragdoll’, Duck sat on the roof, and Rosie and Jim learned about using locks and other aspects of canal travel. These books are a great introduction to inland boating for younger children.

Discover our local Fens navigations, back-waters, towns and villages with a DVD and enjoy the beauty of our Fenland waterways from the comfort of your own home. In From Source to Sea – River Great Ouse, Matt Hayes cruises down the Great Ouse on his boat with Fens expert Ernie Hall, and learns how the fens were created. Later, Matt fishes for Skimmer Bream. It’s then downstream to the City of Ely, to see the amazing Cathedral.

If you know someone who is planning a boating holiday next year this DVD may help them to decide what they want to see on their canal trip in 2020.

If you’ve already been on a narrowboat holiday why not get last year’s photos made into coasters, a cushion, a mug or a photo book? Fox boats holidays offer some stunning photo opportunities of watery sunsets, Fenland skyscapes and quaint, ancient villages.

The Christmas Gift That the Whole Family Will Love

Are you still struggling to come up with a gift idea? Do you wish your family spent more time together? Want to get the kids away from gaming, and the adults away from their smart phones?

Then a day out on the waterways could be the unique gift you are looking for! Our day hire vouchers for a trip on a narrowboat are for up to 10 people and make a wonderful Christmas gift. (Get an idea of what you might see on your day out, in this short video clip: Day boat hire near Cambridge and Ely.)

A day boat hire trip can be taken any midweek day between Easter and 30th September. Tuition and lifejackets are included and there is no extra charge for fuel. You can buy the voucher now and use it when the weather is warmer; this will give everyone time to synchronise their diaries! You could ask the whole family to chip in, and agree to make some memories together in 2020.

Buy now: Day Hire Vouchers

We hope these ideas solve some of your gift buying problems, and we wish you a very happy Christmas from everyone at Fox Narrowboats.

You may also like – Day Boat Hire: The Surprising Alternative to Punting in Cambridge

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Guest & customer articles, Towns & villages
Historian and Author Bill Smith

Historian and Author Bill Smith

Local Historian and Author Bill Smith tells us about the Upwell and Outwell Tram Projects. Bill has been a member of the Well Creek Trust since the 1970’s when our own founder Charlie Fox was also a member. This is a unique article Bill has written for us and edited by Susan Lowe.  It is the first time he has publically mentioned the dontation that enable the project to get started Ted Harper.

The Wisbech to Upwell Tram Projects –  Background and  history information.

The  memento  Projects is to celebrate the memory of the Wisbech Upwell Tramway. The Wisbech to Outwell Tramway opened as an experiment in 1883 and was extended to Upwell in 1884. At its peak, six trams a day in each direction provided passenger and, most importantly, freight services for local produce to Wisbech and then via the main railway link to larger towns and cities. Competition from motorised buses ended passenger services in 1927. Freight continued until 1966 when it was cut as part of the “Beeching Axe”. The final tram journey took place May 20, 1966.

Remembering the Tramway is of importance for all living in the area but also for those much further afield – for rail aficionados and enthusiasts, for local history lovers and tourists and also for millions of fans of Thomas the Tank Engine the creation of the Reverend Wilbert Awdry who was vicar of the nearby village of Emneth (1953 -1965). Toby the Tram Engine and his coach, Henrietta and later, Mavis, the Drewry diesel  tram (1952) were based on rolling stock used on the Tramway. Very little evidence of the former Tramway remain today which highlighted the necessity for the Wisbech to Upwell tram projects.

The idea for the Wisbech to Upwell Tram Project came from a conversation, back in the early 1980s  between William (Bill) Smith and Andrew Ingram (who had at that time written The Wisbech & Upwell Tramway Centenary Album -1983).   Andrew remarked to Bill that, “The people of Outwell and Upwell should have kept some reminders of the tramway.  It would have elevated those two villages as there is a vast interest in the old railways”.  Following that exchange, Bill decided to produce a tram memento for Outwell, the village in which he lives.

Bill first embarked upon producing a tram memento for the former tram yard site at Outwell and was given an old Norfolk County Council, spherical road sign marked “Outwell” that had been buried at Bexwell Airfield in1940 during the Second World War.  It would eventually form the centre-piece of the Outwell Memento.  Then, aided by his friends John Button and Tony Judd, he started to source discarded tram-related relics and other authentic railway materials contacting many organisations in the process. They spoke to staff at Bressingham Steam Museum who directed them to a railway “graveyard” at Hardingham in Norfolk.  Bill was offered two full-size Victorian tram wheels fixed to an axle (these gave birth to the Upwell memento idea) and other parts needed to make an installation for Upwell.  These very early tram wheels and axle were designed to run on “bull-head rail” the same type used for the Wisbech to Upwell tramway.

In April 2016 (03/04/2016) on behalf of the people of Outwell and Upwell, Bill submitted a planning application to the Borough Council King’s Lynn & West Norfolk (BCKLWN) for the two mementos to be located in the old tram yards of the two villages.  The submission was supported by  Outwell & Upwell Parish Councillors, local residents adjacent to each site and also the Middle Level Internal Drainage Board (at Outwell) and the Health Centre Managers (at Upwell).  In addition, Michael Walsh (BCKLWN, Property Services) also gave his support.

The Outwell Memento, phase one was unveiled July 2016 (pic A) by two of Outwell’s oldest residents, Norman Wenn and Iris Risebrow – pictured  with Bill Smith.  A vast selection of historical photographs, from Bill’s collection, was also put on display in St Clement’s Church.  The photographs were collected by Bill over the past 40 odd years that has resulted in him producing six local history books.

Welle Film Productions – a local film-making group – captured footage of the event with the intention of adding to it by following the future progress of the Wisbech to Upwell Tram Project.

About the same time, Bill being a Well Creek Trust (WCT) member since 1970 approached them to act as fund-holders for the cash donations that were being pledged for the Project.  WCT, which serves to maintain the ‘survival for all time’ of another local amenity once earmarked for closure – the Well Creek – was a natural choice as their constitution allows them to support other amenities.

Later that year the Project suffered a major setback involving ‘people and politics’ and a lengthy series of very unfortunate occurrences that saw the Upwell installation being put on-hold indefinitely and many of the railway materials that had taken so much effort to source were lost.  These events caused much anxiety and stress to many local people, particularly Bill and his family, and cast a dark cloud over what to that point had been an enjoyable and rewarding process for all involved.

Fortunately the realisation of the importance for the local area came to the rescue.  The Project was put back on track by a committee, primarily of WCT members rallied by Bill, who approached Wisbech Town and Elm and Emneth Parish Councils with the aim of applying for grant funding to produce further mementos for installation not only at Upwell but also along the entire Tramway route.

To beat the expiry date of the original planning permission Ted Harper a newcomer to the area  donated five hundred pounds to prompt the start of the Phase Two project. Sadly Ted died soon after the Upwell project had been unveiled but he did get to see our project reach fruition. Ted’s contribution allowed us to begin the building and installation of the Upwell Tram Memorial (Phase Two)  to go ahead before the middle of August 2019.  Local company, SDM Fabrication of March, offered its services free-of-charge to build and transport the memorial ready for public display.  The event took place on Saturday 27th July and Bill Smith awarded the unveiling honour to ninety-year old Mary Williamson whose husband Bill was manager (until 1974) of Coote & Warren Ltd coal merchants who had a branch at the Upwell tram depot.  Despite a downpour a good crowd turned out to witness the event and then attended the display of tram photographs and other memorabilia coordinated by Bill, assisted by Upwell WI and St Peter’s Church members.  The whole day was again filmed by Welle Film Productions – look out for more details once editing has been completed.

Bill Smith and Mary Williamson who unvieled the Memorial
Bill Smith at the Upwell memorial
Mick Walker and Bill Smith The back of Phase 2 memorial Upwell
Left to right Bill Smith, Tony Judd and a founder Well Cree Trust member Philip Doubleday
Outwell Memorial
View from The Tramway
Outwell memorial very close to Lance Hunter_Rowe Boat Haven

All pictures and text were supplied by William (Bill) Smith .

 

If you are interested in the Tramway Project Bill is giving a presentation with a unique collection of images at Upwell Village Hall on Friday 29th November Starting at 7.30pm. Address  6 New Road, Upwell, PE14 9AB all proceeds are for the Well Creek Trust and Tram Phase Three Project.

It is possible to visit the Tram Project on a day out by boat from our marina at March.

Hey! Are you new here? Subscribe on the right to receive more secrets of the undiscovered Fenland waterways, by email. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, two to three times a month.)

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Get healthy

tow path walk beat SAD

Is the Autumn weather making you miserable now?

Is the drizzle bringing you down?

Could you be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder?

You are not alone! The extended Brexit deadline means that the depressing political debates are still ongoing a General Election is looming, and the nights are drawing in now, the clocks have gone back. These are gloomy times. Has scientific research shown that booking a narrowboat holiday can lighten your mood? Probably not. But it still may be fun to choose your favourite narrowboat and plan your ideal cruise for next year.

The exact cause of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) isn’t fully understood, but it’s thought to be related to reduced exposure to sunlight during the shorter autumn and winter days. While your winter blues may not have the severity of this mental health condition, the NHS suggested lifestyle changes may help anyone suffering with a low mood. It is recommended to get as much natural sunlight as possible, exercise regularly and manage your stress levels.

If you live locally to a canal, a walk along the towpath can provide you with sunlight and exercise, even if that sunlight is struggling through the grey October clouds. Exercise doesn’t have to be intense, or a huge effort; a simple walk in nature may lift your mood. Even if you live in a city the canal towpath can often be a source of serenity, away from the bustle of traffic and shops. You may even find ducks, swans and geese on the canal. Being close to the water and nature may help you to manage your stress levels.

On a narrowboat holiday you may find that you are outside more than you would be on some other kinds of British holiday. Whether you are relaxing on deck, or in charge of the steering, it’s very pleasant to be chatting with a mug of tea in hand as you travel along. A narrowboat holiday also comes with interesting exercise options included, such as, operating the locks, walking between the locks, and pulling ropes and hammering pegs when mooring the boat up. A holiday is obviously a good way of managing stress levels, because a break from your day to day life can be so rejuvenating. However, a narrowboat holiday can be particularly good for relieving stress, as you get to travel slowly through stunning scenery, under our spectacular Fenland skies, away from the noise of modern life. Exercise, spending time in nature, and practising mindfulness are all effective ways of managing stress.

You may like: Feeling Stressed? 5 Ways This Unknown Village Can Soothe Your Soul

Foxboats are ideally situated on the uncrowded east Anglian waterways, giving you the best opportunity to get away from it all. Whether it’s the tranquillity of Ely Cathedral, the grandeur of Cambridge’s colleges, or the meandering natural beauty of the River Nene, we feel that our local waterways can beat the blues in a way that no other navigations can!

Read: The Four Navigations That Make All Other Waterways Jealous

Where else can you visit art galleries, museums and churches and explore England’s history at Oliver Cromwell’s house? Go shopping in Peterborough or visit a traditional Farmer’s Market. Have a traditional cream tea at The Old Barn Tea Rooms in the riverside village of Wadenhoe, or visit the Stained Glass Museum in Ely.

You may also like: 10 Ways to Chill When you Hire a Narrowboat

We’re pretty confident that our narrowboat holidays can chase away the blues because of the great feedback we get from our customers. Check out the kind words we’ve received in our customer reviews.

Still sad? Start browsing our holiday boat availability for next year, and plan how to get to your happy place!

For more articles to make you smile, 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 sign up today!

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Guest & customer articles

We received this incomplete email from a fellow fox boat owner late last night:-

 

I’m currently moored near Prickwillow on the River Lark, somewhere between the middle of nowhere and the back of beyond.

 

I’ve just been reading a local folk tale of a lady who had come from India to live near Prickwillow with a ‘child’ who appeared to be half human and half ape. The child was captured and taken to Cambridge but escaped, terrifying the local townsfolk. 

Although she was shot and wounded, she managed to make her way home across the fen, killing those she met. She died after strangling the lady who had looked after her. The derelict cottage lies near a remote mooring on the River Lark.  No one goes near the old home as, on a misty night, two shadowy figures can be seen, one a lady, the other an ape with its arm around the lady’s waist.

 

There’s just been an awful commotion outside of the boat’s window,  I’ve managed to snatch a picture, and I’m going out to investigate ………

the email abruptly finished there. This is the photo that came with it :-

If ghosts and the paranormal are your thing you might wish to check out some of our previous mysterious Fenland stories. How to hunt Fenland Ghoasts, Even when it isn’t Halloween or 5 Halloween Stories that will Haunt your Holiday Plans.

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

his dark materials bbc hbo

Image courtesy HBO & BBC

Do you enjoy reading fantasy adventures?

Want to get lost in a romantic landscape?

Fancy yourself as a wandering traveller?

Then let these ‘Gyptian’ characters inspire you!

His Dark Materials is a new fantasy adventure TV series set to premiere on BBC One on 3rd November 2019. It’s based on a series of three novels by Philip Pullman.

The first book in the trilogy, Northern Lights, (sometimes known as The Golden Compass) is set in a parallel universe. It describes the quest of a young girl, Lyra Belacqua, who travels from Oxford to the Arctic in search of her kidnapped friend, Roger. She is assisted by a fictional ethnic group called the Gyptians, who live aboard boats and travel the rivers and canals. The name ‘Gyptian’, like ‘Gypsy’, is derived from ‘Egyptian’. Lyra’s Gyptian friends come from “Eastern Anglia”, the counterpart in Lyra’s world, of East Anglia in our world.

When Lyra joins the Gyptians they are travelling, by boat, to a big muster in the Fens. Pullman describes the area as,

“That wide and never fully mapped wilderness of huge skies and endless marshland in Eastern Anglia. The furthest fringe of it mingled indistinguishably with the creeks and tidal inlets of the shallow sea…”

Our hire boat base is in the Fens of East Anglia, and our boating customers enjoy cruising peacefully under our wildly, huge skies, for day trips and longer holidays.

No doubt, Pullman was inspired by stories of the cargo carrying narrowboaters that travelled England in the 18th century, before the emergence of the railways. These families were constantly travelling, so their children did not go to school. These narrowboat people were sometimes regarded with suspicion by people who lived on the land.

The mysterious network of navigations across the Fens lends itself well to a fantasy adventure. Most of the fens were drained a few hundred years ago, creating a flat, dry, low-lying agricultural region supported by a system of drainage channels and man-made rivers called dykes and drains. The Fenland waterways can be accessed from the rest of the UK navigation system by travelling through Northampton on the Grand Union canal. From here a boater can access the River Nene, the Middle Levels, The River Ouse and River Cam, plus many smaller lodes and tributaries. The quaint towns and villages here are steeped in history and tradition, legends and ghost stories. The waterways are uncrowded and unspoiled by modern life, allowing the boater to easily imagine being a fictional gypsy from bygone days, on some kind of romantic quest.

If you’d love to take a break away from the ‘real world’ and experience something quite calming and magical, check our holiday availability here: Search Breaks.

Hey! Are you new here? Subscribe on the right to receive more secrets of the undiscovered Fenland waterways, by email. (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 Amazing things to do, Canal Blog, Featured articles

cc visit cambridge ghost walk org


Are you haunted by dreams of a narrowboat holiday?

Are you brave enough to experience the darker side of Cambridge?

Have you ever been curious about paranormal investigations?

You may like to explore the mysterious Fenlands by narrowboat.

The strange and compelling landscape of the Fens, with their huge skyscapes, reclaimed marshlands and scattered and isolated villages can be very eerie at this time of year. East Anglia is not short of ghost stories, legends of drownings, and tales of disappearances and violence.

If you’ve ever enjoyed reading horror fiction, (M R James set several of his ghost stories in the Fens), or fantasy novels (Philip Pullman based part of Northern Lights in the Fens) why not include some paranormal investigation into next year’s boating holiday? Here are three haunted locations to visit… if you dare.

Peterborough Museum

Travel by boat through the Middle Levels and along the pretty river Nene to explore Peterborough and visit the museum. Fright Nights Cambridgeshire offer guided ghost hunts at Peterborough Museum, which claims to have eight resident ghosts. They include a First World War soldier and a ghostly kitchen maid. Look out for banging doors, ghostly footsteps and voices, unaccountable smells, mysterious lights and orbs around the building. This 19th century mansion was used as a hospital from 1857 until 1928. The guided tours include a mediumship walk around, experiments, séances and discussions about the paranormal.

Check the Fright Nights website for upcoming ghost hunt experiences. You may like to book a ghost hunt to coincide with your 2020 Foxboats holiday.

Oliver Cromwell’s House

Travelling east from our hire boat base you will come to the River Great Ouse and be able to visit Oliver Cromwell’s House, near Ely, which is now a museum. Fright Nights also offer a ghost hunt of this venue, where you may hear ghostly sounds of childrens’ laughter, footsteps which echo along corridors and down the staircases, and jangling keys. The house dates back to the 13th century and Oliver Cromwell and his family lived there for ten years from 1636 to 1647. The house is now a visitor attraction where you can experience what domestic life would have been like in the 17th Century. Book yourself onto a paranormal investigation, or simply turn up by boat to visit the museum during the daytime, for an interesting day out.

Cambridge Ghost Walk

After visiting Ely, you could take your narrowboat down the River Cam to Cambridge. Hear ghostly tales and sinister stories on a walking ghost tour of Cambridge’s most haunted streets and buildings. An official Blue Badge Guide will reveal stories of macabre goings-on, strange hauntings and tragic events from the past. In these dark, cobbled streets you can visit the Cambridge hangman’s house and learn about the final resting place for Oliver Cromwell’s head. Discover haunted pubs, secret graveyards, grisly hangings and ghostly dogs. Private ghost tours are available all year, and public tours are scheduled on certain dates. For more information Visit Cambridge and Beyond.

Further Research

The Cambridgeshire Ghost Research team investigate all types of paranormal phenomena in Cambridgeshire and the surrounding counties. They use EMF meters, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, motion sensors, analogue and digital audio recording equipment, digital and film still cameras and night vision video cameras. They have investigated many sites that are accessible by narrowboat, including Peterborough Museum, Cambridge Museum of Technology, The George Pub in Ramsey and Ramsey Rural Museum.

Why not check our holiday boat availability for next year, and plan your own paranormal investigation of Cambridgeshire and the Fens? Cambridgeshire and the Fenland Waterways offer history, heritage and culture at all times of the year.

You may like to read more about our local ghosts: How to go Ghostbusting with a Narrowboat

For more haunting ideas to add to next 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 sign up today!

Image credit: Visit Cambridge Org

 

 

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Guest & customer articles

Carol and her partner Kev took their first narrowboat holiday with us in 2018.  Carol has recently had the article published in her local boat club magazine and has kindly agreed to us reproducing it here.

Carol negotiating a low bridge

Its only been a few years that Kev and I have been boating and are thoroughly enjoying the experience and being part of the club.

We both talked about having a holiday on a Narrow Boat and so, this year (2018) we decided to take the plunge. We wanted to go somewhere where there were very few locks so we could just enjoy the boating experience. We opted to go to the Cambridge fens for a 4-night stay on a 47ft boat starting from March and Foxes Marina. There was a choice of routes we could take so we opted for a route to Ely which took us through 3 locks, 2 of them were Guillotine locks and manned and one which was manned part time. This also took us on a short tidal stretch of the River Ouse. So, after a brief run through of the handling of the boat we took ownership of our vessel. We headed left out of the Marina towards the town of March, then onto the first lock,  Marmont Priory lock where we were greeted by a very sprightly 82 year old part time lock keeper who was pre warned of our arrival so had started to fill the lock for us. After a few brief minutes and great a conversation with him we were in and out in no time heading towards our first night stop over. We headed towards the small beautiful villages of Upwell and Outwell navigating through what the locals call ‘The Pipe’ or ‘the gutter’ because it is a very narrow gulley of water and low bridges which passes through the villages.

We found our first overnight stop just on the edge of Outwell.

Our Boat was a 2013 build with all the mod cons and extremely warm and cosy and may I say, incredibly easy to handle, even for us novices.

After a great night’s sleep, we had a 7am start to make the tide. It was 3c outside so we wrapped up warm and with the calm water of the ‘pipe’ we

sunrise across the Fens.

headed towards Salters Lode and the first of our Guillotine locks for the tidal stretch. With the sun breaking and the mist rising over the water it was sheer magical and despite the cold, wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

After going through some more low bridges (even Kev had to bend down) and a small aqueduct we arrived at the lock to be greeted by more fellow narrow boaters and the lock keeper who was on the side of slightly eccentric and so was his dog who would never tire of having the ball thrown for him. Everyone seems so friendly and have a ‘laid back’ attitude in this environment, nothing matters… time, speed…life in general.

After explaining to the lock keeper it was our first time on this type of boat he assured us that everything would be fine.  He talked us through the procedure and before we knew it, it was our turn. Kev at the helm took us into the lock. We waited for the waters to level and then we were out. A full turn back against the tide we headed back up the river at 7 knots to the next guillotine lock of Denver Sluice. We arrived no problem and straight into the lock and out the other side into the non-tidal side of Ouse….and relax.

We chugged down the river at 4knots and taking in the wonderful peaceful surroundings. We headed for a lunch stop at Brandon creek and ‘The Ship Inn’ we looked at branching off onto the ‘Little River Ouse’ but decided to carry on for Ely. After a few miles downriver we came to a long straight which we both decided instead of busting to get to Ely, we’d turn round and head back at a more leisurely pace to our overnight stop at Littleport.

tidal river Great Ouse at Denver

The next day we took a slow pace back towards Denver sluice for an overnight stay ready to catch the tide back. We had another boat who came along side which had 2 gentlemen who was easily in their late 70’s early 80’s. Where we asked where they were heading, they shrugged their shoulders and said ‘wherever’.  We decide there and then if we turn left, right or go straight on……speaking to these people and others they have such a wealth of knowledge which we have took away with us.

We decided to have a few drinks in the Jenyns Arms before turning in for the night.

The next morning was a beautiful clear and warm day. We were greeted with the aroma of the ‘old boys’ breakfast of a full fry up…plus the added attraction of a seal entertaining us. We thought the seal was waiting with us to go through the lock but we were told he is happy to stay where he was but got upset if anyone was moored on ‘his pontoon’ which is where we were…..Eventually the tide was right and we were able to head

back out onto the tidal side. Kev again at the helm went with the tide towards Salters Lode Lock. The Lock keeper was keeping a close eye on our

Salters Lode lock

arrival and then with a tight left hand turn, and full throttle, Kev expertly maneuvered the boat back into the lock. The lock keeper still stood looking with his arms folded shouted ‘’I’ll give you 8 out of 10 as you’ve used a little burst of reverse to correct yourself’’ which we didn’t. We imagined he would stand there with score cards as people came back into the lock!!!!!!

We made our way back towards March town for our last night retracing our journey back through Marmont Priory lock and ‘The pipe’. Sitting at the front of the boat having lunch on a barmy hot Sept day traveling back was the perfect end to a perfect boating holiday. We had our last night at March town with fish and chips before an early start back to the Marina.

arrival back at the marina

It was a quiet journey back passing through the back of March both contemplating our short time on the boat. Both sad to be giving it back but both had an amazing time and experience.

We turned into the Marina and straight into the mooring……as we moored the guy said, “you’ve done this before haven’t you????”  No I replied.

“Well he did that perfectly he replied”

“I know” I said with a smile…. “but don’t tell him” lol

If you fancy a break on a narrow boat but not sure….go for it…..you will not be disappointed….if you don’t fancy doing many locks… go to the Fens, Some of it is quite open and exposed as its rivers you are on and not canals but it is very quiet and very few locks. The people are incredibly friendly and look after their environment. They don’t like people who are loud or speed. They want people who respect their lands and waterways and we are defiantly going back….in fact we have already booked for next year…same place and with a brand new boat…still being made…but for longer…

Check availability for spring: SPECIAL OFFERS.

Hey! Are you new here? Subscribe on the right to receive more secrets of the undiscovered Fenland waterways, by email. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, two or three times a month.)

 

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Navigation articles
Middle Level Commissioners

Our mooring customers and visiting boaters to the Middle Level Navigation should check out the latest news on the Middle Level Bylaws.

Middle Level Act 2018 and Navigation Byelaws 2019

The Middle Level Commissioners are the navigation authority for the Middle Level river system which comprises approximately 100 miles of navigable waterways in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.

The legal framework which governs the Commissioners’ navigation function were made up of a number of 18th and 19th century Acts which are now considerably out of date and do not align with either the modern requirements or the statutory framework applicable to other navigation authorities such as the Canals and River Trust and the Environment Agency.  The previous legislation which governed the Commissioners did not include adequate provision for the registration of vessels using the waterways or the levelling of charges for the use of waterways and associated facilities by recreational boats.

The Commissioners had been working hard since 2016 promoting a Private Bill through the House of Commons and the House of Lords and were

March on the Middle Level Navigation

extremely pleased in November 2018 when the new Bill received Royal Assent.  The new Act contains important provisions on charging allowing us to properly regulate navigation on the waterways and a system of registration for vessels using the waterways. These powers are akin to those used by the Canals and River Trust, the Environment Agency and the Broads Authority and other large inland navigation authorities.  Section 11 of the Act gives the Commissioners the important power to make Byelaws in relation to the waterways and their banks facilitating the maintenance and improvement of the waterways for the purpose of recreation and leisure pursuits, for controlling the navigation of the waterways and to regulate the conduct and activities of persons using the waterways.

With regard to these Byelaws, the Commissioners have now produced a final set which are currently being advertised. Following advertisement and consideration of any representations made during the advertising period, the Byelaws will then be submitted to Defra for confirmation and then published on their website.

The Commissioners are pleased to be in constructive discussions with the Environment Agency on the introduction of the registration system, with a view to aligning the registration process as closely as possible with them to facilitate smooth passage between waterways.  Once the arrangements for the Registration Scheme have been finalised, the Commissioners will be in a position to publish and advertise a list of registration fees for boats.  Further information will be available on the Navigation Section of the Commissioners’ website www.middlelevel.gov.uk

Well Creek on the Middle Level Navigation

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

early bird narrowboat

Was summer your busiest time at work?

Want to save money by booking in advance?

Are you searching for early-bird cheap narrowboat deals?

Our online narrowboat holiday offers could be just what you’re looking for.

For seasonal businesses summer can be the busiest time; and those working in hospitality can rarely take a break at that time. If your profession means you cannot take a holiday during the summer months, then at this time of year you may be beginning to think about relaxing. Plan ahead for the spring time and get in early to save money. You can get up to 10% off our narrowboat holidays when you book online, and our prices include fuel, and a damage waiver. You can search for all our special offers from April onwards: SPECIAL OFFERS.

Our luxury narrowboats can be hired for weekend, midweek or week breaks as well as holidays up to 14 nights. We also have two boats for day hire which take up to 10 people.

Popular holiday routes with Fox Narrowboats are a cruise to Ely, Cambridge or Peterborough. However, if you want to travel a little further afield we recommend visiting the ancient village of Fotheringhay, by cruising through the Middle Levels on to the pretty River Nene.

The Nene is one of the UK’s quieter rivers, connecting the east of England to the rest of the waterway network. Known for its stunning countryside and attractive villages your journey will take you past ancient mills and thatched cottages. With the Nene you have to think a little more carefully about where to attempt a bankside mooring. (You may like: The 3 Best Moorings When Narrowboating on the Nene.) Your journey to Fotheringhay will take you through Ferry Meadows Country Park. Stop in Peterborough to visit the nostalgic Nene Valley Railway and take a trip on a steam train. Fox Route 4 – Ferry Meadows to Fotheringhay is a 12 hour return trip; an extension to trip number three.

This attractive village has a lot of history including ancient castles and famous monarchs. Richard III was born here in 1452, and in 1587 Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded in the castle. So 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 first castle here was built in 1100 and the second in the 14th century.

The Church of St Mary and All Saints is an impressive 15th century church noted for containing a mausoleum to leading members of the Yorkist dynasty of the Wars of the Roses.

A local farmer charges for mooring in Fotheringhay, and the dog-friendly village pub, The Falcon is worth a visit for food, log fires, and fresh flowers. There is a beautiful garden and orangery overlooking the church.

You are sure to enjoy the journey to Fotheringhay, travelling in style on one of our comfortable narrowboats. Before leaving our hire boat marina you will be fully trained as a narrowboat steerer, and one of our qualified instructors will explain how to operate the locks.

Check availability for spring: SPECIAL OFFERS.

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Foxes News
Abby in New York

Abby

Abby is our new marina assistant.  Abby joined the company earlier this summer, however she went on leave soon after joining us to take on a volunteer roll as a staff member at the 24th World Scout Jamboree. Back at work now Abby is assisting with the hire fleet customers and working in reception.  We are sure that her experiences at the Jamboree will help her in her role with the company. Say hi to her when you next see her.

Abby will tell you about her adventurers which we think look amazing.

‘ I am a regular volunteer leader with a local Scout Group. Every four years the Scout Movement hold an event called The World Scout Jamboree, this year I was lucky enough to have been selected onto the 24th World Scout Jamboree held in West Virginia. I underwent several stages of selection including written applications and selection days before being offered a roll as part of the International Service Team for the UK Contingent. This meant that I would be travelling to West Virginia for two weeks to be a leader for the young people from Scouting and Guiding around the world. Different members of the International Service Team had different job roles for their time at the Jamboree. For example, I was part of the Zip Lining Support team. The World Scout Jamboree is a large event and this year 40,000 people attended from 152 countries.

After volunteering at the Jamboree, the UK Contingent organised a trip for the leaders to travel to Washington DC for two days. Some of us went on a sightseeing tour around DC. However, I went on foot with a few of my friends enjoying and exploring what DC had on offer. On my second day, I got to watch a Baseball game. It was amazing it was everything I expect it to be and more, just the atmosphere was incredible. To end that day, the UK contingent hosted a party to celebrate what we achieved through the last two and a half weeks. Some of the International support team were flying back to the UK the following day, however some of us were travelling to other parts of American.

For me, I was travelling to Boston then to New York. I’ve always wanted to go to New York so I jumped at the chance to go! In Boston we visited Harvard University, The Tea Party Ship Museum and did the Freedom Trail. I really enjoyed Boston but was very excited to go on to my next adventure in New York. When we went to New York we went to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the 9/11 memorial and museum, Times Square, Central Park and the Top of the Rock! It was great, I loved everything I did. On the last night me and my friends went and watched a Broadway show it, it was called ‘Puffs’ it was a lovely way to spend my last night in New York.

Though the thought of being away from home for just over three weeks was a bit terrifying I loved it and would do again tomorrow if I could! The best experience I could ever had done! Got to meet new people and make friends and hopefully I am going to have a chance of seeing them again soon.’

Jamboree Gateway
which one is my bag?
Zipline HQ
Baseball her I come
Abby in New York

 

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