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

boat trip gift voucher

Are you looking for the best gift ideas this year?

Does your mum deserve to get away from it all?

Want to surprise her with a family day out?

This year Mothering Sunday is on March 19th and our annual boating season begins in April, so you can book a day trip in advance and surprise your mum with the news on Mother’s Day. Boating appeals to all ages and is a great way to bring the family together.

1) Day Boat Hire

Our colourfully painted luxury day boats, The March Adventurer and the March Explorer, are both equipped a small galley, a toilet and a seating area. On board you’ll also find a 12v mobile phone charging point, so that you can keep taking pictures of mum’s day out as you travel.

You and your crew will be fully trained in boat handling as part of the boat handover. One of our qualified instructors will explain how to steer the boat and operate the locks ensuring that you feel comfortable and confident before you set off. Day boat hire is a popular choice with families wanting to spend the day together to celebrate a special occasion. Making memories together can sometimes be the best gift.

2) Canal Boat Holiday

If you really want to push the boat out you could book a week on board with the family.

Read: Why Narrowboating is the Perfect Family Holiday

Although a holiday is not exactly the traditional Mothers Day gift, it will be a good opportunity to spoil your mum, and show her that she is appreciated; especially if the crew share the chores on board and take turns at cooking meals. On a longer cruise you would have time to visit Peterborough, Ely or Cambridge. If you stop at the visitor moorings on the waterfront in Ely, mum can visit the antiques centre, the city centre shops, the famous Ely Cathedral and the museum at Oliver Cromwell’s House.  Or in Cambridge she may enjoy shopping, restaurants and punting, while admiring the incredible architecture.

Get into your mum’s good books this year by suggesting that her favourite people get together for a memorable trip on the Fenland waterways.

3) Boating Books

Talking of books, that’s another good idea for a gift! If she dreams of a life aboard, or has already lived aboard a canal boat in the past, there are some great books about parenting on board. From historical novels to a modern travelogue through the French canals, the books in this article show various different aspects of boating with children.

Read: Five Surprising Mothers Day Gifts for the Narrowboat Mum

If she doesn’t want to read about parenting, try Favourite Boating Recipes by Cas Best instead, or the classic ‘Narrow Boat’ book by LTC Rolt. This lovely, lyrical diary of Tom and Angela’s travels back in 1939, has become a classic among canal-boat enthusiasts. Tom Rolt is now considered to be one of the pioneers of the leisure cruising industry on Britain’s inland waterways.

Read: Was This the Very First Narrowboat Holiday?

Whichever option you choose, giving your mum a narrowboat themed book, or experience, will make this Mothers Day a bit different this year and give her something to remember.

Day boat hire starts at £225 Search Day Boat Hire.

You may also like: 5 Memorable Things to See on a Day Boat Trip

For more surprising and unusual tips and ideas for days out in Cambridgeshire, 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. (We never share or sell email addresses, this is just to send you our latest blog posts.)

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Narrowboaters knowledge
first time narrowboating on canal

First time canal boat – Fox Narrowboat Fens

Have you ever been sailing?

Had a go on a motor cruiser?

Or are you mystified by nautical terms and the thought of complicated knots and navigating knowledge?

If you’ve already been sailing, or have some experience with a GRP motor cruiser, you may be wondering how different a canal boat can be. A narrowboat holiday can leave you feeling refreshed and re-energised. Even with no previous experience of boating our customers discover it’s easy to master a canal boat.

Setting Off

A narrowboat pivots somewhere near its middle; meaning when the bow goes left the stern goes to the right and vice versa. So when setting off from the bank it’s easiest if one of your crew pushes the bow out from the bank, and then walks back along the towpath to join the helmsman on the back deck. The boat is now pointed towards the centre of the canal and you can set off.

Steering

The first rule of canal boating is that boaters drive on the right. The second rule of canal boating is that we don’t call it “driving” but instead we say “steering!”

Even an experienced boater can find that the amount of control you have over the boat is directly linked to the number of spectators around! If nobody is watching you will have perfect control, and yet, mysteriously, if lots of people are watching you the boat can seem to have a mind of its own! (Fun fact: the word for a person who enjoys watching boats going by is a “gongoozler!”)

Tiller steering is different to wheel steering, but once you get the hang of it you will find a tiller easier to use. Push the tiller to the right to steer left, and to the left to steer right. You can’t steer at all when the boat is in neutral. Cruising forwards is fine, but there is a lot less control over the direction of the boat when the engine is in reverse.

Stopping the boat takes a lot longer than you might expect. To stop you will have to put the boat into reverse, but don’t expect it to stop any time soon. Steel narrowboats have a lot of momentum, so when you want to stop you’ll have to plan ahead. Everything happens much more slowly than it would with a light GRP cruiser, so although you may be aware that you are going to crash in five seconds time, you may not be able to avoid it if you haven’t put the engine into reverse in time!

It can also be trickier to steer on a windy day, as the wind may take the boat drifting across the navigation, but many of our local waterways are quite wide.

However, don’t let any of this put you off. You will be given full training before setting off from our hire boat base, and first time boaters generally enjoy their holidays without any mishaps or difficulty, taking to it like a duck to water.

Mooring Up

On the inland waterways stern and bow lines are only used for mooring. To moor up, slow the boat right down to tickover and gently steer towards the bank at a shallow angle. Gently putting the boat in reverse will bring it to a stop. Step off the boat holding the centre line (mooring rope). Official moorings will have mooring rings or bollards; but at a rural mooring you will need to use mooring pins.

Working the Locks

Before setting off our instructor will give you some basic training in boat handling and explain how to operate a lock. You will need an L-shaped tool called a windlass, (provided with the boat,) to open the paddles on the lock gates, which will either fill or empty the lock, depending on which direction you are travelling in. If you’re completely new to narrowboating ideally you may like one or two people to operate the lock, plus somebody to steer the boat. You will need to temporarily moor the boat to the bollards provided at the lock landing, while you set the lock, ready for your boat to go through.

Read: How to Work a Lock (Even if You’ve Never Done it) for a more detailed explanation, including our top safety tips.

Smaller locks are operated by you and your crew, and some larger tidal locks are operated by lock keepers.

“Lovely day on the waterways of Fenland, took a leisurely trip to Benwick from March.

Youngsters were left speechless with seeing Kingfishers, fish, heron and dragonflies.

Gavin’s instructional tutorial was easy to follow, and we soon chugged down the River Nene. Thanks to Paula and the team for a memorable day!” – Niki D. (Tripadvisor).

If you enjoyed reading these boating tips 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.

Image Credit: Fox Narrowboats

 

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

romantic canal boat trip couples

It’s difficult to avoid the romantic mood this week, as the shops offer Valentines cards, gifts, flowers and chocolates for your loved one. But those who enjoy canal boating will know that there is no better way to spend quality time with your partner than a peaceful trip on the water.

Fox Boat’s narrowboat hire includes all the home comforts you would expect on a romantic mini-break, and it’s the best quirky alternative to a holiday cottage.

If it’s your first time boating we will teach you how to steer the boat, and suggest itineraries for you. Popular romantic destinations are Ely or Cambridge, or visiting quaint villages on the picturesque River Nene. You don’t need a steerer’s licence and no previous boating experience is necessary. A boat is easily manageable with a crew of two.

1) The Romantic Getaway

Far from the hassle of everyday life, a canal boat trip is an original idea that makes for a perfect relaxing experience for couples. The privacy and seclusion of your own boat offers a unique sense of intimacy, away from modern distractions. Enjoy a candlelit dinner at night and breakfast in the sun on deck in the morning. It’s a good way to recharge your batteries and rekindle the spark in your relationship. As you travel to a new place each day the sense of adventure that comes with exploring new places will give you both memories to treasure.

2) The Special Events

A narrowboat break is perfect for celebrating a special event or significant moment in your relationship, because it’s something different. Consider booking a canal boat holiday for your honeymoon, anniversary or milestone birthday. Take plenty of pictures to reminisce together about your cruise later. A trip on the waterways offers romance, seclusion and a sense of getting away from it all.

3) The Dining Experiences

There’s nothing like sharing a romantic meal with your partner to reconnect with them. Order supermarket shopping ahead of your break and we’ll make sure it’s waiting on board your boat for you. Then when you’re moored in secluded place in the English countryside enjoy cooking a meal together in your fully equipped galley. You could also order from a selection of afternoon teas or graze boxes from Glam Grazing by Gem to enjoy on board. Just imagine eating out on deck together on a summer evening as some swans drift by for a visit.

As you cruise you will notice several river-side pubs, and you can plan ahead where you want to eat by finding these in the guidebook provided with the boat. Moor your boat near to a beer garden and enjoy a romantic meal for two in a traditional pub that serves food. Alternatively, as you explore the towns and villages of the Fenland waterways you can also discover charming cafes and fancy restaurants. The choice is yours as you enjoy romantic meals together!

4) The Love Boat

For couples we suggest our Rural Fox narrowboat which sleeps two to four people. 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.

If you’re holidaying with a group of couples, you could choose one of our larger boats to offer you all comfortable accommodation. Our boats are designed for beginners and experienced boaters, alike.

5) The Fenland Skies

What’s more romantic than watching the sunset or enjoying an evening under a clear starry sky? The answer is; experiencing these things on a narrowboat! Enjoy evening drinks sitting on the deck, or go exploring by walking in the countryside or discovering an ancient town. We feel you haven’t really seen a sunset or a starry sky until you’ve experienced the big Fenland skies, known for being so picturesque due to the unusually flat landscape. The Fens in Eastern England are the UK’s largest man-made landscape: 400,000 acres of dramatic, flat landscape that stretches across Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Norfolk and a small part of Suffolk. It’s a romantic location to remember.

A Valentines Gift For You Both

February doesn’t always offer the best weather for canal boating in England, but you can book a Fox Narrowboat from 31st March onwards this year. Consider surprising your Valentine with a boating holiday; a unique gift that you can both enjoy.

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.

Credit: Fox Narrowboats & Glam Grazing Gem

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

fox narrowboat holiday 2023

Should you book your 2023 holiday now to avoid increasing prices?

As the cost of living crisis continues, some families are planning ahead for this year’s holiday, in order to grab the best deals while they’re still available. With the price of fuel continuing to rise, it seems inevitable that plane tickets and hotel rooms will continue to go up in price in 2023. That makes a narrowboat holiday a much more cost effective option this year. We have already taken plenty of bookings for this spring and summer, but we do have some availability left.

Ely: The UK Holiday Destination That Won’t Break the Bank

Ely is a charming cathedral city in Cambridgeshire. March to Ely is an 18 hour return trip by narrowboat, but you will want to take it slow to get the most out of the cruise. If you’ve been on a narrowboat holiday before, you will know that the journey is just as important and enjoyable as the destination, and you will want to moor up and explore other places on the way there.

This trip involves the passage of a short length of tidal river between Salter’s Lode and Denver Sluice, which only adds to the adventure. You will need to contact the Lock keeper at Denver to find out the tide times for the outward and return trips. We will give you any information you need to know at the start of your holiday.

There are some free visitor moorings near our hire base in March town, where you can explore the High Street shops and St Wendreda’s church, before setting off through the Middle Level waterways. Six miles cruise from March are the twin villages of Upwell and Outwell. The village streets line both sides of the river here. Further along Well Creek your boat will cross the Middle Level Main Drain, then pass through open countryside and the village of Nordelph, before arriving at Salter’s Lode Lock.

After Denver you will be on the Ely section of the River Great Ouse.  After stopping here you may like to take a little detour into the Relief Channel to visit Downham Market. There are a few other navigable tributaries of the Great Ouse to explore on the way to Ely if you have time.

Ely is really worth stopping for a night or two as there is lots to see and do. The city centre is a short walk up a steep hill from the attractive waterfront. The cathedral is stunning, and Oliver Cromwell’s House has been made into a museum. There is a stained glass museum at the cathedral, and antique centres to browse around close to the river. Go fishing, visit restaurants or wander around the ancient narrow streets, discovering timbered houses and medieval gateways. Read more about Ely. You can then carry on from Ely to visit Cambridge if your holiday plans allow it.

New Year Goals: Plan a Narrowboat Holiday

Late winter is a time for new beginnings and planning ahead, so why not give yourself something to look forward to this year? Booking in advance can mean better availability, and with Fox Narrowboats you’re more likely to get the boat of your choice. It’s also easier to get time off work on your intended dates if you plan well ahead.

Without knowing how inflation is going to affect this summer’s holiday prices it may be wise to look for tomorrow’s canal boat holidays at today’s prices!

What’s on your narrowboating New Year’s Bucket List this year? Read more to get some ideas.

You may also like: How to Cruise Your Way into Fitness this New Year

No time to plan your holiday right now? We get that. Instead, subscribe to our blog in the right sidebar; look for ‘Follow Blog’. We’ll send you two articles a month full of narrowboat holiday ideas in the Fens. (We don’t send spam or salesy type stuff – just interesting articles about boats and waterways!)

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles

narrowboating ouse nene attractions

Have you been on a canal boat holiday before? Can you work a lock? Do you know your roses and castles from your slackers and penstocks? This year on our blog we covered all of these topics, plus we featured our local steam railway, and offered some cool tips for narrowboating in a heatwave. Here’s a collection of articles gathered over another great year of holidays on the Fenland waterways.

Couples who narrowboat together, stay together! Am I right? OK, so maybe I’m biased, but I think canal boating is the perfect way to spend quality time with your partner. Over the years many celebrity couples have been spotted out cruising together on the English canals. Who have you seen on the waterways?

Read: 10 Celebrity Couples Who Narrowboat Together

Are you new to canal boating? Are you planning your first narrowboat holiday? Are you wondering if locks are really complicated? Don’t worry. These simple tips will ensure that your first canal boat cruise goes smoothly, and that you impress your crew with your amazing lock operating skills!

Read: How to Work a Lock (Even if You’ve Never Done it)

What’s different about the locks on the Fenland waterways? How do I get through a tidal lock? What are slackers, penstocks and staithes? Here are the three things you need to know!

Read: Three Things about Locks That Only Fenland Boaters Know

Will your short break or holiday with us be taking you to the river Nene? If so, you may want to check out the kind of events hosted by the Nene Valley Railway. Relax in a restored wooden panelled coach and go back in time, on a heritage steam or diesel train.

Read: Three Reasons to Visit the Nene Valley Railway by Narrowboat

Do you like to watch brightly painted narrowboats go by? Are you curious about the origins of canal folk art? Do you have any traditional canal ware at home?

If you like roses and castles you’ll love: The Fox Boats Guide to Traditional Canal Ware

Are you looking for that elusive family holiday; the one that can please all of the people all of the time? Relaxing, yet adventurous, a change from everyday life, without the modern day hassle of traffic and airports?

Read: Why Narrowboating is the Perfect Family Holiday

Last summer extreme heat warnings were issued by the Met Office and the public were urged to use water wisely, due to drought.

Read: Five Cool Ideas for Narrowboating in a Heatwave

Instead of a holiday you could try day boat hire. Taking a day off to go messing about in boats will boost your mental health and create special memories with your loved ones. Get up close to nature and take photos as you travel at a leisurely pace through the Middle Level in Cambridgeshire. Our day boats carry up to 10 passengers, and everyone can have a go at steering.

Read: Day Boat Hire: The Antidote to Stress

And finally, as Bonfire Night approached we published a narrowboat guide to visiting the charming Northamptonshire village, which is connected to the Gunpowder Plot.

Read: River-Side Village’s Surprising Connection to The Gunpowder Plot

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed reading these highlights from the year’s blog. Never miss an article again. Just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and enter your email address. We’ll send you occasional stories, tips and advice about narrowboating around the Fens. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.)

If you want to take a canal holiday in 2023 check availability now. We have some great deals to look forward to.

You may also like: Why January is the Best Time to Book Your Hire Boat Holiday

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Historic sites
canal museum stoke bruerne

canal museum stoke bruerne – credit wiki cc murgatroyd49

One of the best ways to enjoy the great British countryside is to explore the labyrinth of canals and waterways by narrowboat. And while you are pootling up and down the network, you may wish to stop off at one of the country’s fine canal museums to learn more about the waterways and their function during the Industrial Revolution.

The UK’s canal system played a major role in shaping the country we now call home. The museums we will mention below pay homage to narrowboats and the waterways and provide an interesting and educational insight into their importance.

Gloucester Waterways Museum

Housed in a Grade II-listed warehouse at the heart of Gloucester’s dock is the Gloucester Waterways Museum. The museum is home to several displays that highlight the importance of the local canals with regard to commerce and the positive effect the canals had on the local wildlife.

The Move It! Display focuses on the ingenious engineering involved in the canals and the narrowboats which sailed upon them. Featuring intricate models, hands-on displays, and real working engines, this is a great way to get the children interested in history, as they will have the chance to race boats and operate a lock.

The Living Havens display teaches about how the canal systems benefited local wildlife, providing havens for birdlife, insects, plants, and fish. There’s a short film to enjoy, which highlights things to look out for when you head back to your narrowboat or the next time you take a walk alongside the canals.

www.gloucesterwaterwaysmuseum.org.uk

National Waterways Museum

Located at the convergence of the Shropshire Union Canal, the Manchester Ship Canal, and the River Mersey, the National Waterways Museum is a great place to learn about the lives and work of yesteryear’s canal workers.

In its heyday, Ellesmere Port was the largest inland waterway dock in the UK, and it played a major role in transporting goods from the ocean-faring vessels coming into Liverpool.

Explore the Porters Row cottages, which were built in 1833, and the blacksmith’s forge, where the canal company’s ironwork used to be made. The Power Hall is home to an array of historical engines, and the Pump House showcases the steam-powered engines that provided power to the hydraulic cranes used to unload the boats.

National Waterways Museum website

Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne

This was the country’s first canal museum, telling the story of Britain’s canals and the people who lived and worked on them. The museum educates about the engineering feats and challenges that were overcome in the building of the canals and the role the canals played in the Industrial Revolution.

After exploring the museum, you can meet the resident blacksmith or take a stroll along the Woodland Walk. You can also enjoy a boat ride along the canal, and once you are tired and hungry from enjoying the exhibits, you can enjoy some superb pub grub at one of the two pubs.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/stoke-bruerne

The Black Country Living Museum

The Black Country, to the west of Birmingham, played a huge part in the Industrial Revolution. The name of this region is believed to have originated due to the presence of coal fields in the area.

The Black Country Living Museum, near Dudley, tells the story of the region’s importance in the expansion of commerce at the time.

With 26 acres of reconstructed shops, pubs, and houses to explore, the Black Country Living Museum really brings the history to life. The museum showcases over 80,000 items in its collections, including buildings, cars, trolley buses, and photographs. There are also shops, locks, and canal boats to explore.

The museum sits on a working section of the canal, and you can arrive by narrowboat. There are a limited number of 48-hour moorings available to visitors, and they are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Black Country Living Museum website

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

christmas gift ideas for narrowboaters

If you’re still trying to think of last minute gifts for your loved ones, who enjoy canals and boating then we have some festive suggestions for you. Let us take the stress out of this year’s Christmas shopping with our mini gift guide for the canal boater in your life, and reduce your stress levels today.

Books

Books are always a thoughtful present because you can select something personal to the recipient’s interests. If they’re into cooking try Favourite Boating Recipes by Cas Best. This miniature book is full of nostalgia, and illustrated with charming sketches. The recipes reflect the unsophisticated and traditional way of cooking on board in the limited space available, and are inspired by the cargo carrying boaters of the canal age, and the fruits that you might find in the English countryside. It’s a great stocking filler.

If your family are interested in Fenland boating (where we are based) then The Imray Waterways guides are popular paperbacks for river users planning trips along the Rivers Nene, Ouse, Cam and the Middle Levels. These spiral bound books include moorings and notes with maps of the navigations. They are available on Amazon or in our chandlery at our marina in March, Cambridgeshire. Browse a guidebook now to start planning next year’s holiday route.

For the women in your life who love boating I suggest ‘Maidens Trip’, the semi-fictionalised story by Emma Smith who worked on the Grand Union Canal during wartime. ‘Ramlin Rose: The Boatwoman’s Story’ by Sheila Stewart is a fictional biography based on interviews with real boat women in history, and details the practicalities of day to day life as a boater, wife and mother.

For all boaters, Narrow Boat by LTC Rolt is a classic tale of what may have been the first ever canal boat holiday.

And finally, for children, you can’t go wrong with the ‘Rosie and Jim’ books, by John Cunliffe, presenter of the TV show of the same name. Travelling on their boat ‘Ragdoll’ Rosie and Jim teach children about locks, canal travel and canal life.

Boat Watching

For the armchair boater you can take a waterways journey by DVD, or by watching a streaming service. From Source to Sea is an exploration of the River Great Ouse available on DVD. Travels by Narrowboat with Kevin Shelley is available to buy on Amazon Prime and follows a single-handed boater travelling the UK. Robbie Cumming boat journeys are just as enjoyable to watch. If you enjoy watching Robbie Cumming Canal Boat Diaries on BBC Four you may like to support him by buying something from his ‘Crank It’ range of merchandise, which includes hoodies, t-shirts, mugs and bags. Great Canal Journeys with Tim and Pru is available as DVD box sets too.

Canal Ware

If you don’t own a boat yourself, keep the spirit of the waterways alive in your own home with some traditional canal ware. Historically, in a boatman’s cabin you may have found antique ribbon and lace plates, Measham pottery, horse brasses, oil lamps, cabin lace, rag rugs and Buckby cans painted with roses and castles. Check out The Fox Boats Guide to Traditional Canal Ware.

Buy it off a Boat

The Roving Canal Traders Association sometimes host floating Christmas markets, but if you don’t live near to one of these colourful events you can still buy something from a boater, and support a small business. Floating traders sell anything from artwork, books and clothes, to cheese and gin! Nancy Moo imports jewellery, clothes, hats, shawls, bags and more from India, and sells it from a canal boat. Find her on eBay Nancy Moo. Read more: Buy it off a boat: Gift Guide.

Day Hire Vouchers

If you’d like to treat the whole family to an unexpected outing, our day hire vouchers for a trip on a narrowboat are for up to 10 people. Tuition, lifejackets and fuel are all included. Our marina in Cambridgeshire is surrounded by some beautiful waterways. With lots of room at the front and back of the boat everyone can be outside while cruising the rivers and taking in the stunning scenery and wildlife. Our day hire narrowboat has a galley complete with hob, fridge and sink, a dinette equipped with crockery and cutlery, a toilet and a seating area. Read more.

Call Fox Narrowboat reception for purchasing vouchers.

And Relax!

So if you still have a few more gifts to buy, relax with the laptop and grab some boat-themed gifts for your boat-loving friends and family. We hope these ideas have given you plenty of inspiration, and we wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year from everyone at Fox Narrowboats.

  1. Never miss an article – subscribe to our blog in the right sidebar; look for ‘Follow Blog’. (We don’t send spam or salesy type stuff – just interesting articles about boats and waterways!)
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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to do, Amazing things to see, Canal Blog, Ely & Cambridge, Fayres & local events, Featured articles, Historic sites
anglesey abbey house

anglesey abbey house – credit: wiki cc stephen turner

As the nights begin to draw in and Christmas music begins to ring out around the country, you may be planning Christmas activites with the family. Here are 3 family-friendly Christmas attractions close to our waterways  and activities you can visit during the 2022 / 2023 festive season.

Meet Father Christmas at Wicken Fen Nature Reserve

The National Trust-run Wicken Fen Nature Reserve sits alongside Burwell Lode, and they have a few Christmas activities planned over the festive period. The reserve is the National Trust’s oldest nature reserve and is situated in England’s most famous fen.

wicken fen windmill

Father and Mother Christmas will be visiting the reserve in the lead-up to Christmas, and you can bring the kids to meet them in the Fen Cottage. While waiting to meet Father and Mother Christmas, the kids can then join the elves for a Christmas decoration workshop.

The Wicken Fen Festive Woodland Trail is also open from the 26th of November, and you can enjoy a wander through the fen on a raised boardwalk. It’s the perfect way to get some family exercise in the great outdoors if you have already started tucking into the mince pies…

Visit National Trust website for more info

Winter Lights at Anglesey Abbey

Anglesey Abbey is thought to have been founded by Henry I in 1135, and it then served as a priory from the early 13th  century until Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries. In 1596, Anglesey Abbey was bought by the Fowkes family, who converted the remains of the priory into a house in 1609.

During December, the ground floor of the house will be fully dressed for Christmas and open for the public to enjoy, with the highlight being the tree in the Tapestry Hall.

anglesey abbey gardens cambridgeshire national trust

anglesey abbey gardens – credit: wiki cc the wub

The Abbey will run its Winter Lights show from the 9th of December through the 23rd of December. Entitled “Nature by Night, Nature by Light,” the light show aims to be an after-dark journey that brings the beautiful gardens of Anglesey Abbey to life.

In addition to the light show, stalls will sell an array of delectable festive treats.

Christmas at Anglesey Abbey

Booking Winter Lights

Wisbech Christmas Fayre

The market town of Wisbech lies just north of March and will be hosting a Christmas Fayre on the 11th of December.

The fayre will feature a wide range of stalls offering festive gifts and delicious seasonal food. The event will kick off at 10 a.m., and there will be plenty of live music and dancing, as well as free children’s attractions and interactive family activities to keep everyone entertained until around 3 p.m.

There will be plenty of Christmas treats, such as mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and hot chocolate, available at the food stalls. While at the handicraft stalls, you can find decorations for your Christmas tree, artisanal wrapping paper, and hand-made cards. Christmas trees and hampers will also be available alongside handcrafted toys and games, and you can even purchase this year’s Christmas jumper!

www.fenland.gov.uk/wisbechchristmasfayre

If you like the idea of exploring the Fenland waterways by boat check out our narrowboat holiday availability for the 2023 season.

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to see, Canal Blog, Historic sites

illustration discussion gunpowder plot

Remember, remember,
The Fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot;
For I see no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

As Bonfire Night approaches we plan fireworks and buy toffee apples, but don’t always remember that we are also commemorating the failure of the plot to assassinate King James VI. Some of that plotting was done not far from Fox Narrowboats marina, at a Jacobean 17th century manor house.

Wadenhoe House was once home to the Delacy family who were found to be involved in the Gunpowder Plot, and the house was one of the meeting places for the Plot planning. (ref. NB No Problem blog.) The beautiful house is now a hotel and wedding venue, and the village is well worth a visit for its attractive stone buildings, thatched rooves, charming old post office, church and traditional pub.

The good news is, you can get there by boat! A canal boat journey to Wadenhoe from our hire boat base will take around three days. The trip takes you at a leisurely pace along the Old River Nene, through the Middle Levels and onto the River Nene. On the journey you will see beautiful lock surroundings and ancient mills.

When you arrive at Wadenhoe there are moorings at the historic King’s Head, and there is a water point next to the pub which is accessible with a River Nene Lock Key.

This 17th century thatched inn has been serving food and drink for over 400 years, so perhaps it was built not long after the Gunpowder Plot was made?  In the summertime you can sit outside and watch other narrowboats pass through the lock. They charge a mooring fee if you do not use the pub. Just let them know if you are planning to stay overnight.

There are also free moorings a little further upstream against the Site of Special Scientific Interest, which is in easy reach of the pub.

The 13th century church; The Church of St. Michael and All Angels is on a hill overlooking the meadowlands of the Nene valley, and is isolated from the main part of the village, which lies below along the River Nene.

If you enjoy walking, The Nene Way long distance footpath passes through Wadenhoe and the circular walk between the villages of Wadenhoe and Aldwincle take in many sites of interest. A handy guide book, called ‘A Walk Around Wadenhoe’ can be downloaded from the history group website. Most of the village is made up of 17th, 18th and 19th century attractive limestone buildings with roofs mainly of Collyweston slate tiles, pan tiles and a few with thatch.

If you take a bus to Peterborough from Wadenhoe, you can have a day out in the city to visit the shops and cathedral. Alternatively you can carry on towards Peterborough by boat. On a narrowboat holiday in this area you can visit the historic market town of Whittlesey on the way to Wadenhoe. Then in Peterborough you can go through Nene Park, and moor at Ferry Meadows Country Park.

The River Nene connects the east of England to the rest of the UK waterway network. If you’re looking for a less-crowded narrowboat holiday where you can enjoy stunning countryside and attractive villages, The Nene is a great location.

So next year, why not take a narrowboat to Wadenhoe, and wander the same ancient streets and English lanes that were once trodden by Robert Catesby, Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators?

For a cruise to Wadenhoe you may like to book a week long boating holiday with Fox Narrowboats. Check availability here

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to do, Canal Blog, Ely & Cambridge
oliver cromwells ghost tour
oliver cromwells ghost tour

oliver cromwells ghost tour

Are you planning a narrowboat holiday for next year?

Or are you local to March, and Cambridgeshire?

Do you like exploring new places?

Whether you’re one of our current mooring customers, enjoy our dayboat hire, or hoping to visit the mysterious Fens, these upcoming Halloween events will give you some inspiration for things to see and do locally.

1) Ely: Hallowe’en Ghost Tours

On every Saturday evening in October visitors can discover the spooky streets of this medieval city, see haunted historical homes and look out for spectral apparitions! The tour departs and ends from Oliver Cromwell’s house.

Visit Ely/What’s On.

Add on a creepy cruise aboard the Liberty Belle for a frightful trip down the autumnal river with The Boatman. Terrifying Tales and Creepy Cruise Tour.
The ghost walks are not just at Halloween though. If you visit us next year Ely Tourist Information Centre is a one stop shop for all guided walks and tours: Choose from discovering Ely’s monastic buildings, The Eel Trail, The city centre and riverside, or Signs and Symbols – which includes fascinating stories from Ely’s past. Read more: Guided Walks.

Ely is claimed to be one of England’s spookiest cities. If you travel by Fox narrowboat the cruise from March to Ely takes in ancient inns and the murdered ghosts of Southery, plus legends of violence and death surround the Fenland isle of Littleport: Read more in The Spooky Truth About Cruising to Ely.

If you’re on a boating holiday in Cambridgeshire next year you can cruise beyond Ely to Cambridge. Check out the museum’s events page for dates of local walking tours.

2) The Haunted House Tour at Oliver Cromwell’s House

Oliver Cromwell’s former home is now a museum and tourist information centre; great to visit at any time of year. But on 26th October 2022 they offer The Haunted House Tour – a chance to visit after dark and find out about the ghostly sightings, sounds and feelings experienced by staff and visitors alike. Not recommended for under 12’s. Read more.
To get there by narrowboat, travel east from our hire boat base to the River Great Ouse. The house dates back to the 13th century and Oliver Cromwell and his family lived there for ten years from 1636 to 1647.

Ghastly guided ghost walk of Ely

3) Witches and Witchcraft

On 27th October meet at Oliver Cromwell’s House for a Witches Walk, learn about the witch trials that took place in the area, and more. You could finish your evening with a witches ‘brew’ at The Cromwell Bar and Grill on Forehill. Read more:  Witchcraft Tour.

The Cambridgeshire Fens were one of the last places in England where people still believed in witchcraft. In the 1640s, Sir Matthew Hopkins, known as the Witch Finder General, was extremely active in the Fenlands. Ely, was the place where anyone locally accused of witchcraft would be brought to trial. Read more: Finding Fenland Witches For the Curious Canal Boater.

If you’re not local to Ely join us for a narrowboat holiday next year, and discover museums, ghost tours, Escape rooms and other tourist attractions in Peterborough, Ely and Cambridge. All of this while travelling at the relaxed pace of three miles an hour, taking in stunning scenery, and having all mod cons on board with you.

If you like the idea of exploring the Fenland waterways by boat check availability for next year now.

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: Oliver Cromwell’s House

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