Actually, you don’t need an inland waterways helmsman certificate to hire a day boat from Fox Narrowboats. You don’t even need any experience on the water. And you won’t be handed a set of keys on a cork keyring, and sent off down the river. Our team gives you a full talk and initiation before you leave the mooring, so by the time you’re casting off, you’ll be feeling ready.

All you will need is snacks, a decent pair of sunglasses, and a “can do” attitude!

A proper day out. Not just a boat trip.

Day boat hire from our marina in March, Cambridgeshire, isn’t just about getting from A to B. It’s about cruising along a pretty stretch of the Old River Nene, or the moment someone spots a heron standing very still in the reeds and everyone goes quiet. It’s sometimes about the debate with your crew, about whether to stop for fish and chips or have lunch at a waterside pub. It’s always about a break away from screen time, notifications and emails.

heron still fenland waterways – deposit

The Fens don’t look like anywhere else in England: Big skies, flat landscapes, ancient towns and atmospheric legends that have been woven into classic novels.  (Think Philip Pullman, and Philippa Pearce.) If you’ve spent the last few weekends at soft play, a garden centre or a shopping centre this is going to feel a bit different.

Pick your route. We’ve done the planning for you.

Depending on how adventurous you’re feeling and what kind of places you’d like to stop in, there’s a route to suit you. See our fenland waterways map

fenland waterways interactive map – fox

Best for families with young children: Three Holes or Benwick

Both of these routes are lock-free, which means no stress and no queue. Head out along the Middle Level Navigations towards Three Holes for a route that’s become something of a wildlife corridor; brilliant for spotting kingfishers, herons and the occasional swan. There’s space to moor up for a picnic, and the kids can try their hand at net fishing from the bankside. It’s about four hours of cruising in total, so quite manageable with an early start and a packed lunch.

rustic corner cafe benwick march – rustic

Benwick is another gentle option heading west, with moorings near the village and the Five Alls pub at the far end of the route at weekends. This rural, dog-friendly pub has outside tables to sit at in the summertime. Muddy paws and boots are welcome all year round. The Rustic Corner Café inside the Spar shop does excellent breakfasts and cakes, and the Facebook reviews describe it as a “hidden gem.”

Best for a longer day: Upwell and Outwell

If you want to make a full day of it, the journey east towards Upwell and Outwell is one of the most picturesque in the Fens. You’ll pass through Marmont Priory Lock and arrive at Upwell, a village that seems almost too pretty to be real; Dutch-style houses lining the waterway, are a stunning photo opportunity. There is time for a stop at The Creek public house.

At Outwell basin, there’s a natural turning point and a good spot for a picnic. On the way back through Upwell, J.R. Stott Fish and Chips is the place to be (but check opening times on 01945 772345 before you go).

This route takes around seven and a half hours return with two locks, so it’s a proper full-day adventure. Comfortable for adults and older children who are up for a longer cruise.

Best for a relaxed start: through the town of March

Some routes pass through March itself, which means you can start your morning with breakfast at The Acre riverside pub (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) or a full English at Ye Olde Griffin Hotel any day of the week. And on the way back, the Ship Inn has moorings right outside and a cold drink with your name on it.

March isn’t the most famous Fenland town, but its hidden charms are worth slowing down for.

A note to the first-time skipper

Yes, you can steer a hire boat without having done it before. Thousands of people do it every year, including people who were considerably more nervous about it than you are. The boat’s easy to handle, the Fenland waterways give you plenty of room, and the speed limit on the navigation is 4mph, about the same pace as a brisk walk. But that’s not a goal to aim for, you won’t be travelling fast enough to do anything so dramatic!

Locks may sound intimidating until you’ve done one, at which point they become the most satisfying part of the day. On the lockless routes, you don’t have to worry about them at all.

Before you set off, our team will walk you through everything you need to know: how to steer, how to slow down, how to moor up, and what to do at a lock if your route includes one. You’ll leave feeling calm and capable rather than like you’ve been handed a manual and wished good luck.

What to bring

Pack as though you’re going for a long picnic that happens to take place on water. Layers are your friend in the Fens; the skies are wide open and the wider waterways can be breezy. Bring more food than you think you’ll need, a blanket, sunscreen, hat and something to keep the children occupied during the quieter stretches. A spotters guide to Fenland birds could make the day more interesting too.

You might also want to look up opening times for wherever you’re planning to stop for food. Canal-side pubs and small town cafés are charming, but if you’re planning a day around a particular stop you’ll need to be sure it’s open and consider pre booking.

Ready to book?

June is peak season on the waterways; the days are long, the light is amazing, and the Fens are genuinely at their best. Day boats go quickly at this time of year, (even though they move slowly!) so if you’re thinking about it, now is the time to stop thinking and start booking.

Visit Day Boat Hire to check availability and book your day out on the water. We’re based in Cambridgeshire, and we’ll be very glad to see you.

No experience necessary. Happy memories guaranteed.

You may also like: Why Your Kids Will Love a Narrowboat Summer Holiday

Don’t miss more articles about what to see and do when narrowboating in the Fens: Sign up to follow this blog in the sidebar on the right.

Peggy Melmoth is a writer who shares her memoir-style writing and poetry at Life, Locks and Literature.

Photo credits: Marina Fox Narrowboats, Heron Deposit Photos, Ship Inn riverside, 

The post You Don’t Need to Know What You’re Doing. That’s the Adventure! appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

benwick river nene middle level

If this is your first time on a narrowboat our experienced staff will show you how to steer the boat, use a lock and moor the boat. Then you can head off on an adventure, being the skipper of your own destiny! But how far can you actually get on your first day afloat?

We suggest travelling at a leisurely pace so that you can enjoy the journey. Don’t attempt to get too far too soon. A popular mooring among our customers for their first night of the holiday is Benwick, a little village near Peterborough on the navigable River Nene.  Heading towards Ramsey, it will take about two hours to reach Benwick by boat. Benwick can be visited if you are doing the Middle Level ring, and there is a shop and a pub in the village. The Middle Level is an interconnected waterway combining natural rivers and manmade canals, and it dates back to the 17th century. Since the draining of the Fen, over the years the land has sunk, and most of the area is now below sea-level. The Middle Level rivers now have to be pumped up to sea-level to drain the land.

Benwick’s High Street is built on a roddon; the silt banks of an old river. The public mooring in Benwick, has only room for a couple of boats please offer other narrowboats to moor alongside you to keep things polite, it has convenient piled sides, concrete top and bollards, which is easier to negotiate than a wild mooring. The Five Alls pub is about 10 minutes’ walk from the mooring. This rural, family-friendly pub offers food to eat in or takeaway for pre bookings only. Check out their Facebook page for the menu, and upcoming special events such as a disco or a Bingo night.

https://www.facebook.com/fivealls/

Alternatively, cruising towards Whittlesey on your first day afloat, you can moor at Manor Fields above Whittlesey Lock. There are a range of takeaways and restaurants just a short walk from the moorings. This charming town has an interesting maze of streets, and two beautiful churches.

If you are headed towards the River Great Ouse you can spend the night at Church Bridge moorings in Upwell. In this picturesque village you’ll find a newsagents and grocers, a butchers, a bakery and a pub.

You can plan your route and choose your mooring for your first night by looking in the guidebook provided with the narrowboat. There are also links to navigation guides, cruising times and notices here: Navigational Data. A handy table shows the navigation cruising times from our hire boat base in March, to popular moorings and holiday destinations. Some locks are tidal and only navigable by appointment, which can add time on to your journey, so take it easy and be flexible!

The Fenland waterways are a very relaxed place to be and there aren’t too many rules and regulations to remember. However, if you’re new to boating, these five tips should help your first cruise to go more smoothly. Navigate Like a Pro-Skipper: 5 Essential Tips

To check availability for your next narrowboat holiday search here.

Interested in narrowboating? For more 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 roughly every two weeks.

Photo Credit: Kevin Banks

The post The Best Moorings for Your First Night on a Narrowboat appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.