spring 2025 narrowboat holiday

Why Go Boating in April?

April is when nature bursts back into life. Picture the blossom on the trees, and the plants and towpath-grass lining the waterways, making your journey as scenic as it is peaceful. It’s also the perfect time for spotting wildlife. Who doesn’t love to see a mother duck bobbing past their boat with a row of her ducklings in tow? The swans will be nesting, and if you’re lucky you could also glimpse a flash of a kingfisher, or a heron.

fox narrowboats heron

For families, an Easter holiday on the water is a unique and fun experience. You may like to bring some chocolate eggs for a boat-based Easter hunt. When my kids were young we lived on a narrowboat, and hid Easter eggs in a field near the towpath for our children to discover. Many of our local towns host Easter events and markets, perfect for a family outing. If you enjoy exploring history, you can moor up and visit iconic sites like Ely Cathedral, Ramsey Abbey, or even our charming home town of March, before the summer crowds arrive. Other local events in spring include St Georges Fayre in March, and Ely Eel Festival, home to the world eel throwing competition!

st georges fayre march april 2025 poster credit fenland gov

Spring’s mild temperatures and longer daylight hours make it a great time for walking and cycling along the towpaths. If you want to bring your dog on a boat trip, just let us know at the time of booking. And of course, no boating holiday is complete without stopping at a cosy waterside pub or café. Enjoy a drink or a classic cream tea as you take in the view. You might also want to browse local markets in Ely or St Ives, picking up fresh veg to cook up a delicious meal in the galley on-board.

Why Book Your Holiday Early?

Booking your holiday in advance means you get the best pick of boats and travel dates, so you won’t miss out on your ideal trip. Spring cruises are sometimes better value than peak summer breaks, making them a budget-friendly option.

spring 2025 holiday booking fox narrowboat st ives river

The weather in April and May is pretty mild, with crisp mornings and sunny afternoons—ideal for comfortable cruising. You’ll also find the waterways much quieter than in summer, meaning less waiting at locks and more choice when it comes to available moorings. If you’re new to narrowboating, this is the perfect time to give it a go. With fewer boats on the cut, you can take your time and enjoy a relaxed introduction to life on the water. (Our staff will show you what to do, if you’re new to this.)

Plan Your Spring Boating Break

A narrowboat holiday in April is the perfect way to slow down, enjoy the beauty of nature, and make lasting memories. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family adventure, or a get-together with a group of your closest friends, Fox Narrowboats has a boat to suit your needs. Book early to make sure you don’t miss out—your springtime adventure in Cambridgeshire awaits!

collage spring 2025 lily flower credit fox

Ready to start cruising? Get in touch with Fox Narrowboats today and start planning your trip!

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Image Credits: St Georges Fayre Fenland.Gov Easter Eggs Jasmine Waheed on Unsplash. Fox Narrowboats Facebook photos

The post Why an April Narrowboat Holiday is the Perfect Spring Getaway appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Image*: Ely Eel Festival

Are you new to eel throwing?

Or have you been following this annual event?

Most importantly, who will be named World Eel Throwing Champion 2021?

All this and more will be revealed at the next Ely Eel Festival.

Sadly, the much loved Eel Festival has been cancelled for 2020, in line with current Government health advice. However, the team are already working together on bringing you an even bigger, better Eel Festival and Food & Drink for 2021.

Ely (pronounced EE-lee) is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, about 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about 80 miles from London. It’s a popular destination on our narrowboat holidays, because of the old English charm and character, waterside antique shops and stunning cathedral.

The origin of Ely’s name is obscure, but possible meanings are thought to be “district of eels” or “eel island”. Before the draining of the Fens, Ely was an island. Eels are ray-finned elongated fish. The annual festival in their honour involves local traders, acts, demonstrations, celebrity chefs and community organisations. The Eel Food Safari offers jellied eels, roasted eel, eel pate and other eel related cuisine. The weekend also includes a food and drink festival, and an Eel Day parade. This year’s event had been planned with a VE Day theme, meaning that the food events would have included some ‘old fashioned’ inspired recipes, and the carnival style parade would have been led by a WW2 vehicle, followed by Army and Air Cadets and band.  Ely’s ‘Ellie the Eel’ would have wiggled its way to Waterside and into Jubilee Gardens for plenty of eel related activities. There was also going to be 1940’s singers, dancers, and a wartime tribute.

The highlight, of course, is the World Eel Throwing Competition. No eels are harmed in the competition, just stuffed toys! The World record of 17.7 meters was set in 2013. The competition is open to everyone. There are some rules; you have a few practice throws and then when you are ready you have your measured throw with the “golden eel”.  Each hourly winner receives a certificate and the overall winner of each category receives a trophy.

A narrowboat cruise to Ely takes about 18 hours return trip from our hire boat base in March. After the Middle Level waterways your boat will navigate a short length of tidal river between Salter’s Lode and Denver Sluice. You will also pass through the pretty, twin villages of Upwell and Outwell, where the village streets line both sides of the river, and you’ll see shops, pubs and churches along the way.

If you want to extend your holiday, Cambridge, on the River Cam is just 5 hours cruise from Ely, passing through some electric locks and the village of Fen Ditton.

If you want to make Ely part of your 2021 holiday plans Check availability here.

In the meantime, please stay safe, listen to Government Advice and we look forward to welcoming you to a Fox Narrowboats holiday as soon as it is safe to do so.

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*image copyright Ely Eel Festival | Eel Day 

The post Don’t Miss Next Year’s World Eel Throwing Competition! appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.