But what about the Fenland Waterways? The flat landscape here doesn’t really lend itself to towering aqueducts, but our peaceful waterways still offer plenty of history, wildlife, and fascinating structures. Here are our suggestions for the ‘Seven Wonders of the Fenland Waterways’, each offering something special for any hire boaters visiting the area.

1. St Ives Medieval Chapel Bridge

st ives medieval chapel bridge

This impressive 15th-century bridge is one of only four remaining chapel bridges in England. The picturesque stone arches and historic chapel across the Great River Ouse, make it one of the most beautiful sights on the Fenland waterways. This is still a place of worship, and it also hosts various arts events. Can you imagine all the traders, monks, and travellers who crossed this bridge in times gone by? There are public moorings at St Ives Quay (with a water point) and The Waites. Moorings are also available for customers at The Dolphin Hotel.

2. Ely Cathedral

ely cathedral

Ely Cathedral, is sometimes known as the “Ship of the Fens,” and can be seen for miles across the flat Fenland landscape. This stunning medieval masterpiece dates back to 1083 and is known for its breath-taking octagonal lantern tower. Boaters can moor up in Ely and take a short walk from the moorings, to explore its magnificent architecture and history. Don’t miss the stained glass museum while you are there!

3. Cambridge’s Bridge of Sighs

bridge of sighs cambridge

While Venice may have the original, Cambridge’s Bridge of Sighs is a beauty in its own right. Built in 1831, this elegant covered bridge at St John’s College crosses the River Cam and can be visited on foot. In Cambridge, the furthest you can travel by narrowboat in the summer is to Jesus Green Lock, because the Cambridge Backs are busy with small unpowered craft, called punts. Hiring a punt on the Backs is a Cambridge tradition, but you’ll see more of the River Cam by hiring a narrowboat.

4. St German’s Pumping Station

st germans pumping station – bob evens

The Fenlands are a landscape shaped by water, and St German’s Pumping Station plays a crucial role in keeping them navigable. The modern station, completed in 2010, replaced a Victorian-era pumping system and is one of the largest pumping stations in Europe. It helps prevent flooding in over 700 square kilometres of land, showcasing the engineering marvels that keep the Fenlands afloat. The Middle Level Main Drain leading to the station is not part of the navigable waterways and cannot be accessed by boat. Instead, you may like to visit Stretham drainage engine, a steam-powered engine built in 1831. Or even better, Prickwillow Museum, just east of Ely, tells the story of the changing face of the Fens and its network of drainage systems and pumping stations. This museum contains a collection of large diesel pumping engines which have all been restored to working order.

5. The Middle Level Navigation

This complex network of rivers, drains, and channels connects the Fenland waterways with the River Nene and the Great Ouse. Dating back to drainage schemes of the 17th century, the Middle Level provides boaters with a fascinating route through remote landscapes, historic villages, and abundant wildlife. It’s a true hidden gem for adventurous cruisers. Fox Boats marina is on the Middle Level.

6. Buckden Great Tower

Bukden Great Tower St Hugh’s Church – Richard Kelly

Standing on the banks of the River Great Ouse, Buckden Towers has a fascinating royal history. This striking medieval tower was once a residence of the Bishops of Lincoln and, most famously, served as a place of imprisonment for Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII, after their divorce. A visit here offers a glimpse into Tudor intrigue and the fate of a wronged queen. There are public moorings on the River Great Ouse at Huntingdon and the 66 bus runs every 30 minutes. Buckden Towers is now a conference and retreat centre. The grounds, but not the buildings, are open to visitors, and dogs are not allowed.

7. The River Great Ouse

March Mole River Ouse

As the fourth-longest river in the UK, the River Great Ouse is the lifeblood of the Fenland waterways. Winding its way through stunning countryside, historic towns, and past centuries-old landmarks, it offers some of the most scenic and enjoyable boating routes in the region. Whether you’re mooring up in charming Ely, exploring St Ives, or simply enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the open water, the Great Ouse is a true wonder in itself.

Discover the Wonders for Yourself

The Fenland waterways may not have grand aqueducts or boat lifts, but they offer a unique charm, history, and beauty that make them a wonder to explore. From medieval bridges to royal intrigue, from engineering marvels to breath-taking scenery, these seven wonders showcase why a boating holiday in the Fens is an unforgettable experience.

Ready to explore the Seven Wonders of the Fenland Waterways? Book your narrowboat adventure with Fox Narrowboats and set off on a journey through history, nature, and hidden gems!

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Image credits: St Ives Bridge – Fox, Ely Cathedral – istock, Bridge of Sighs – Deposit, St germans pumping station wiki CC SA-3.0 Bob1960evens, Bukden Great Tower St Hugh’s Church wiki CC BY-SA-4.0 Richard Kelly 

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Approaching Denver lock where several cruisers are waiting – cc John Revell

This was my first time entering Salters Lode lock from the tidal Ouse and I was grateful to receive good advice from the Denver lock keeper about how to do this on an in-coming tide.

A fine converted mill at Nordelph. This has been extended but remains very distinct. John Revell

The familiar view as you approach the centre of Nordelph. The Chequers pub on the right closed in 2005.

The journey along Well Creek was uneventful though I recall being intrigued by a simple swing bridge across the river to a small cottage near Nordelph. I learnt later that this belonged to Gladys Dack and her name lives on with the Gladys Dack mooring constructed by the Well Creek Trust on the opposite side of the river. The cottage is now derelict having been badly damaged by a gas explosion which fortunately did not injure Miss Dack.

Glady Dack’s cottage and simple swing bridge. The house was badly damaged by a gas explosion and is now derelict.

After Well Creek and Marmont Priory lock we headed down Pophams Eau and moored near the junction of the Sixteen Foot and Forty Foot rivers. The following day we attempted to reach Horseways lock but gave up when we discovered there was nowhere to turn at the lock. We had to reverse to the junction with the Forty Foot which was something I have done many times since. On one occasion in 2010 this was part of a campaign cruise undertaken by the local branch of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) which was broadcast on BBC Look East. Alastair Chambers, then Chairman of the Peterborough Borough Branch of the IWA, spoke to the camera while I just had to do the reversing.

I failed to boat the full length of the Forty Foot when I visited the Middle Level in April 1984 {see part 1} and it was a relief to get under the very low Ramsey Hollow bridge without mishap or injuring myself this time. Note that this bridge has since been raised by the Royal Engineers partly with funds raised by the local IWA at events held at Bill Fen marina [courtesy of John and Lynne Shotbolt].

Ramsey basin. Gang plank for access to town but nowhere to turn a 48′ boat round.

That evening was spent at the George Inn at Ramsey Forty Foot where we again added our name to the boater’s log book kept behind the bar before continuing the next day to Ramsey town. My notes record that this was easy boating with a good mooring at the end but nowhere to turn a 48‘ boat like mine.

We explored the town, ate fish and chips and visited the Jolly Sailor, a pub which has changed very little since then and which I last visited in September 2023.

My notes from 1984 state “Jolly Sailor. 6/10. Choice of rooms. Landlord ex RAF. Lots of brasses and locals. Beer by (Watney) Manns.

The moorings at Ramsey deteriorated over the years but have now been completely rebuilt to a high standard. There are also recently built houses on both sides. A turning point has also been provided and I have seen a 60’ narrow-boat turn there.

Plenty of help and onlookers at Lodes End lock

There was no turning point in 1984 so the following morning we therefore had to reverse all the way which took 90 mins. We then went through Lodes End lock and headed for Yaxley. Unfortunately, and not for the only time, we could not get under Exhibition Bridge which was too low to get under so we proceeded to Monk’s Lode where we moored overnight at the end of navigation.

At the end of Monk’s Lode

Our view that this was a very quiet spot was confirmed by a conversation the next day with a local man. He said that the only boats he saw these days were weed boats but this was a shame as he was looking for a wife (presumably to drift past and into his arms). This conversation took place in August when some waterways elsewhere would have been very busy. I reversed a short way and turned near an old pumping station. Monks Lode remains entirely unspoilt but the turning point is overgrown so reversing is needed for most boats.

After another quiet day we paid our second visit to C & T Fox boat yard. My notes say

“Helpful and business like. Diesel £1.20 a gallon. Mooring £6.62 per week”

We also visited the Horse and Jockey pub which was a short distance from the boatyard but has since been demolished before spending the evening in the Red Hart at Three Holes (an Elgoods pub which is also now closed).

Approaching Outwell before the church. A familiar scene still today.

We made our way to Salters Lode the next day, stopping for fish and chips at J R Stott Outwell (still there) and a drink at the Red Lion at Outwell (a splendid looking building on the busy main road, still there but no longer a pub – the prominent Bullards brewery sign  remains) and the Chequers at Nordelph (another closed pub).

Just before Outwell basin and the former junction with the Wisbech canal.

We had chosen to return via the tidal Hundred Foot (New Bedford). We went through Salters Lode at low water and waited outside for the big spring tide to arrive. We set off with the tide and reached the Riverside Inn at Earith by lunchtime. I have used this tidal route many times since then all without difficulty.

[photos]

All Photos Copyright John Revell

The post Middle Level Then And Now August 1984 With John Revell Part 2 appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

19 May 1984. Journey start Bunbury Staircase locks cc John Revell

CC John Revell Northampton River Nene 23 May 1984.

I bought my first narrow boat in 1984 after many years of hiring boats. My trip began at Bunbury on the Shropshire Union on 19 May 1984 and I reached Northampton after 5 long, hard days passing through the centre of Birmingham including Gas Street basin (which was yet to be developed). Another long day on the Nene followed, starting at the Britannia Inn just below Northampton and finishing in time for drinks in the Chequered Skipper at Ashton where a live band was playing. As John Gagg had written in one of his canal guides there were torrents of water coming over the top gates at some of the locks. None of the locks had been electrified at the time and these included Ditchford radial arm lock which involved 148 turns of a hand wheel, once to lower the heavy bottom gate and once to open.  Years later I still find it surprising that none of the endless notices on Ditchford lock state that it is the only surviving radial arm lock on the Nene.

Lilford lock on the Nene on 24 May 1984. The manual wheel fitted on the guillotine is just visible

Two days later I reached Stanground lock where to my relief I found that my 48 foot boat would just fit into Stanground lock (which at 49 foot was the shortest lock I had encountered on my travels and which was the reason I had bought a 48 foot boat in the first place). This was my first meeting with Mr Rootham (I never knew his Christian name was Alan, let alone called him that for years) and then to Ashline lock where the resident lock keeper suddenly appeared and furiously wound paddle gear of a type which I had never seen before.

Bevill’s Leam pumping station near Pondersbridge on 26 May 1984 – cc John Revell

From there we headed for Pondersbridge. Although I had read that this was a dead end it still came as a shock to find Bevill’s Leam pumping station right across the river and no lock to go beyond so we turned round and headed for Turves where we had been told there was a pub. The Three Horseshoes did not disappoint. There was again live music in the saloon and a games area in the public bar with table football and darts.The friendly locals were amazed to learn that we were on a long boating trip from somewhere near Chester to somewhere near Ely and happened to be dropping into their pub in Turves on the way.

28 May 1984 Lodes End Lock opened in 1984. Very wet day! enclosure was built later.

Plaque Lodes End Lock 1984

There was heavy rain the next day and we set off late to find the pub at Chainbridge on the 20 Foot river which no longer existed so we continued to March and the boatyard of CT and P Fox Boatbuilders where I met Charlie Fox for the first time –  I recall he sold me some stern grease in a recycled treacle tin.

We finished up that evening at Benwick. Some of the houses in the main street and many of the gravestones had clearly been badly affected by subsistence but the Five Alls pub was memorable and full. There was a live and loud organ playing in the main bar and a deafening juke box for younger people at the rear.

The following day we went to Woodwalton Fen (Great Raveley Drain) in the rain and finished that evening in the George Inn at Ramsey Forty Foot where we signed the boater’s log book kept behind the bar and warmed up by the fire. I mention in passing that Joe Bugner, former world heavyweight boxing champion, lived in the big house opposite the George around that time.

The next day was memorable for all the wrong reasons. I damaged a finger badly when I caught it under the very low Ramsey Hollow bridge soon after leaving the George. A kind motorist took me to Manea train station where I eventually caught a train to Ely and walked into Ely military hospital and received welcome and prompt treatment. Meanwhile my friends (remember this was our first visit to the Middle Level)  boated along the Forty Foot river, the Sixteen Foot river and Well Creek  through Salters Lode and met up with me suitably bandaged at what was then called the Black Horse at Littleport at 9.30 pm. Remember there were no mobile phones then and red phone boxes were infrequent. Often they were already being used or there was a queue outside or they were simply not working. You also needed plenty of loose change to use them. You could not simply ring for an ambulance or a taxi from the boat let alone remain in contact with my friends but we all somehow managed to meet up at the Black Horse at Littleport late that evening.

After a brief spell at the Fish and Duck marina I was fortunate to move my boat to Fox’s marina where I was able to explore the Middle Level further over the next couple of years. I then returned in 1996 where I have been ever since both in my first boat and the second Olive Emily which Fox’s built for me in 2002. I will write more about this later.

John Revell
8 Oct 2023

The post Boating on the Middle Level in May 1984 Part 1 with John Revell 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.

Update on navigation licencing for Middle Level Waters

Important Notice.

The Navigation Advisory Committee have reviewed the position in relation to introduction of licences for Middle Level Waters which was due to take effect from 1st April this year. The committee agree that in light of the COVID-19 situation and reflecting on the impact this will have on the boating community, the date when boats will need to be licenced has been set back to 1st September 2020. The licence fee will now also be further discounted so that it will be equivalent to 50% of the Environment Agency (EA) Anglian Waters charges. One other change is that the Middle Level will not be issuing EA visitor licences as agents for the EA this year and hence there will no longer be a 25% cap in place for this.
Recognising that some applicants may find themselves in a financial hardship situation then it will be possible for such a vessel owner to request that arrangements be made to spread the cost of the licence over a four-month period, by making arrangements for direct debit payments as an example.
Applications for licencing for vessels (for the period 1st September 2020 until 31st March 2021) can be made anytime between now and the end of October. Due to current government advice on social contact the application forms are only available via the navigation page of our website www.middlelevel.gov.uk (for powered vessels the application form is already available and for unpowered vessels this will be added shortly). Applications can only be accepted by post or email until further notice, with payments being made by: enclosing a cheque, by card over the phone by arrangement, or by filling in the card payment section of the application form.

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Spring time is not just about warmer days, daffodils and Easter eggs. For narrowboaters it means the start of the boating season, and on the Fenland waterways it’s time to untie our ropes and get back out there cruising under those stunning Fenland skyscapes.

A boating holiday around East Anglia offers peaceful cruises and pretty walks, cosy pubs and restaurants, and shopping in ancient villages and towns. You can even cruise all the way to Peterbrough or Cambridge for a bit of a city break, discovering art galleries, museums, history and architecture. Near Peterborough you can get all nostalgic and visit the steam trains of the Nene Valley Railway.

Our local waterways are the Middle Level, River Nene and River Great Ouse and are far less crowded than the Norfolk broads. If you head west from our hire base in March you will cross the Greenwich meridian line at Floods Ferry, and cruise on to Whittlesey, Stanground, Peterborough and the Nene valley. Alternatively, if you travel east to Upwell and Outwell, then cross the tide at Salters Lode you can head on towards Littleport, Ely and Cambridge. (See the full map of our suggested holiday routes.)

Research shows that spending time in nature reduces stress, lowers feelings of anxiety and depression, and gives us energy. There’s something about travelling by canal boat that allows you to be right up close to the natural world around you, yet never a moment away from a nice sit down and a cup of tea! Like the scenery? Stop and moor up. Boating is an unhurried style of holiday.

In the spring the waterways are less crowded than in the summer time, but the weather is often just perfect for boating. Enjoy blossoming trees and primroses as you pass through pretty villages. At this time of year swans, ducks and geese proudly swim along with rows of newborn young following behind. Our local waterways are home to otters, kingfishers, hares and foxes.

Try shopping for Easter chocolate in Peterborough, Ely, Cambridge or smaller picturesque market towns along the way. Then take a tea break in somewhere quaint like The Samovar Tea House; a cosy café in Ely, serving a variety of loose teas and coffees, brunch, lunch and home-made cakes.

Narrowboat hire prices are often cheaper in the spring time than they are in the summer. If you book online today you could save 10% on your Easter holiday! (You may also like How to Save Money on Your Narrowboat Holiday.)

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

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The Middle Level waterways are an unusual mixture of natural rivers and man-made canals in Cambridgeshire. When the Bedford Level area of the Fens was first drained in the 17^th century, it created interconnected navigations that now link the River Nene to the River Ouse. Over the years the land here has sunk so that most of the area is now below sea-level. Middle Level rivers now have to be pumped up to sea-level to drain the land.

Fox Narrowboats is in a great position, nestled in the centre of the Middle Level Waterways, not far from the idyllic riverside villages of Upwell and Outwell. On a boating holiday beginning at our marina in March, you can easily visit these five places by narrowboat.

1) March and District Museum

Before you set off on your Middle Level cruise, check out this little museum in the heart of the town centre for a fascinating insight into our community’s social history.  A variety of displays and collections, along with audio points and interactive elements, will guide you through the history of the town, and admission is free.

2) St Wendreda’s Church

double hammer beam angel roof

It’s also worth seeing St Wendreda’s Church which is just a short 20 minute walk away from the town centre moorings. It’s the oldest church in our town and is known for its magnificent double-hammer beam roof with 120 carved angels; regarded as one of the best of its kind.  John Betjeman described the church as “worth cycling 40 miles in a head wind to see.”

3) The Acre

We think you’ll love this charming little backstreet pub beside the river, known for its friendly staff, prompt service and home-cooked Sunday carvery, which is sometimes accompanied by live jazz. This place is a local favourite of ours because of the warm, friendly atmosphere and good value food. If you want to eat there it’s worth booking a table in advance. There is outdoor seating for fair weather days, and there are moorings nearby if you are arriving by narrowboat.

The Acre, 9 the Acre, March, PE15 9JD

4) St Peter’s Church

As you navigate your way through the Middle Levels it is worth stopping at the picturesque village of Upwell on the Well Creek. St Peter’s is a 13th century church with an unusual tower. We love the 25 carved oak angels in the roof, looking down into two Victorian galleries. Try mooring at The Five Bells Inn for a real ale in Upwell. Beyond Upwell, Outwell Basin also provides some idyllic moorings and The Crown Lodge Hotel moorings are the last chance to moor for a drink before the tidal crossing at Salters Lode.

5) Ramsey Rural Museum

This independent museum on the edge of a small Fenland town is housed in renovated 17th century farm buildings. To get to Ramsey by boat you would cruise west in the opposite direction to Upwell and Outwell. The museum is full of items and exhibits donated by local companies and the public. There is a variety of machinery, implements and vehicles spanning 200 years of rural life, plus a Chemist Shop and a Cobblers Shop. A history of the drainage of the Fens can be found in the Pump Room along with tools used for hedging, ditching and turfing. We love browsing the second-hand bookshop and visiting the tea room for a piece of cake.

The Middle Levels are one of the best kept secrets of the UK waterways; so holiday makers benefit from uncrowded rivers and stunning scenery with wide open skies.

You may also like; Seven Surprising Differences We Discovered Cruising the Middle Levels. (From friendly lock keepers, to wind farms and kingfishers, this is what a Hotel Boat crew loved about our local waterways.)

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.)

The post Five Things You’ll Love About the Middle Levels appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

sunset on the Middle Level Navigation

Before reading this article further it is worth thinking back to 1984 when John Revell first visited the Middle Level Navigations.  In those days entry by boat to the system was restricted to boats of 49 feet in length because of the short locks at Stanground, Ashline and Marmont Priory. Fortunately during the 1990’s thanks to campaigning the locks were lengthened to take full length narrowboats. Before that in the 1970’s our first holiday hire narrowboats transited the Old Bedford river to access the Great Ouse river system at Denver, the reason being Well Creek was not navigable.  Thanks to the East Anglian Waterways Association, the Inland Waterways Association (Peterborough Branch) and the Well Creek Trust along with their campaigning members the waterways have been opened up for navigation, recreation and fishing to all. Their campaigning would have been fruitless without the willingness of the Middle Level Commissioners, the fourth largest and perhaps least well know navigation authority in the country.

Although I try and visit the main canal system in spring I usually leave my boat on the Middle Level for the summer and winter months. Not everyone is a fan of the Fens but I am.

On my first visit to the Middle Level in June 1984 I moored near a bridge and saw a narrow road leading towards what looked like a pub. I was right as I had arrived at the Three Horseshoes pub in Turves which was heaving with people on a Saturday night. My long journey had started at Bunbury near Chester and I was heading for the Fish and Duck near Ely. Both the pub locals and we were amazed that my journey had led me to Turves.

Sunrise on the Middle Level Navigation

We returned to the Middle Level in August that year and visited some of the remoter parts. As we struggled along one somewhat weedy stretch a farmer came out to say hallo. He said he only ever saw weed boats there and added that he wished there were a few more boats passing as he was looking for a wife.

Away from the “Link Route” the Middle Level is little used, even in the height of summer. On a day’s journey from Holme to Floods Ferry this summer I met one moving narrow boat, passed 2 friendly fishermen when I went up to Ramsey basin for lunch and saw 5 kingfishers. If you want a good sunset or sunrise , lots of wildlife and peace and quiet this is the place to be.

Fox Narrowboats at March, Bill Fen Marina at Ramsey and Peterborough Boating Centre (just the other side of Stanground lock) provide most boating services. Whittlesey, Ramsey and March have a good range of shops and pubs, Upwell and Outwell provide a smaller choice of shops but convenient short term moorings plus 2 butchers, 2 fish and chip shops , the Globe PH, the Crown PH and the Crown Lodge Hotel and an amazing display of daffodils each year.

Sunset on the Middle Level Navigation

Away from the bright lights there are several pubs that have managed to survive, the Golden Lion at Stonea, the George at Ramsey Forty Foot, the Five Alls at Benwick, the Lion at Ramsey St Marys, the Admiral Wells at Holme and the Three Horseshoes at Turves. The shop at Three Holes next to the public landing stage (paid for by the Peterborough Branch of the Inland Waterways Association and built by the Middle Level Commissioners) has recently been renovated with a café and the Village shop at Ramsey St Marys is just before the Lion PH.

Now, if only we can restore Horseways Channel, Welches Dam lock and the Old Bedford to full navigation.

This is a guest blog by John Revell waterways campaigner and mooring customer here at Fox Narrowboats.

The post The Middle Level Navigations – one boater’s view appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

With kind permission: Jan Pickles

If you’re planning a narrowboat summer holiday on the East Anglian waterways it’s fun to do a bit of online research before you go. There are a few Facebook groups dedicated to our local waterways such as Friends of the River Nene, Fen Boaters and Middle Level Boaters.

So I asked the local boaters on Facebook if they had any tips and suggestions of favourite moorings and best places to visit on the Cam, Ouse, Nene and Middle Levels?

Fred Ray responded with a link to his beautiful photo blog. Fred explored the Fen waterways before Easter last year, with his family on board narrowboat Calamity Jayne. One of the highlights was a visit to Ely cathedral. Fred was impressed and overawed by the sheer scale and beauty of the building. The ‘Ship of the Fens’ dates from the 11^th century. Fred’s blog displays examples of the intricate stonework, stained glass windows and painted vaulted ceilings. They visited the West Tower and climbed 288 steps to get some stunning shots of the flat fenlands all around, and looked down onto the top of the octagonal Lantern Tower. He even spied their boat from up there, moored down on the river! Their day out in Ely also offered shopping, playing in a country park and chip butties for lunch.

I also read on Facebook that the Five Miles in Upware, near Ely is has real ales, good food and plenty of moorings. On a Friday night they have a live band and during the summer live music in the garden. The Five Miles From Anywhere Inn is a modern, family-friendly pub-restaurant with a grassy riverside garden on the River Cam.

A visitor to our Facebook page recently suggested The Ship Inn at Brandon Creek. “They serve consistently great home cooked food and cater for celiacs and gluten diets really well. Best Treacle tart ever. Mooring over night when you go there too. There are also Environment Agency moorings alongside the pub: A truly pretty spot between two rivers – just like an island.”

Jan Moyes says, “We do have a house, but we don’t go there very often!” They spend most of their time on their boat, Pennymist. She says, “Cambridge is my favourite place and we have always been lucky in getting a mooring at Jesus Green lock, but there is not a lot of mooring. On the Nene, Midsummer Meadow is one lock and ten minutes cruise from Northampton and a much quieter mooring. Also The Kings Head at Wadenhoe is good. Most EA moorings on the great Ouse are good. I really like the Five Miles From Anywhere – and it’s a great place name! Upwell to Burwell is a nice little detour – lovely little village.”

‘H’ and Jan Pickles (and their three cats) have been exploring the Great Ouse and its tributaries on an old Seamaster river cruiser, and have collated their years of experience into a website that can be accessed on the move via mobile devices. UK River and Canal Info offers the kind of information that boaters only discover over years of exploring, so is a real help to holiday makers that are new to the area. They like to visit Wadenhoe, on the River Nene.

Jan says, “You can moor at the bottom of the pub gardens for free if you eat in The Kings Head. If you prefer not to eat, it’s a fee. There’s an E.A. water point there too, which is handy.

Further up the village you have the Old Barn Tea Rooms. They do a wicked cooked breakfast and lovely cakes, as well as gifts, plants and even free range eggs can be purchased there.

You can also moor a little further upstream against the SSSI (site of special scientific interest). It costs nothing to moor there and the pub and tea rooms are still within easy reach.”

Any one of these places is within easy reach of our hire boat base in March, and can be included in your holiday plans.

For more Fenland boaters recommendations and tips, plus our local boaty news and gorgeous narrowboating pictures make sure you’re following our Facebook page, and 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!)

The post Fenland Boaters’ Top Tips for Your Narrowboat Summer Holiday appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Old Bedford river

Lois and Roy Parker in their cruiser and Alastair and Jonathan Chambers and myself in my Fox narrowboat attempted to enter the Old Bedford river at Salters Lode on Saturday 5^th September 2015.

The Parkers were successful and locked through the Old Bedford sluice into the Old Bedford river. They then proceeded along the Old Bedford for about a mile, negotiating their way through dense clumps of floating reeds before being stopped by an impassable mass of cott weed.

The Parkers on the fresh water side of the tidal doors

They then turned round and made their way back through the sluice and returned to the Middle Level via the main lock at Salters Lode. Both tidal doors and guillotine gate at the Old Bedford sluice worked well and the Middle Level Commissioners’ relief lock keeper was very helpful.

I had no problems reaching the tidal doors in my narrowboat but was unable to enter the Old Bedford “on the level” on this occasion.

While we were there a canoe was launched and set off for Manea and I was watched by a common seal as I reversed into the main tidal river.

clumps of floating reeds Old Bedford

Navigating the Old Bedford remains problematical and efforts are being made to restore it as part of the East Anglian Waterways Association (EAWA) “Project Hereward” scheme. It is worth remembering that until the derelict Well Creek was restored to navigation there were only 2 ways to get from the Nene to the Great Ouse; either a sea crossing of the Wash or the route via the Old Bedford, Welches Dam lock, Horseways Channel and Horseways lock. It is not surprising that most boats, including Fox’s Hire Fleet, chose this latter route rather than the Wash.

#ProjectHereward

Thanks to John Revell mooring customer, for this guest article with photos.

The post Mooring customer John Revell talks of the Old Bedford river. appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.