Paula Syred and the Fox Family

Cruise Moor is delighted to announce three more independent family run marinas have joined its unique mooring scheme.

Lechlade, Shepperton and Fox Narrowboats are the latest trio of marinas to sign up to the scheme bringing the grand total of participating marinas to Cruise Moor to nine.

Officially launched in 2024 at Boatlife in Birmingham by Aqueduct (Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union), Dunchurch Pools (North Oxford Canal), Droitwich Spa (Droitwich Junction Canal), Overwater (Shropshire Union Canal) and White Mills (River Nene), the scheme which offers boaters one free weeks mooring at each participating marina has been set up to encourage more boaters to get out and about and explore the waterways network. Fenny Marina on the southern arm of the Oxford Canal became the sixth marina to join late last year.

Ian and Jules Lindsay spent four years looking for their own marina before buying 100 berth Lechlade Marina in 2018.  With its large slipway it is a popular launch point for Wilderness, Sea Otters and other trailable boats wanting to cruise the Thames. Ian said, “To join a scheme which actively promotes independent family run marinas is brilliant for us. We all care deeply and value our customers, so by joining Cruise Moor it is another way of showing our customers how much we appreciate them.”

Ian’s sentiments are echoed by Paula Syed who with her sister Tracey and daughter Emily operate their 200 berth marina Fox Narrowboats on the Middle Levels.  Founded by their father in 1980, Paula is a firm advocate of independent and family run businesses. “Everyone should be encouraging all boaters to use the entire waterways network, hopefully Cruise Moor will help do exactly that especially as more marinas sign up. We are very happy to be part of this exciting new initiative and look forward to welcoming boaters to our part of the waterways network.”

The third family run marina to join the scheme is the 400 berth Shepperton Marina located on the River Thames between Shepperton and Sunbury locks.

Marina Manager Lisa Harris added, “We were drawn to join Cruise Moor because of its strong commitment to supporting boaters and independent marinas alike. The initiative not only promotes responsible mooring practices but also provides well-maintained mooring spots.  By partnering with independent marinas, Cruise Moor helps boost independent businesses while making it easier for boaters to explore beautiful waterways. We believe this initiative will greatly benefit the boating community, fostering a sense of connection and sustainability for years to come.”

More About Cruise Moor

Join the Cruise Moor Scheme. Get 1 weeks free mooring. Choose from 9 or more independent marina’s. Learn more

The post Three more for Cruise Moor. 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.

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

The post Is it Difficult to Drive a Narrowboat? appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

I particularly enjoy boating on the Middle Level beyond Lodes End Lock. This is very different from the “Link Route” both in feel and in the number of boats that use it. Probably the least visited stretch is between Exhibition Bridge and Yaxley mainly because Exhibition Bridge itself is very low.

The river level is kept lower during winter months and there is then sufficient clearance for me to get under Exhibition bridge in my Fox built narrowboat and easily reach the mainline railway bridge just before Yaxley. In recent times the Middle Level Commissioners have created a rural mooring at the head of navigation half a mile further on and close to 2 pubs and a shop. Middle Level Commissioners have dredged part of this river and carried out weed clearance, so I am planning to take my boat there later this year.

During September Mike Daines, Nik Daines and myself had a very enjoyable canoe trip to Yaxley, this time from Bevill’s Leam pumping station at Pondersbridge. This took a little under 2 hours each way.  Mike and John are both active members of the Middle Level Watermans Club

We shall look forward to hearing about John’s trip.  Do you have a story to tell about boating on the Middle Level Navigation?  Please feel free to submit it for possible publication.

Photo credits. Mike Daines.

The post A lesser known area of the Middle Level Navigation appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Our hire boat base in March is ideally situated for exploring the Middle Level by narrowboat. This is a fascinating interconnected waterway which will take you through the idyllic riverside villages of Upwell and Outwell on your way to The River Ouse and Cambridge. Alternatively if you are travelling west you can head towards the River Nene and Peterborough. Or you could just explore the Middle Level at a leisurely pace, and enjoy big skies, wind farms and kingfishers.

We asked a few boaters, where do you like to moor on the Middle Level? These are just some of their suggestions.

Upwell and Outwell

Upwell and Outwell are two villages that run either side of the Well Stream, and so give you the feeling that you are cruising down the middle of the road! There are various visitor moorings here, operated by the Well Creek Trust. Amy of historic narrowboat Willow likes the moorings by the church in Upwell because of the lovely edible plants. It is also an opportunity to find out about the Wisbech to Upwell tram which used to operate in these parts.  See if you can find out which children’s story book is based on this tram?

Glady Dacks

Glady Dacks Staithe on Well Creek is a lovely mooring just west of Nordelph. It’s on the left between Upwell and Nordelph.

Angle Bridge

Just south of Angle Bridge on Bevill’s Leam is a “wild” mooring, meaning not an official visitor mooring. There is therefore a bit of clambering needed here. Angle Corner Bridge is on the Twenty Foot River between Old River Nene and Angle Corner on Bevill’s Leam: a broad canal.

Some of the wild moorings on the Middle Level have a 45 degree bank and a lot of reeds to negotiate. But if the visitor moorings are busy on a sunny summer weekend you may find yourself looking for a wild mooring, for which you may need to use a gang plank to get to the bank. However, the solitude of a wild mooring can be so idyllic; and a much needed chance to really get away from it all.

Benwick

Carol Sargent says, “We have hired quite a few times from Fox’s. This year we did the Middle Level ring. Benwick is amazing. Love going through Upwell and Outwell to the church moorings. It’s a lovely quiet waterways.”

Leaving the link route at Flood’s Ferry and heading towards Ramsey, there are visitor moorings at Benwick and Ramsey, at the end of High Lode. The public mooring in Benwick, has only room for one boat, but it has convenient piled sides, concrete top and bollards, which is easier to negotiate than a wild mooring. Stop here for the pub and shop.

Woodwalton Fen

Woodwalton Fen is a beautiful nature reserve and wetland site west of Ramsey, recognised for its wildlife. It provides a refuge for thousands of species of Fen animals and plants, many of which are found nowhere else in the country.

Ramsey is a town at the end of the Middle Level Navigation, on Ramsey High Lode, a broad canal running from Ramsey (which is a dead end) to the Old River Nene.

If you’re cruising towards Ramsey there is a mooring just under the second bridge, and a village shop with a pub there. Ramsey is four hours cruise from Fox Narrowboats marina, and is also home to the Ramsey Rural Museum. Check their website for the current opening times. https://ramseyruralmuseum.co.uk

You may like to read more about the history of the Middle Level here: Middle Level. Our narrowboat holidays can be taken as a week, weekend break or midweek breaks. Check availability today: Middle Level Narrowboat Holidays.

You may also like to read: Secrets of the Middle Level Waterways

We are indebted to boaters Simon Judge, Amy-Alys Tillson and Carol Sargent for help with this article, who were kind enough to let me know their favourite moorings on The Middle Level.

If you enjoy reading about the Fenland waterways 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.

The post Six Stunning Moorings on the Middle Level appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Fenland Flag Centre

Our newest addition to the flags that we fly here is the Fenland Flag designed by James Bowman. On the flag design the yellow centre background recognises agriculture, the blue on either side represents the waterways and in the middle is a “Fenland Tiger”.

According to the website British County Flags  the term “Fen Tigers” was first used of the local inhabitants by Dutch engineers who arrived to assist with the drainage of the Fens, resulting in considerable land reclamation. The locals apparently exhibited some hostility to the incomers and were given the term “tigers” as a result. The concept was sufficiently recognised in the twentieth century for tigers to be included as supporters in the arms.

The Fenland Flag travels by narrowboat on the tidal river Thames (photo Simon Judge)

Local boater Simon Judge has travelled the Inland Waterways with his flag

Sarah Cliss wrote in the Fenland Citizen earlier this year about James quest for the Fenland Flag.

James Bowen, 47, has been pushing for the region to have its own official flag and came up with a design which include’s a tiger on a yellow background with blue stripes running down the edges on either side.

Mr Bowman said: “The obvious symbol of the Fens is the Fen Tiger. This designation derives from the sometimes violent opposition of the local population to the drainage schemes of the 16th and 17th centuries.

“The term has subsequently been used for various clubs and associations. The proposed design features a heraldic tiger placed in a central field of yellow, representing agricultural prosperity. The blue outer fields represent the region’s natural and man-made waterways.”

For the flag to be officially registered in the UK, Mr Bowman needs to prove to the Flag Institute that there is a clear expression of support for it.

He needs to pull together evidence of people using it and present it to the organisation.

To do this, Mr Bowman has made car stickers and postcards of the design and gathered support from across the area including MP Lucy Frazer.

The MP for South East Cambridgeshire wrote a letter to the Flag Institute in support of the idea.

In a letter to Mr Bowman, the MP wrote: “Thanks you for writing to me about your design for a Fenland Flag.

“I was pleased to receive to receive the postcard you enclosed bearing your Fenland Flag design. “It is certainly a very smart and well-thought-out design and I wish you luck in your efforts of getting it officially accepted by the Flag Institute.

“As such, I have written to the Flag Institute to express my support for your proposal.”

To keep upto date you can follow the Fenland Flag on Facebook

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What are the most popular New Year’s Resolutions? The most common resolutions often revolve around exercise, health and weight loss, saving money and spending more time with family and friends.

At the start of every New Year, many people set new goals but only a few actually go on to achieve these. The secret to achieving your goals is to actually develop an action plan about how you are going to achieve them.

SMART Goals

To create an effective New Year’s resolution plan, try using the SMART Goals acronym. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Sensitive. Check your goal against each of these criteria to improve your chances of success. For example, specify how much weight you want to lose, and consider if it is achievable within the time frame you have planned.

For me, to make it realistic I think it also has to be exciting. Making the journey fun and interesting can keep you motivated, particularly at times when you become distracted or discouraged. If you’re someone who loves boats and waterways try these narrowboat-themed suggestions to make this your best year ever.

Fitness Goals

Have you ever begun a January exercise program, only to abandon it by February? Would you like to increase your chances for long term success? The answer could be to combine your fitness practice with time on the waterways, to maintain your enthusiasm! (Before beginning your planned exercise regime check with your doctor that you are healthy enough to start the activity you have decided on.) If you live near a canal you can try walking or jogging. With Fox Narrowboats you can build up your strength by working the locks and mooring up the boat. Here are seven ways to get active on the inland waterways.

Budget Goals

A holiday may be one of your biggest expenses when organising your finances this year, but making time to unwind is important both for improving mental health and maintaining close relationships. New Year is a good time to start planning ahead, to make sure you get the best boating holiday deals for this year. From booking early, to booking on line, here are five ways to save money on your canal boat holiday.

Family Goals

New Year’s Resolutions are so often about what you want to achieve personally; but have you thought about setting goals as a family this year, and agreeing to spend more quality time together?

A narrowboat holiday is a chance to take time out from the stresses of everyday life and focus on time with your loved ones. The easy-going calm of the waterways can very quickly create a different mind-set, for all generations.

From a digital detox to your own private boat party here are five simple ways to bring your family closer together on a narrowboat.

So if you want to get fit, save money and spend time with family check narrowboat availability here, and make this year’s goals specific, measurable and achievable!

The post How Narrowboats Can Help You to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Kind Permission: Jan Pickles

Do you believe in New Year’s resolutions?

Have you ever begun a January exercise program, only to abandon it by February?

Would you like to increase your chances for long term success?

The answer could be to combine your fitness practice with time on the waterways, to maintain your enthusiasm!

Before beginning any kind of exercise program, first check with your doctor that you are healthy enough to start whatever you have planned. Mentally you are more likely to succeed if you have confidence in your exercise ability and receive encouragement and support from those closest to you. It’s also a huge advantage if you have chosen something you enjoy, like being close to boats and waterways.

Here are seven ways to get active on the inland waterways.

1) Work the Locks.

As you approach a lock as part of a crew you may be the one to leap to the bank holding a rope and haul the boat in, then tie to a bollard. To fill or empty the lock you will need to wind paddles with a simple device called a windlass, and some of these mechanisms can be quite stiff! Then there is opening the lock gates by pushing the balance beam. Some can be quite heavy and require you to put your back into it. Before hiring one of our boats you will be fully trained in how to steer the narrowboat and operate the locks by one of our RYA qualified instructors. Your instructor will not let you begin your narrow boat holiday until he is fully confident in you being able to handle the boat.

2) Lock Wheeling.

Traditionally, when cargo was carried on the waterways, this meant going ahead of the working boats, up the towpath to set and prepare the next lock ready for the boats’ arrival. This was often done on a bicycle, but some people still call it lock wheeling if you charge ahead on foot. On all holiday narrowboats, apart from Silver Fox, we can offer a cycle rack to carry two cycles.

3) Bow Hauling.

This is not something that is often done these days unless you have a butty (a boat without a motor). But you may sometimes see traditional cargo boats or hotel boats working as a pair; motor and butty. Occasionally manoeuvring the boats requires pulling the butty by hand, on a rope, to get in or out of a lock for example. Bow hauling is not recommended for the inexperienced boater, but it is certainly a strength-building exercise for those who undertake it as part of their job!

4) Walking.

Take a picnic and ramble away from the beaten track (towpath) across buttercup meadows to discover ancient villages. Or walk alongside the boat while your crew member steers, and hop back on for tea and cakes when you need to refuel.

5) Jogging on the Towpath.

The towpath is such a picturesque running track, usually far from any noisy traffic sounds. If there are a lot of locks you may find yourself well ahead of the boat and need to wait for the others with a cool drink in a waterside pub.

6) Mooring Up.

As well as leaping off with a rope and hauling the boat towards the bank, this can often involve using a mallet to bang mooring pegs into hard ground. This is great for releasing any repressed anger by bashing that peg on the head!

7) Barge Poling off the Bottom.

This is not so common if the canal is deep enough, but you may occasionally get caught on an underwater obstruction and need to push the boat off using a barge pole. This is done by standing on the roof of the boat.

Caution!

Several of these suggestions should not be attempted for the first time without proper training and supervision. But if you’re looking for an interesting way to get fit, do consider booking a hire boat holiday or a day trip with us.

We’re currently taking bookings for this year’s boating season. Will you join us on an adventure?

If you enjoyed this article about fitness on the canals, 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!)

You may also like: 5 Family Goals You Can Achieve on a Narrowboat Holiday

The post 7 Ways to Achieve Your New Year’s Fitness Goals on the Canals appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.