Chester House Estate courtyard – cc Chesters

Do you like the sound of life in the slow lane?

Attractive villages and stunning countryside?

Want to avoid the crowds on your narrowboat holiday?

You’re going to love visiting the River Nene.

A new floating pontoon has recently been funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Environment Agency. This will allow boaters to moor on the River Nene at north Northamptonshire’s leisure and heritage destination, Chester House Estate. The estate offers beautiful walks, a cafe, restaurant, shopping courtyard, outdoor play area, a museum, and different events throughout the year. Chester House can be visited on an extended narrowboat trip when travelling towards Northampton, as this navigable part of the river passes through Cambridgeshire and Northants where it connects the east of England to the rest of the UK waterway network.

aerial view of Chester House Estate with river nene – cc Chesters

However, travelling at four miles an hour on a holiday from Fox Narrowboats you are unlikely to reach Chester House Estate in a hurry – even though it is just a short drive by car! But you will be spoilt for choices of beautiful walks, cafes, restaurants and shopping on your boat journey, as you explore Wadenhoe, Peterborough, and Fotheringhay, while cruising at a leisurely pace.

Chesters House Estate restaurant – cc Chesters

Much of the land around the Nene is privately owned by farmers, so when you stop you will usually need a designated mooring; these are marked in your guidebook provided with your hire boat. Whitemills Marina also welcomes visitors and has a marina-side Boathouse Café.

nene mooring Chesters House Estate – cc Chesters

Heading towards Peterborough from our narrowboat hire base you may like to stop in Wadenhoe village, to see thatched rooves and stone cottages, and relax at the Kings Head.

There is also a mooring and tea room at Wansford Station where you can watch the steam train of the Nene Valley Railway pass by. This preserved railway runs from Peterborough to Yarwell Junction. Narrowboaters can board a train at Overton (Ferry Meadows station). Imagine yourself travelling back in time, while relaxing in a restored wooden panelled coach on a heritage train.

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

In September a variety of events are taking place for the annual Nene Valley festival. Moor up in Ferry Meadows Park and try free fishing lessons, or take a tour of Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery, formerly Peterborough Infirmary, and see a Victorian operating theatre. You may also like the Saxon Stones, and a variety of special displays at St Margaret’s Church in nearby Fletton.

If you still want to carry on cruising then from Ferry Meadows park to Fotheringhay is a 12 hour return trip. In 1587 Mary queen of Scots was beheaded in Fotheringhay Castle. Today all that remains are the castle mound and a few stones. Views of the village are dominated by a perpendicular style church, dating in parts to the 15th Century. A local farmer charges for mooring at this quiet and peaceful village. For more details see Fox Route Four.

Cruising the River Nene, really is a stunning trip through peaceful countryside, with places to visit that take you on a nostalgic trip through England’s history: A real chance to get away from modern life. Yet, every narrowboat at Fox Boats comes equipped with all modern conveniences and creature comforts, so that you feel like you have a home from home.

You may also like: The 3 Best Moorings When Narrowboating on the Nene

You may like to read more about the Nene’s top attractions and check out the Fox holiday routes that cover the Nene here: River Nene. Our narrowboat holidays on The Nene can be taken as a week, weekend break or midweek breaks. Check availability today: River Nene Narrowboat Holidays

Image Credits: Chesters House Estate

Chester House can be visited on an extended narrowboat holiday of 11 or 14 nights.

The post Discover the Nostalgic Charm of the River Nene by Narrowboat appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Many boaters love the quiet River Nene for its stunning countryside and attractive villages, beautiful lock surroundings, stone cottages, and thatched rooves. From Fox Narrowboats the river can be accessed by travelling through the Middle Levels to Peterborough, an ancient city at the edge of the fens.

The Nene Valley Festival celebrates the natural and historic assets of the area through a nine day programme of outdoor events, theatre productions, concerts, guided walks, brewery tours, food and drink festivals, wine tasting, art and craft workshops, and more. So if you’re planning a narrowboat holiday for this September, check out these four reasons not to miss the Nene Valley Festival.

1) Nature

From our hire boat marina in March, to Ferry Meadows Country Park in Peterborough is a 12 hours return trip – ideal for a short break. However, if you want to take in some of the events of the festival you might enjoy planning a longer trip. Turning right from our marina cruising along the Old River Nene your boat will cross the Grenwich Meridian. (The full route to Peterborough is described here: March to Ferry Meadows Country Park.)

Ashline Lock and the ancient market town of Whittlesey is a pretty place to stop along the way. Beyond Whittlesey you pass through open country, and on the approach to Peterborough you will see the cathedral across the flat fields that lead to Stanground Lock. Celebrations for the 900th anniversary of Peterborough Cathedral have been ongoing this summer.

Narrowboating is a wonderful way to get close to nature. During the Nene Valley Festival there will also be guided walks, wildlife trails, wildlife craft activities at Nene Wetlands Visitor Centre, Woodston Ponds Nature Reserve and Ferry Meadows Country Park.

2) Family Activities

A short branch of the River Nene leads from Stanground lock, with Stanground Village on the left and a nature reserve on the right, before you cruise out onto the wide waters of the Nene. Turn left here and you will find visitor moorings along the length of the park which are convenient for the city centre.

During the festival Peterborough Cathedral will be displaying Tim Peake’s Soyuz spacecraft – Soyuz TMA-19M – and a Space Descent VR experience – something different for all the family.

On September 19^th families can enjoy a gentle stroll along the River Nene to Wansford where there will be time to look around the Nene Valley Railway station before returning to Ferry Meadows by train. (This walk is suitable for 8 years and over.) Visit the Nene Park Trust website for details and to book Ramble From River to Rail

On September 23^rd in Ferry Meadows Country Park at the Shiver-me-Timbers! event, youngsters can make pirate hats and hooks before taking part in a search for pirate’s treasure.

As you cruise up river from the centre of Peterborough you will see parts of Nene Park, which occupies some 500 acres of meadows, lakes and woods and runs for around six miles alongside the River Nene.

3) Heritage

On a longer holiday you can take your boat beyond Peterborough towards Fotheringhay and Oundle. From Ferry Meadows to Fotheringhay is a 12 hours return trip.

On September 15^th, as part of the festival, there is a Blue Badge Guided Walk of Oundle, starting at the Market Place. Discover a town built in stone, an ominous well, good gracious grocers and wacky and worthy headmasters. The buildings here date back from the 17th, 18th and 19th century. Market Day is Thursday with a selection of at least 20 market stalls.

On the same day there is a Hidden Heritage Tour starting at Peterborough Museum. Just turn up or pre-book. This is an entertaining guide to the fascinating and undiscovered past of Peterborough – from earliest times, to the secrets of the Saxon abbey and Cathedral precincts, to the modern city.

4) Art – Nemo on Tour

Nemo is an art installation that recreates the sounds of the River Nene by pouring and splashing water through a series of wheels, pipes and mechanisms. Nemo is on tour at various locations around the Nene Valley in September. The most convenient for those travelling by boat will be on 23^rd September, when Nemo will be at Peterborough Family Festival, Peterborough Cathedral Square, from 11am to 4pm.

Offering some of Britain’s most spectacular views and stunning landscapes, the impressive Nene Valley is an oasis of tranquillity with a variety of family activities and heritage to explore. Upstream from Peterborough the river has a number many interesting towns and villages on the way to Northampton. The Nene eventually links up with the Grand Union canal. Read more about The River Nene, (routes, maps and top attractions).

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Note: This article refers to the Nene Valley Festival 2018. For up to date info on the festival check the official website. Nene Valley Festival.

The post Four Reasons Not to Miss the Nene Valley Festival appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.