The Fenlands

Fox Boat owner Chris shares his thoughts on Fenland names throughout time.

What’s in a name ?

Fenland has been described by many nicknames over the years – and each one sheds a different light on various aspects of its history..

In the Medieval times the area had a number of major ecclesiastical establishments, including Crowland, Ramsey, Chatteris and Thorney Abbeys, as well as Ely and Peterborough Cathedrals. Reflecting this ample provision for the Spiritual, the name The Holy Land of the English was applied.

Prior to Vermuyden’s draining of the Fens, the area was often times referred to as The Great Eastern Swamp, or The Old Drowned Lands.

Vermuyden’s first drainage scheme was intended to provide relief from flooding during summer months and gave rise to the description The Summer Lands.

During WWII the productive rich black soil of the Fens was put to use feeding the Country, which was in danger of going hungry as the German blockade of shipping tightened. The area acquired the deserved nickname The Breadbasket of Britain.

The flat countryside, devoid of hills, with its great panoramic landscapes has given rise to the name The Land of the Three-quarter Sky.

And because it is home to Fenland’s only service marina, which builds the best boats, and hosts the only hire fleet, us boaters also call it Fox Boat Country !

If you enjoyed this post consider reading Five Things You’ll Love about teh Middle Levels

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The post What’s in a name ? appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Are you planning to surprise your loved one this spring?

Looking for something different to the usual ideas, gifts, hotels and breaks?

Want to avoid staying in an overbooked hotel with dozens of other couples?

The answer is to book a romantic getaway, on a narrowboat, this year!

This surprise boat trip with your partner is an alternative idea for a romantic break. Our narrowboats are available to hire from April onwards, and will give you something to look forward to. Escape crowded hotels and enjoy the solitude of your own boat on the quiet waterways. As the warmer weather encourages animals out of hibernation you may see ducks, swans and moorhens with their fluffy young ones bobbing along behind them. Listen out for the high-pitched shriek of a bright blue kingfisher on the canals. As the vegetation bursts into life in April you will see cowslips, primroses and daffodils near England’s waterways. Trees will blossom and herons will form breeding colonies in the crowns of any tall trees close to water.

On a short boating break with the one you love you could travel towards Ely or Peterborough and explore the Middle Level Waterways, The River Ouse or The River Nene. Here are our top three ideas for a cosy boat trip for two.

1) Peterborough

From March to Ferry Meadows Country Park is a 12 hour return trip by narrowboat, which is ideal for a short romantic break. On the approach to Peterborough the cathedral can be clearly seen across the flat fields. If you stop at the visitor moorings beside the park you can explore the city centre, where you can enjoy shopping, the theatre, markets and all the restaurants you would expect to find in a major city. However, you can also enjoy peaceful waterside walks, cycling, fishing or a cup of tea in the cafe at Ferry Meadows Park. This destination has all the benefits of city life plus some added rural relaxation.

2) Downham Market

If you’re adventurous and want to get off the beaten track, then from the River Ouse you can cruise along the relief channel and moor the narrowboat at Downham Market. This little town on the edge of the Fens has a variety of shops for stocking up with provisions, as well as a local market held on Fridays and Saturdays. The town dates back to the Middle Ages, and was once known for its butter market and horse fairs. Check out the Victorian clock tower when you visit, and wander around hand in hand imagining that you’ve gone back in time together…

3) The Pub

A romantic break away would not be complete without a romantic meal. Waterside pubs offer the chance to moor up outside, and it’s therefore only a short walk home to your boat at the end of the evening. A waterways guide book is provided with your boat and will show you many cosy pubs along the route you have chosen. The Fox Boats team like to eat at The Acre in March, The Swan on the River near Ely, and The Cutter. Read: Our Top 3 Pubs for Your Fenland Narrowboat Holiday

You may also like: The Surprising Narrowboat Break Your Valentine is Going to Love

That article will tell you all about Urban Fox, a pretty little boat, painted brightly in the Fox Boat colours of red, yellow and green. Need more inspiration? You’ll also love Two Valentines Breaks to Fall in Love With.

And finally, here are our top 5 romantic ideas to rock your boat.

Want to learn more about boats and boating? Subscribe to our blog in the right sidebar and get insider knowledge about the Fenland Waterways; look for ‘Follow Blog’. (We don’t send spam or salesy type stuff – just interesting articles about boats and waterways!)

The post Top 3 Romantic Destinations on the Fenland Waterways appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Do you live in Peterborough, Wisbech, Ely or Huntingdon?

Want to get together with some friends and family?

Have you thought about hiring a narrowboat, just for a day?

A relaxing boat trip on the Cambridge river network could be just the thing you’re looking for.

Imagine exploring the wonders of the beautiful East Anglian waterways, on board a luxury day boat, with a group of your best friends. Some people choose the Fenland waterways for a special family gathering. Whoever you travel with, here are three great reasons for booking day boat hire in March this summer.

1) The Boat is Gorgeous

We have two luxury day boats available to hire: The March Adventurer and the March Explorer. They are colourfully painted, have a nostalgic charm, and you can chug along peacefully with up to ten people on board. (You can also bring your dog!) Each boat has a cute little galley area complete with a hob, fridge and sink, for making refreshments en route. There is also a dinette equipped with crockery and cutlery, a toilet and a seating area. On board you’ll find a 12v mobile phone charging point, so that you can keep taking pictures with your phone.

2) The Scenery is Stunning

You’ll find our hire boat base between the River Ouse and the River Nene, not far from Cambridge, and your cruising journey will take in local wildlife, kingfishers, flowers and quaint cottages.

If you meander through the Middle Level Navigations eastwards, towards the village of Upwell you’ll pass through the Marmont Priory lock before the village unfolds before you. Upwell really is one of the prettiest villages in the Fenlands. It will take you around six and a half hours to cruise there and back.

If you cruise west, towards Whittlesey and Peterborough, you’ll go through plenty of peaceful countryside, and pass Floods Ferry Marina Park. The route crosses the Greenwich Meridian before arriving at Ashline Lock and the ancient market town of Whittlesey.

3) The Choice of Food

At Whittlesey you can turn your boat above the lock, and picnic in Manor Fields before beginning the journey back to March. Read our best tips for a narrowboat picnic.

If you are planning a picnic you can do a food shop at Sainsbury’s or Iceland, near our hire boat base in March. If you are heading to Upwell you will find the village store on the riverside. Outwell’s village shop is a two minute walk from the river.

In Upwell you can stop to eat at The Five Bells, which has a beer garden. Their full menu is on their website: Five Bells Inn. Alternatively, carry on to Outwell basin for a picnic at the former junction of the Wisbech Canal. For a more lavish treat The Moorings Restaurant at The Crown Loge Hotel offers large group meals and afternoon tea. For both of these options we recommend advanced booking!

Back in March, The Acre is a popular riverside pub not far from our hire boat base. It’s known for its friendly staff, prompt service and warm friendly atmosphere. Shooters American dinner is also riverside and is a great treat for children and the young at heart.

Good Value

“We had a lovely day out starting off at March and arrived at Outwell just in time for a fish and chip supper from Stotts. The boat is well equipped with inside and outside seating. We were fortunate to have a lovely day out and our Captain Claire and mate Debs were great. We are hoping to do it again this year. Very good value for money. Would highly recommend.” – Karen K – Trip Advisor

Whether you’re a group of friends celebrating a special occasion, or a family getting together to mark an anniversary or milestone birthday, exploring these secret rivers and waterways will give you a wonderful day out.

Read more: Day Boat Hire near Cambridge and Ely

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The post Why You Should Hire a Narrowboat for the Day near Ely appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Have you ever had a fun day out discovering English heritage, and visiting places that offer a kind of nostalgic magic? Don’t you just love it when an ancient building triggers your imagination and sends your mind time-travelling off into the distant past?

A visit to a museum can not only be surprisingly fun, but it is often a free day out!

18^th May is International Museum Day: a global day celebrating museums, highlighting the challenges museums face, and making programs, activities and projects more accessible to audiences. Some barriers are simply emotional and intellectual. The assumption that museums are only for clever, educated, or wealthy people is one of them. But another misconception is that museums just aren’t supposed to be that much fun.

Are museums supposed to be fun?

Historical records, temporary exhibitions and treasured artefacts sometimes have tragic tales to tell that can’t necessarily be described as fun. Stories of poverty, wars, and disaster; stories of less privileged people, and awareness-raising projects about migrants or disabilities can be typical topics on display.

Sobering subjects and serious issues are not necessarily fun in themselves, because they cannot be described as entertaining or amusing. But if fun can be perceived as engaging in an enjoyable activity then museums do strive to provide fun for their visitors, regardless of the themes presented. Museums display some of the extremes of life; both the beauty and the struggles, and learning about these things can be pleasurable. Absorbing knowledge, discovering culture, traditions and the history of times gone by can be enjoyable. So, meaningful exhibitions about difficult topics can definitely be fun to visit and experience.

Narrowboat Holiday

On a narrowboat holiday you can combine a cruise through the beautiful Fenland countryside with visits to historic towns and cities, like Ely and Cambridge. Travelling at a leisurely pace on your cosy canal boat you can choose where to moor and what to see. From our hire boat base in Cambridgeshire you can either travel towards Ely and Cambridge, or in the opposite direction take the picturesque River Nene to Peterborough. You won’t believe these seven days out are either free or very low cost.

1) Peterborough Museum is located in one of the city’s most historic buildings, and has a wealth of stories to fascinate and enthral the whole family. With amazing objects and interactive displays for all ages, the collections comprise over 200,000 items of great national and international importance.

2) March and District Museum is in the heart of the town centre and offers a fascinating insight into the community’s social history through a variety of exciting displays and collections, along with audio points and interactive elements to help guide you through the history of the town. Admission and helpful advice is all free.

3) Ely Museum is a bright and friendly local history museum, located in the Bishop’s Gaol in the centre of the historical city of Ely. The museum is the history centre for the Isle of Ely and the Fens and it takes you on a journey through time from prehistory to the twentieth century.

4) Oliver Cromwell’s House in Ely, has been refurbished to show how it may have looked during Cromwell’s lifetime. The house has eight period rooms and the kitchen dates from around 1215.

5) The stunning Stained Glass Museum is located within Ely Cathedral and displays an inspirational collection of stained glass, from medieval to modern.

6) Prickwillow Museum offers a family day out with a difference. It tells the story of the drainage of the Fens, the history of the local area, and showcases some of the region’s finest examples of restored diesel engines.

7) The University of Cambridge Museums and Collections are all within short walking distance of the city centre. Visitors can explore more than five million works of art, artefacts and specimens in one square mile of Cambridge. The University’s collections are a world-class resource for researchers, students and members of the public. Cambridge has England’s highest concentration of internationally important collections outside London.

Are these museums actually fun? Probably. But within these seven choices can you also find something unusual, something quirky, something famous, and something impressive? Definitely. So how could your day out get any better? Simple. Arrive by narrowboat.

Check narrowboat availability for this summer!

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 Are Museums Ever Fun? The Answer Might Surprise You appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.