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!

Are you new here? Click ‘Blog’ (top right) and look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the right sidebar to get the latest helpful holiday tips for this season. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll just be sending you selected articles from our blog.)

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 

The post The Seven Wonders of the Fenland Waterways appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

st ives bridge cambridgeshire – credit: fox narrowboat

Nav Data | March to St Ives Bridge: 52 miles, 6 locks, 15hrs cruising

As the days shorten and Autumn approaches, you may want to consider a 7 – 10 day cruise for the perfect escape.

You could choose to visit the Lodes and travel up to visit the stunning nature Reserve at Wicken Fen.

wicken fen visitors centre – credit: fox narrowboats

However, why not branch off from the main route, West onto the Great Ouse for a leisurely journey of 19 miles and with only two locks to negotiate, from Pope’s Corner to St. Ives.

Popes Corner

See our waterways map for full route information

From Pope’s Corner, bearing right towards Earith, you will find yourself joining a section of the Ouse known as the Old West River, a curious name for a river which flows eastwards.

On route, look out for Stretham Old Engine, a restored land drainage pumping station open to the public on certain days.

A great stop for refreshments is The Crown Pub in Earith.

Although mooring is currently not available here, you can take advantage of a 48 hour free public mooring on the frontage at nearby West View Marina.

St Ives

St Ives, (not to be confused with its Cornish counterpart), is famed for its 15th century chapel bridge, one of only four in England. St Ives has also historically been the home of some of the biggest markets in the country, with its Monday market still a central feature of the town centre.

St Ives Lock introduces two features, it is interesting to explore if you aren’t familiar with them.

Firstly, it is fitted with a guillotine bottom gate if you haven’t been on the Nene this could be your first self operated guillotine – now electric and operated by EA key which reduces the possibility of hand injuries. At the top there are conventional mitre gates. Secondly the lock chamber is an irregular shape, having been widened on one side for part of its length to increase the number of boats that can fit.

At busy times it’s common for a selection of cruisers, narrowboats other small craft and the odd widebeam to find themselves sharing the space.

St Ives’ most unusual historic building is a delight to see – the chapel that stands on the middle of the partly Mediaeval town bridge. There are just four bridges in the country that share this feature (the others being at Bradford-on-Avon, Rotherham and Wakefield), with st Ives being the only one you can cruise through. The building has also at other times been a doctor’s surgery, a toll-house, an inn and even a brothel.

St Ives Chapel Jo Edkins (inside) Rob Noble CC-BY-SA-2.0

But there’s much more to St Ives, with its attractive riverfront, intriguing museum, historic parish church (which had the misfortune to lose its spire to a direct impact from a WW1 aeroplane in 1918) and useful shops, pubs and restaurants. The Norris Museum is a small but fascinating free museum unveils the story of Huntingdonshire from ancient times onwards, covering social history, personalities, wartime experiences, archaeology, science and technology, art, costume and transport. See the Norris Museum facebook page for upcoming events in September.

copyright – norris museum cambridgeshire

A great place to linger although if you’ve made good time, you can always consider cruising on a further 11 miles to Huntingdon.

Fox Narrowboat Holiday

To visit St Ives you can take a Fox Narrowboat holiday from March. We suggest 10 nights or more to take in a good number of sights and comfortable cruising time.

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The post A Short and Sweet River Escape Popes Corner to St Ives appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.