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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Booking budget tips, Canal Blog, Featured articles

inside fox canalboat

Is it wise to book a canal boat holiday for this year? Here’s our advice for you, if you’re struggling to decide whether to make any plans for a waterways getaway this summer.

Many of us are really feeling the need for a holiday this year. If after weeks in lockdown your desire to travel is starting to get the better of you, you may even be tempted to start dreaming of travelling abroad. However, The UK government has recently advised against booking a summer holiday abroad, and has even discussed introducing quarantine hotels.

The end of the first lockdown last March saw holidaymakers desperate to get away on holiday, but with so many travel restrictions in place, it was easier to book a staycation than an overseas trip. So staycations are again anticipated to be popular this year, and early booking is advisable.

How could things change later on this year?

A narrowboat staycation could be an attractive option this year, as the coronavirus vaccine continues to be rolled out. There are hopes that the vaccine will allow UK travel restrictions to be eased later in the year.

Previously the Prime Minister said he was “optimistic” people will be able to have holidays this summer, but that it would depend on things like the vaccine programme going well. The government gave an update on lifting lockdown on the 22nd February. Here is a useful BBC Article – Roadmap for lifting lockdown (23/02/21)

We are scheduled to open for holidays on 12th April 2021 if the roadmap allows.

Should I risk booking a canal holiday now?

We want to offer you peace of mind, so Fox Narrowboats have a flexible booking policy for your protection. This means that you could move your holiday to a later date with no ammendment fee if any coronavirus restrictions change your plans. Alternatively we also have a full no quibble refund, (terms apply).

Read the full details of our Coronavirus guarantee.

15% Discount

Now is a good time to book a Fox Boats holiday because there is currently a price discount of 15% available, due to the government’s VAT cut to 5% for the tourism and hospitality sectors. However, this is due to increase in April. So if you book and pay in full for your 2021 holiday by 31st March you will beat the 15% VAT price increase, as we are a cash accounting business.

Safety

We also have a number of Covid-19 safety measures in place. Day boats and holiday hire capacity are reduced to six people per group at the moment. Some of our boat handover procedure is now on video and we undertake triple cleaning between hire customers.

Read more: Holidays 2021: Narrowboat Staycations to Go Ahead

Check the boat you want is available now.

To be notified with new holiday information as it changes, 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 in 2021.

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Holiday deals & special days

The government has recently advised against booking a summer holiday abroad this summer, and discussed introducing quarantine hotels. Meanwhile, Valentine’s Day has just gone by and many of us are thinking of creative ways to surprise our partners; and yet romantic restaurants and hotels remain closed due to lockdown.

Booking a romantic narrowboat break is the perfect solution.

Your partner deserves a little getaway to look forward to later this year, and booking something in the UK is the safest option right now. England’s stunning countryside and rich heritage make it this year’s most romantic destination! We are looking forward to the day when boating will reopen and our holidays and day trips can continue. (Remember your booking is covered by our Covid guarantee.) Booking early will guarantee the dates that suit you and your plans.

Here are four reasons why narrowboats are the most romantic break right now.

A Different Date Every Day

One day you could be strolling hand in hand through a quiet nature reserve, the next you could be discovering the historical colleges and charming streets of Cambridge. From pretty village walks, quaint churches and cosy pubs, to the nostalgic steam trains of the Nene Valley Railway, the Fens offer an idyllic English countryside experience. Shop in ancient market towns and discover quaint independent shops. Then eat out in a fancy restaurant, or absorb the incredible architecture of Ely Cathedral. A waterways guide book is provided with your boat and will give you lots of ideas of places to stop, whichever boating route you decide to take.

More Glamour Than Glamping

A narrowboat is the perfect way to enjoy being close to nature with all the modern conveniences of staying in a holiday cottage. You may be surprised to discover that your boat comes equipped with radiator central heating, a microwave, hairdryer, WiFi, flatscreen TV with Freeview, full size oven, fridge, electric power points, and comfortable duvets and bed linen. It’s a cosy and secluded place to snuggle up with a glass of wine together at the end of the day. Enjoy the solitude of your own private boat on the quiet East Anglian waterways. Our Rural Fox narrowboat is perfect for a couple, and the price includes VAT, diesel, gas, car parking, towels and bedlinen. Brand new in 2019, Rural Fox is a luxury narrow boat with fully fitted galley and a saloon with a folding table for eating.

The View Changes Daily

A luxury hire boat is the romantic hideaway that moves, and the view changes every day. You may start the day moored in the countryside, with only swans and livestock as your neighbours, but by that evening you could be moored in historic Ely, wandering the ancient streets and deciding on the perfect romantic restaurant. Variety is the spice of life, and will keep your romantic holiday interesting!

New Experiences Create Shared Memories

If it’s your first time learning to navigate and steer a canal boat it can bring you closer together to develop these new skills. (Read: What’s it Like to Actually Steer a Narrowboat?) We offer free boat handling training at the start of your holiday. You get to plan your own route, and decide where to shop and where to eat as you go along. Take lots of photos and reminisce about these memories long after the holiday is over. An adventure shared is a bonding experience.

On a three night weekend break you could cruise to the cathedral city of Ely, or head along the pretty River Nene to Ferry Meadows Country Park. (Read more in: Two Valentine’s Breaks to Fall in Love With.) There’s nothing like spending quality time together cruising the waterways on your own narrowboat; just the two of you. Give yourself something really special for you both to look forward to this year.

Top tip: You can beat the VAT 15% price rise if you book and pay in full by 31st March 2021.

Love canal boating? For more surprising and unusual 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.

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Narrowboaters knowledge

first time narrowboating

Are you new to narrowboating?

Are you planning your first canal boat holiday?

Do you want to be well-prepared before you set off?

Let us share a few insider secrets that every new boater should know. These simple safety tips will ensure that your first cruise is a great success, and that everyone has the best holiday.

Who’s in charge?

Before you board your narrowboat you may like to choose a skipper for your group. Our trained instructor will make sure the skipper and crew know how to handle your narrowboat, and have all the skills needed for the Fenland waterways. We will also provide any information you may need about our local navigation conditions and tides.

As you board your holiday boat you can rest assured that the Fox Narrowboats team will have already prepared it, checking that the engine and fuel systems are in good condition, and that the boat meets all of the standard Boat Safety Scheme requirements.

Plan Your Route

You can make a rough plan about where you want to go using the waterways guide book provided with the boat. You may also like to plan your route from home before you visit Fox Boats, with an online service such as BoatSatNav or CanalPlanAC. But bear in mind that when cruising you may not always be in an area with a good phone signal, so you will also need the guide book as a backup. To really enjoy yourself it’s important to allow enough time to complete your journey without rushing, and allow plenty of time for stops and visits to local villages, towns, landmarks and other attractions. You can add the number of locks in your route to the number of miles and divide by three to get an idea of the number of hours your cruise will take. However, it may take longer if you need to wait to use a lock, or if you find a lovely place that inspires you to stop for longer!

There should be enough fuel on board for your trip, but depending on how long your planned journey is, and how many crew members are on board, you may need to factor in re-filling the water tank at a waterways service point. These boaters facilities will be marked in your canal guide book.

Make sure you keep your mobile phone charged as you travel, in case of emergency. There are charging points on board. You may like to save the Fox Narrowboats number into your phone.

Safety First

Even though you may be on holiday, boating and drinking is not such a good idea. Alcohol is often a contributory factor to drowning accidents in the UK. The chances of a boating accident happening increase when you drink alcohol, so we advise waiting until you have moored up for the day, before enjoying a drink. We also do not recommend cruising in the dark, or when there is poor visibility. If you do have to do this please take extra care.

Shipshape

Before you set off, spend some time getting to know your boat. The back end is called the stern, the pointy end is the bow! If you are standing at the back of the boat, in the steerer’s position, the right side of the boat will be starboard. The left side of your boat is called port.

And finally, before you begin your cruise make sure you know the location of any safety equipment, such as lifejackets, the fire extinguishers, fire blanket, first aid kit and a torch. Your Foxboats instructor will show you where to find the anchor, bilge pump, mooring stakes and hammer, boat pole, gangplank, and windlasses. A windlass is an essential L-shaped tool that allows you to work the locks. You should also make sure you know where are the emergency shut-offs for the battery, gas and fuel. It may seem like a lot to learn but this will all become clear when you arrive for your Fox Narrowboat handover, and our friendly staff will be there to answer any queries you may have.

Having read this article we hope you now feel confident enough to nominate yourself the skipper of your crew! You may also like to read: What’s it Like to Actually Steer a Narrowboat?

More to read: The Top 10 Narrowboat Holiday Ideas for 2021

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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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Get healthy
canal lock fenland waterways | fox

canal lock

Have you been experiencing anxiety?

Are you suffering from low-mood?

Have the events of 2020 left you feeling isolated?

You are not alone. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated many common mental health problems in the UK population, leading to concerns that there is currently a mental health crisis. The NHS, small community groups and national charities have all done their best to support anyone reaching out for help in 2020. But what can you do to support your own mental health and wellbeing?

Good mental wellbeing does not mean that you no longer experience life’s challenges or difficult feelings, but it does mean maintaining your inner resilience so that you can cope with life’s ups and downs as they happen. Here are five ways to improve your mental health in 2021.

Get Active

Taking a narrowboat day trip or canal boat holiday can be a fun way to take part in some gentle physical activity. Boat handling involves pulling mooring ropes, hammering mooring pins, and operating locks. Using a lock includes winding the paddles, pushing balance beams, opening lock gates, holding mooring ropes and sometimes climbing ladders. Between locks you may find yourself walking on the towpath, and when the boat is moored up you may enjoy longer walks, just for fun. Dogs are welcome on most of our hire boats.

Human Connections

If this age of social isolation has taught us anything, it is the value of our friends and family, and connecting with other human beings. Book a narrowboat trip with your family and support bubble this year, and take the opportunity to spend some quality time together. Boats can be hired for weekend, midweek or week breaks, as well as 10, 11 or 14 nights.

Connect With Nature

Spending time outdoors is widely recognised as being beneficial for mental and physical health. Exercising outdoors, or practicing mindfulness outdoors, have both been proven to increase wellbeing. Mindfulness is simply focussing your awareness on the present moment without judgement. Being around animals can also have positive effects. Nature improves mood and reduces stress. It can improve confidence and self-esteem, and improve your physical health by encouraging you to be more active. We hire canal boats near to Cambridge and Ely from our marina in March, Cambridgeshire. The Fenland waterways are a large network of rivers and canals packed with wildlife to enjoy.

Connect With Others

Helping others is a recognised way to improve your own sense of wellbeing as it shifts the focus away from ruminating about your own issues. If you love canals you could use the NCBA website to find your nearest community boating project and get involved. Local projects tend to facilitate access to the waterways for disadvantaged and excluded groups, promote social cohesion and protect the environment. Alternatively you could volunteer with the Canal and Rivers Trust or the Inland Waterways Association to get that feel-good factor that comes with helping others.

Take a Break

Enjoying the outdoors is a real benefit of travelling by canal boat. The activities needed to operate the boat and locks will help you to keep fit and active whilst also experiencing the stunning Fenland waterways. If towpath walking or jogging isn’t your thing, then boost your mental health with a creative hobby such as photography or painting. It’s not all about outdoor activity. A canal boat holiday is taken at a leisurely pace, and at the end of an active day enjoying life on the waterways you can sleep peacefully in a comfortable narrowboat cabin. Remember, self-care is a necessity not a luxury. So check our availability now for a narrowboat break this year. Search canal boat breaks.

Keep up with the latest news: Click ‘Blog’ (top right) and look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the right sidebar to get the latest helpful holiday tips in these changing times. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

 

 

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Fayres & local events, Featured articles

roving traders canal boat market

Photo: RCTA Roving Canal Traders (top.left), WendyBsfloatingartgallery (bottom+middle), nancymoo-22 ebay (right)

After the recent lockdown it’s now more important than ever to support the small businesses and communities around us this festive season. By celebrating canal-based businesses and the products they produce we can celebrate the boaters themselves, and the stories behind them.

We have handpicked a couple of gift suggestions from independent canal traders to create a unique guide that will make your Christmas shopping simple and stress free. We want to showcase the talents of waterways artists, shop owners and independent book sellers whilst also providing a practical way to shop for your loved ones.

The Floating Market

The Roving Canal Traders Association are currently hosting an online Christmas Market Place on Facebook every day until 17th December 2020.  Boating business are posting their wares for sale daily, with links to their websites, Facebook pages, Instagram and Etsy shops.

RCTA Christmas Market: https://www.facebook.com/events/365873371151095/

This virtual online Christmas market is showcasing all canal traders, both floating and land-based.

roving canal traders market boats

Photo: RCTA Roving Canal Traders Market

Unless you have extensively walked or travelled the canals of England and Wales, you will not have seen most of these traders or experienced the talent among them. The real fun of a floating market usually lies in strolling down a crowded towpath, chatting to the many characters that live and work on the “cut”. But this year’s pandemic has put a stop to such social events, and left many independent traders struggling. So please take some time to browse the posts knowing that floating traders are self-sufficient, and leave only a small carbon footprint on our world. It’s a chance to find a special, one-off gift while also supporting small business.

The Floating Traders Online

Wendy Baughn is an international artist who used to be moored at Fox Boats marina. She has been painting all of her life, and offers acrylic paintings on stretched canvas boards. On her floating art gallery Facebook page you can see examples of her portraits, animals, scenic views and canal scenes.

Check out: https://m.facebook.com/WendyBsfloatingartgallery/

She is currently moored on the Shropshire Union canal.

Nancy Moo sells ethnic clothes, shoes, accessories and jewellery from her narrowboat, where she lives aboard with her two dogs. She sources the items herself, when travelling in India, and sells her wares while cruising the Grand Union Canal. Items include embroidered boho bags, a variety of beanies and other wooly hats, Tibetan yak wool shawls and throws, boho earrings, scarves, gloves, and embroidered silk cushion covers from Kashmir.

Check out her eBay shop: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/nancymoo-22/m.html

Word on the Water, the London Bookbarge, is A 100 year old Dutch barge, selling quality second hand and new books. They have classics, cult, contemporary fiction, a large range of children’s books and art and photography, plus some quirky stuff that you would never think to look for but may be very pleased to find. Before Covid-19 restrictions, visitors could enjoy a wood-burning stove, poetry slams, readings and live acoustic music on their roof stage. To request any book for delivery to your door just use the form on their website. They also have a selection of Christmas gift suggestions. Let’s support the little guys instead of Amazon this year.

Word on the Water: https://www.wordonthewater.co.uk/

The Gift of Family Time

Christmas can be a time to appreciate the people we love, despite the struggles our loved ones may have been through this year. Instead of giving gifts under the tree you may like to treat one another to an opportunity to spend quality time together in 2021.

If you book a day-boat hire trip for next spring you could surprise your family with the idea on Christmas Day. Boating appeals to all ages; so family members can be as active or relaxed as they like. You can bring a picnic, buy fish and chips, or find a pub or restaurant along the way. You may even get the kids away from gaming, and the adults away from their smart phones!

Find out more: Day Boat Hire near Cambridge and Ely

Tuition and lifejackets are included and there is no extra charge for fuel. You could ask the whole family to chip in, and agree to make some good memories together in 2021.

You may also like: The Ultimate Canal Boater’s Christmas Gift Guide

Beyond Christmas: The Forgotten Churches You Should Visit by Boat

From all at Fox Narrowboats, Merry Christmas and happy shopping!

PS: One more gift for you! Click ‘Blog’ (top right) and look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the right sidebar to get the latest helpful holiday tips in these changing times. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

Photo: Copyright is held by the respective traders and associations

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Narrowboaters knowledge

steering a narrowboat

Are you new to narrowboating?

Are you wondering if it’s difficult to learn the ropes?

Will you be nervous about turning the boat, or mooring?

“Don’t worry. It will definitely be OK”

When somebody asks me what it’s like to actually steer a narrowboat, my first response is, “Brilliant. I love it.” There is nothing like the feeling of being connected with nature, gliding under tree branches, noticing ducks passing you by on the rippling water. There is an amazing sense of freedom, and a feeling of being part of the world, in a way that you never get when travelling cocooned inside a car. Travelling by boat is slower, obviously, and it is this slowness that allows you to mindfully notice all that is around you.

But can anybody do it? Yes, I think so. Even supervised children can do it, and they did do it during the canal age when whole families lived and worked on boats. The new series of Great Canal Journeys on Channel 4 should be an inspiration to anyone new to boating, as you can watch Gyles (72) and Sheila (87) learn how to steer, moor up and operate locks.

At Fox Narrowboats we have qualified instructors that will give you full training during the boat handover.

“We took our family on March Adventurer out to Whittlesey and back on Saturday. It was a great day, the team at Fox’s was very accommodating and the driving tutorial made the whole thing a doddle (mostly!) Had a fab time, and would highly recommend it to anyone!”

– Lawrence Weetman (Facebook review).

Before you set off, start the engine and keep it in neutral while it warms up a little. Untie the front and back mooring ropes from the bank, but leave them tied to the boat, ready for use when you want to moor up again. On rivers, untie the downstream rope first. Make sure your ropes can’t fall and trail in the water, particularly at the back, as you don’t want them to get accidentally wound around the propeller. Remove any mooring pins from the ground and stow them on board in a place where you can easily get them when mooring up again. Push the boat away from the bank so that you can make an easy departure with your propeller in deep water. In shallow water you may need to reverse the boat away from the bank a bit, before changing into forward gear.

On the waterways we travel on the right, so remember this if you meet another boat approaching from the opposite direction. Take it slowly, particularly past moored boats, fishermen and other waterway users. If your boat is creating a breaking wave behind you, you’re going too fast!

Canal boats are steered with a tiller. Pushing the tiller to the right will make the boat turn left and vice versa. This can feel counter-intuitive at first. You will need to plan ahead, as the boat will take a few seconds to respond to your intentions – nothing happens quickly on the cut! Most boats pivot from around the middle of their length when you are turning. This is useful to remember if you’re passing through a narrow gap like a bridge or a lock. Look out for currents that could push you off course, and be aware that steering on a windy day can be a bit more challenging!

Give yourself plenty of time to stop, because there are no brakes! To stop the boat, move into neutral, and then use reverse gear to slow down until you finally come to a stop. Bear in mind that it’s very difficult to steer a canal boat when you’re going backwards. Don’t let any passengers stand or sit in the way of the tiller – at best they could interfere with your steering, and at worst they may get knocked into the water!

You may like this new pocket book that has just been published, Canal Boat Steering – How to Move Your Boat, by Janul. This book is packed with detailed information on how to get started, or to improve your existing technique. Janul is an experienced RYA Instructor for courses including the RYA Helmsman. Her qualifications also include the MCA Boatmaster, used during many seasons of work on Jason’s Trip, in Little Venice, London. After four decades of diverse boating, including coalboats, tugs and other workboats, Jan’s teaching has an edge of varied technique.

At Foxboats, one of our RYA qualified instructors will not let you begin your boating journey until he is fully confident in you being able to handle the boat and operate the locks. The show round and training can take around an hour at the start of your holiday. You won’t need a licence to drive a Fox narrowboat. The rivers have a speed limit around 4 mph, (about walking pace) with some wider rivers having a slightly higher figure, usually 7mph.

More questions about boating? Check out our FAQs.

I hope this has given you a good introduction into what it’s really like to steer a narrowboat. If you want to try it yourself try booking a daytrip or a holiday for spring 2021. Check availability here.

Hey! Are you new here? Click ‘Blog’ (top right) and look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the right sidebar to receive more helpful holiday tips about the Fenland Waterways. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

image: Fox Narrowboats Day Boat

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Books TV online narrowboating, Canal Blog, Featured articles
Alarmy MTDCKJ licence 10 Nov 2020
Alarmy MTDCKJ licence 10 nov 2020

Alarmy MTDCKJ licence 10 Nov 2020

Do you dream of going on great canal journeys?

Are you stuck at home when you’d rather be boating?

Fancy living vicariously through the travels of others?

You may like to check out Channel 4’s new series of Great Canal Journeys.

After ten series of navigating the canals, lakes and river of the world, Prunella Scales and Timothy West’s televised canal journeys have sadly come to an end. Best known for playing Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers, Pru’s struggle with Alzheimer’s became a poignant aspect of the programme, and has now forced the couple to stop filming. The beloved actors have a lifetime of canal boating experience behind them, and their passion for it made them the ideal presenters of this show.

However, Channel 4 has opted to continue the series with two new presenters, actor Sheila Hancock and author and presenter Gyles Brandreth. They’re not a couple, but they are friends who have previously appeared alongside each other on Celebrity Gogglebox. The charm of the original travel programme really lay in watching Tim and Pru’s wonderful marriage on screen, so I thought that changing the remit to two travelling friends might change the mood somewhat. To ease the transition Timothy West joined Gyles and Sheila in the first episode, which aired on 8th November 2020.

“I don’t even know stern from aft!” says Gyles. The friends confess they know nothing about canal boating, but that Tim and Pru have told them anyone can do it. “We are throwing ourselves in at the deep end, and hoping we float!” says Gyles.

The episode begins with Tim welcoming them onto a day-boat at Broxbourne on the River Lee, for a bit of basic training in steering, operating a lock and mooring up. Then their first real journey beings at Pangbourne on the Thames, where they board a 70 foot wide beam. They investigate the bathroom and there is a comedy moment as Gyles accidentally pulls a handle off the toilet, showing viewers that anyone new to boating can make mistakes! During the episode they cruise towards London through Henley, Cliveden and Royal Windsor, and invite a historian on board to chat about the history of the Thames.

“The waterways teaches history that can’t be found in books. They show us how to go with the flow,” says Sheila. (If you like history you can visit Cambridge Universities, Ely Cathedral and Oliver Cromwell’s House on a Fox Boats holiday.)

Then Sheila, 87, joins a women’s rowing team, proving that it’s never too late to try something new. Gyles also is a likeable character. He jokes about doing a Titanic Leonardo DiCaprio impression, while standing on the bow as they enter London by boat.

I had my reservations about this show going forward without the loveable Tim and Pru, but actually it has the same life-affirming vibe, showing us that getting out on the water can make you feel alive! Although Tim and Pru had 40 years of boating experience to share with the viewers, these two are demonstrating that anyone can give boating a go, and learn new skills. Is it still heart-warming and funny? Absolutely. Are there stunning aerial views of waterways, and intriguing glimpses into life afloat? Of course.

If it’s some time since you’ve been boating, this new version of Great Canal Journeys will inspire you to get back out on the water. At Fox Narrowboats you can ease yourself in gently with day boat hire, or take a week’s long break on a comfortable holiday boat. We are now taking bookings for next year.

If you missed the first episode of Great Canal Journeys you can watch it on demand on All 4, Channel 4’s streaming service. (To watch Channel 4 on demand you simply have to sign up with an email address and view on your TV, tablet or computer.)

You may also like:

How to Experience Some Great Canal Journeys from Your Own Home

Cruise Like Tim and Pru from Great Canal Journeys: How to Reconnect With the Ones You Love

How to Holiday Like a Celebrity Without it Costing a Fortune

Keep in Touch: Subscribe on the right to receive more stories of British canal journeys, by email. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

Photo: Licenced stock photo Alarmy MTDCKJ 10 Nov 2020 OY48986454

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to do, Canal Blog, Featured articles
halloween spooky boat scene

photo: deposit

Imagine the mist swirling around your ankles, and the sound of twigs mysteriously cracking behind you… You turn around, but there’s nobody there!

As I write this on Halloween weekend, I am reminded that woods can be scary places sometimes. But if you’re feeling brave you can choose to venture into the depths of some spooky woods as part of your next narrowboat holiday.

Ferry Meadows Park

Just off the River Nene in Peterborough you can use the pontoon moorings provided in the lake, before heading off towards the woods in Ferry Meadows Park.

The woodlands, meadows, lakes, the River Nene and miles of paths and trails make Nene Park a lovely place to walk. Many of the paths are surfaced and suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The Ferry Meadows leaflet shows a choice of walking routes of various lengths and may just save you from becoming lost in the woods! You can also buy a pocket sized, water-resistant OS map in the Visitor Centre, to plan your spooky adventure. You may like to try a virtual guided walk, using a smart phone to scan a series of QR code markers as you go.

But be brave and get off the main paths and into some of the other woodland walks. The Bluebell Wood Boardwalk offers river views, and bluebells in springtime. Sheep Wash Walk in Bluebell Wood was uncovered and restored in 2018. Impressive trees such as the black pine, Douglas fir, larch, box and yew along the avenue are actually around 170 years old. Also in Bluebell Wood, (by the entrance of the Riverside Walk), you will find a 100 metre woven willow tunnel.

To reach this woodland from our hire boat base you will cruise along The River Nene through stunning countryside and charming villages, passing stone cottages and thatched rooves. (On your way to Ferry Meadows Park check out The 3 Best Moorings When Narrowboating on the Nene.) The trip from March to Peterborough is a 12 hour return trip by narrowboat, but you’ll want to allow extra time for exploring.

For example, along the Old River Nene you will cross the Greenwich Meridian, before arriving at Ashline Lock. You may like to moor in Whittlesey, an ancient market town.  Then cruising on towards Peterborough you’ll pass through open country, and eventually you will see the cathedral across the flat fields that lead to Stanground Lock.

As you cruise up river from the centre of Peterborough you will see parts of The Nene Park’s meadows, lakes and woods. Although you can lose yourself in the peaceful waterside walks and wonderful woodlands, you are never too far from the convenient shopping and restaurants to be found in Peterborough.  If you stop at the visitor moorings beside the park you can explore the city centre, before spending a day exploring the woods in the park.

If the cracking twigs, branches catching in your hair, and creeping woodland mist isn’t spooky enough for you, you can always embark on your own paranormal investigations. Fright Nights Cambridgeshire offer guided ghost hunts at Peterborough Museum, which claims to have eight resident ghosts!

You may also like:

How to Hunt Fenland Ghosts, Even When it isn’t Halloween

7 Chilling Canal Ghost Stories

How to go Ghostbusting With a Narrowboat

5 Halloween Stories That Will Haunt Your Holiday Plans

We think a narrowboat is the stealthiest way to travel if you are planning a paranormal investigation in Cambridgeshire, and our local area is surprisingly haunted!

Want to create haunting holiday memories to die for?

A Foxboats narrowboat holiday offers history, heritage and culture at all times of the year; if you like the idea of exploring the Fenland waterways by boat check availability for next year now.
For more haunting ideas to add to next 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.

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Booking budget tips, Canal Blog, Featured articles

fens canal boat holiday
Looking for a break on the canals or rivers of England?

Want something to look forward to next year?

Searching for the best booking deals on the Fenland waterways?

Foxboats offer boating holidays on the River Nene and Ouse, near Ely and Cambridge. Our luxury canal boats include free Wi-Fi and all mod cons, and our family-run business provides training to new boaters.

In September 2020 the UK government announced that the tourism and hospitality VAT cut will now be extended until March 2021, allowing us to offer competitive prices to customers booking now.

The cut in VAT to 5% for tourism businesses, first introduced in July, will now be in place until well into the New Year. It had been set to finish in January, but the date has now been pushed back as the pandemic continues.

Many boaters return to the waterways around Easter time, as the weather improves and springtime begins. Here in Cambridgeshire the waterways are much less busy at that time of year, than on the nearby Norfolk broads. In fact The Middle Levels, River Nene, River Ouse and the River Cam still remain a well-kept secret, leaving us with lots of beautiful space to cruise, and unspoilt places to moor locally.

From pretty village walks, quaint churches and cosy pubs, to the nostalgic steam trains of the Nene Valley Railway, the Fens offer an idyllic English countryside experience. But you can also grab some retail therapy in an ancient market town, and then spend the evening at a classy restaurant. You could even shop for Easter eggs in Peterborough, absorb the incredible architecture of Ely Cathedral, or stroll among the grand and famous colleges of Cambridge.

Can you imagine starting off next year with a spring time boating holiday, absorbing the countryside views, as the scenery comes alive with daffodils, primroses and blossoming trees? A springtime  canal boat holiday not only means that the waterways are less crowded, but you can also benefit from much better prices, especially if you book now, for spring next year.

However, don’t wait until it’s too late. Our phones become very busy in spring, with boats booking up fast, so if you have a particular boat in mind, or a most convenient date set for your holiday then reserve your most suitable boat now to avoid disappointment.

If you book online today you could save up to 10% on your spring holiday! (You may also like How to Save Money on Your Narrowboat Holiday.)

To get more tips and advice about exploring Cambridgeshire and the Fens sign up now to receive regular articles by email. (See ‘Follow Blog’ to the right of this article.)

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Guest & customer articles, Navigation articles
Middle Level Commissioners

Middle Level Commissioners

Middle Level Commissioners Chief Executive Officer David Thomas shares his response to the Cambridgeshire Times newspaper with us following enquiries by local MP Stephen Barclay.

“I was aware that there are a number of boaters who are not happy with the level of charges and I can appreciate if you were getting something for free, introduction of fees is not necessarily going to be welcomed with opened arms. However the position is that for decades the cost of running the navigation has been borne by home owning and agricultural ratepayers. The charges that have now been set are considered fair and match with those of the Environment Agency Anglian Waterways, which have three to four times the density of boats per mile of waterway, hence have a significantly higher potential for income. For this reason it will remain the position that unless boat numbers within the Middle Level increase many fold the best we can hope for is to is reduce the subsidising required for navigation. On this point though it is clear, that with the introduction of charging, the Middle Level Commissioners do for the first time in recent history have a reason to invest in the watercourses to attract and retain users.

In the knowledge that we were planning for the introduction of charging by pursing a new Act through parliament we started an annual cycle of dredging of the perched waterway forming the Well Creek. Spending on this has cost several hundred thousand. This year we are looking to; spend fifteen thousand on replacement moorings at Salters Lode, will be carrying out minor refurbishments at Marmont Priory Lock, will be servicing the guillotine flood gate on Salters Lode Lock and will be introducing rural mooring spots in remote areas in response to requests from boaters. We are also working closely with Fenland District Council on proposals for improvements through March Town and in Ramsey. Plus are starting work on developing a residential mooring strategy, which will be produced through close liaison with Fenland District Council who are in the process of reviewing their Local Plan so this work is well timed.

I attach a link on licencing which is located on our website which might help. I would also draw your attention to the fact that contrary to the suggestion that the Commissioners currently provide nothing for boaters we are building upon our current position of employing two lock keepers, cut weed and dredge for navigation and have been closely managing water levels for navigation, within a tight range which would not be the case if we were using the system simply for water resource management and flood risk management. We are now building on this through the employment of a dedicated Navigation Officer implementing the works mentioned above and are setting aside 25% of the income from licencing for implementing improvements on the River Nene to Great Ouse link route which will meet the minimum standards recommended by the Inland Waterways Association.

https://middlelevel.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Licence-Fee-Questions.pdf”

 

 

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