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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Books TV online narrowboating, Canal Blog, Featured articles

his dark materials bbc hbo

Image courtesy HBO & BBC

Do you enjoy reading fantasy adventures?

Want to get lost in a romantic landscape?

Fancy yourself as a wandering traveller?

Then let these ‘Gyptian’ characters inspire you!

His Dark Materials is a new fantasy adventure TV series set to premiere on BBC One on 3rd November 2019. It’s based on a series of three novels by Philip Pullman.

The first book in the trilogy, Northern Lights, (sometimes known as The Golden Compass) is set in a parallel universe. It describes the quest of a young girl, Lyra Belacqua, who travels from Oxford to the Arctic in search of her kidnapped friend, Roger. She is assisted by a fictional ethnic group called the Gyptians, who live aboard boats and travel the rivers and canals. The name ‘Gyptian’, like ‘Gypsy’, is derived from ‘Egyptian’. Lyra’s Gyptian friends come from “Eastern Anglia”, the counterpart in Lyra’s world, of East Anglia in our world.

When Lyra joins the Gyptians they are travelling, by boat, to a big muster in the Fens. Pullman describes the area as,

“That wide and never fully mapped wilderness of huge skies and endless marshland in Eastern Anglia. The furthest fringe of it mingled indistinguishably with the creeks and tidal inlets of the shallow sea…”

Our hire boat base is in the Fens of East Anglia, and our boating customers enjoy cruising peacefully under our wildly, huge skies, for day trips and longer holidays.

No doubt, Pullman was inspired by stories of the cargo carrying narrowboaters that travelled England in the 18th century, before the emergence of the railways. These families were constantly travelling, so their children did not go to school. These narrowboat people were sometimes regarded with suspicion by people who lived on the land.

The mysterious network of navigations across the Fens lends itself well to a fantasy adventure. Most of the fens were drained a few hundred years ago, creating a flat, dry, low-lying agricultural region supported by a system of drainage channels and man-made rivers called dykes and drains. The Fenland waterways can be accessed from the rest of the UK navigation system by travelling through Northampton on the Grand Union canal. From here a boater can access the River Nene, the Middle Levels, The River Ouse and River Cam, plus many smaller lodes and tributaries. The quaint towns and villages here are steeped in history and tradition, legends and ghost stories. The waterways are uncrowded and unspoiled by modern life, allowing the boater to easily imagine being a fictional gypsy from bygone days, on some kind of romantic quest.

If you’d love to take a break away from the ‘real world’ and experience something quite calming and magical, check our holiday availability here: Search Breaks.

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.)

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to do, Canal Blog, Featured articles

cc visit cambridge ghost walk org


Are you haunted by dreams of a narrowboat holiday?

Are you brave enough to experience the darker side of Cambridge?

Have you ever been curious about paranormal investigations?

You may like to explore the mysterious Fenlands by narrowboat.

The strange and compelling landscape of the Fens, with their huge skyscapes, reclaimed marshlands and scattered and isolated villages can be very eerie at this time of year. East Anglia is not short of ghost stories, legends of drownings, and tales of disappearances and violence.

If you’ve ever enjoyed reading horror fiction, (M R James set several of his ghost stories in the Fens), or fantasy novels (Philip Pullman based part of Northern Lights in the Fens) why not include some paranormal investigation into next year’s boating holiday? Here are three haunted locations to visit… if you dare.

Peterborough Museum

Travel by boat through the Middle Levels and along the pretty river Nene to explore Peterborough and visit the museum. Fright Nights Cambridgeshire offer guided ghost hunts at Peterborough Museum, which claims to have eight resident ghosts. They include a First World War soldier and a ghostly kitchen maid. Look out for banging doors, ghostly footsteps and voices, unaccountable smells, mysterious lights and orbs around the building. This 19th century mansion was used as a hospital from 1857 until 1928. The guided tours include a mediumship walk around, experiments, séances and discussions about the paranormal.

Check the Fright Nights website for upcoming ghost hunt experiences. You may like to book a ghost hunt to coincide with your 2020 Foxboats holiday.

Oliver Cromwell’s House

Travelling east from our hire boat base you will come to the River Great Ouse and be able to visit Oliver Cromwell’s House, near Ely, which is now a museum. Fright Nights also offer a ghost hunt of this venue, where you may hear ghostly sounds of childrens’ laughter, footsteps which echo along corridors and down the staircases, and jangling keys. The house dates back to the 13th century and Oliver Cromwell and his family lived there for ten years from 1636 to 1647. The house is now a visitor attraction where you can experience what domestic life would have been like in the 17th Century. Book yourself onto a paranormal investigation, or simply turn up by boat to visit the museum during the daytime, for an interesting day out.

Cambridge Ghost Walk

After visiting Ely, you could take your narrowboat down the River Cam to Cambridge. Hear ghostly tales and sinister stories on a walking ghost tour of Cambridge’s most haunted streets and buildings. An official Blue Badge Guide will reveal stories of macabre goings-on, strange hauntings and tragic events from the past. In these dark, cobbled streets you can visit the Cambridge hangman’s house and learn about the final resting place for Oliver Cromwell’s head. Discover haunted pubs, secret graveyards, grisly hangings and ghostly dogs. Private ghost tours are available all year, and public tours are scheduled on certain dates. For more information Visit Cambridge and Beyond.

Further Research

The Cambridgeshire Ghost Research team investigate all types of paranormal phenomena in Cambridgeshire and the surrounding counties. They use EMF meters, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, motion sensors, analogue and digital audio recording equipment, digital and film still cameras and night vision video cameras. They have investigated many sites that are accessible by narrowboat, including Peterborough Museum, Cambridge Museum of Technology, The George Pub in Ramsey and Ramsey Rural Museum.

Why not check our holiday boat availability for next year, and plan your own paranormal investigation of Cambridgeshire and the Fens? Cambridgeshire and the Fenland Waterways offer history, heritage and culture at all times of the year.

You may like to read more about our local ghosts: How to go Ghostbusting with a Narrowboat

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 and sign up today!

Image credit: Visit Cambridge Org

 

 

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Guest & customer articles

Carol and her partner Kev took their first narrowboat holiday with us in 2018.  Carol has recently had the article published in her local boat club magazine and has kindly agreed to us reproducing it here.

Carol negotiating a low bridge

Its only been a few years that Kev and I have been boating and are thoroughly enjoying the experience and being part of the club.

We both talked about having a holiday on a Narrow Boat and so, this year (2018) we decided to take the plunge. We wanted to go somewhere where there were very few locks so we could just enjoy the boating experience. We opted to go to the Cambridge fens for a 4-night stay on a 47ft boat starting from March and Foxes Marina. There was a choice of routes we could take so we opted for a route to Ely which took us through 3 locks, 2 of them were Guillotine locks and manned and one which was manned part time. This also took us on a short tidal stretch of the River Ouse. So, after a brief run through of the handling of the boat we took ownership of our vessel. We headed left out of the Marina towards the town of March, then onto the first lock,  Marmont Priory lock where we were greeted by a very sprightly 82 year old part time lock keeper who was pre warned of our arrival so had started to fill the lock for us. After a few brief minutes and great a conversation with him we were in and out in no time heading towards our first night stop over. We headed towards the small beautiful villages of Upwell and Outwell navigating through what the locals call ‘The Pipe’ or ‘the gutter’ because it is a very narrow gulley of water and low bridges which passes through the villages.

We found our first overnight stop just on the edge of Outwell.

Our Boat was a 2013 build with all the mod cons and extremely warm and cosy and may I say, incredibly easy to handle, even for us novices.

After a great night’s sleep, we had a 7am start to make the tide. It was 3c outside so we wrapped up warm and with the calm water of the ‘pipe’ we

sunrise across the Fens.

headed towards Salters Lode and the first of our Guillotine locks for the tidal stretch. With the sun breaking and the mist rising over the water it was sheer magical and despite the cold, wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

After going through some more low bridges (even Kev had to bend down) and a small aqueduct we arrived at the lock to be greeted by more fellow narrow boaters and the lock keeper who was on the side of slightly eccentric and so was his dog who would never tire of having the ball thrown for him. Everyone seems so friendly and have a ‘laid back’ attitude in this environment, nothing matters… time, speed…life in general.

After explaining to the lock keeper it was our first time on this type of boat he assured us that everything would be fine.  He talked us through the procedure and before we knew it, it was our turn. Kev at the helm took us into the lock. We waited for the waters to level and then we were out. A full turn back against the tide we headed back up the river at 7 knots to the next guillotine lock of Denver Sluice. We arrived no problem and straight into the lock and out the other side into the non-tidal side of Ouse….and relax.

We chugged down the river at 4knots and taking in the wonderful peaceful surroundings. We headed for a lunch stop at Brandon creek and ‘The Ship Inn’ we looked at branching off onto the ‘Little River Ouse’ but decided to carry on for Ely. After a few miles downriver we came to a long straight which we both decided instead of busting to get to Ely, we’d turn round and head back at a more leisurely pace to our overnight stop at Littleport.

tidal river Great Ouse at Denver

The next day we took a slow pace back towards Denver sluice for an overnight stay ready to catch the tide back. We had another boat who came along side which had 2 gentlemen who was easily in their late 70’s early 80’s. Where we asked where they were heading, they shrugged their shoulders and said ‘wherever’.  We decide there and then if we turn left, right or go straight on……speaking to these people and others they have such a wealth of knowledge which we have took away with us.

We decided to have a few drinks in the Jenyns Arms before turning in for the night.

The next morning was a beautiful clear and warm day. We were greeted with the aroma of the ‘old boys’ breakfast of a full fry up…plus the added attraction of a seal entertaining us. We thought the seal was waiting with us to go through the lock but we were told he is happy to stay where he was but got upset if anyone was moored on ‘his pontoon’ which is where we were…..Eventually the tide was right and we were able to head

back out onto the tidal side. Kev again at the helm went with the tide towards Salters Lode Lock. The Lock keeper was keeping a close eye on our

Salters Lode lock

arrival and then with a tight left hand turn, and full throttle, Kev expertly maneuvered the boat back into the lock. The lock keeper still stood looking with his arms folded shouted ‘’I’ll give you 8 out of 10 as you’ve used a little burst of reverse to correct yourself’’ which we didn’t. We imagined he would stand there with score cards as people came back into the lock!!!!!!

We made our way back towards March town for our last night retracing our journey back through Marmont Priory lock and ‘The pipe’. Sitting at the front of the boat having lunch on a barmy hot Sept day traveling back was the perfect end to a perfect boating holiday. We had our last night at March town with fish and chips before an early start back to the Marina.

arrival back at the marina

It was a quiet journey back passing through the back of March both contemplating our short time on the boat. Both sad to be giving it back but both had an amazing time and experience.

We turned into the Marina and straight into the mooring……as we moored the guy said, “you’ve done this before haven’t you????”  No I replied.

“Well he did that perfectly he replied”

“I know” I said with a smile…. “but don’t tell him” lol

If you fancy a break on a narrow boat but not sure….go for it…..you will not be disappointed….if you don’t fancy doing many locks… go to the Fens, Some of it is quite open and exposed as its rivers you are on and not canals but it is very quiet and very few locks. The people are incredibly friendly and look after their environment. They don’t like people who are loud or speed. They want people who respect their lands and waterways and we are defiantly going back….in fact we have already booked for next year…same place and with a brand new boat…still being made…but for longer…

Check availability for spring: SPECIAL OFFERS.

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, two or three times a month.)

 

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Navigation articles
Middle Level Commissioners

Our mooring customers and visiting boaters to the Middle Level Navigation should check out the latest news on the Middle Level Bylaws.

Middle Level Act 2018 and Navigation Byelaws 2019

The Middle Level Commissioners are the navigation authority for the Middle Level river system which comprises approximately 100 miles of navigable waterways in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.

The legal framework which governs the Commissioners’ navigation function were made up of a number of 18th and 19th century Acts which are now considerably out of date and do not align with either the modern requirements or the statutory framework applicable to other navigation authorities such as the Canals and River Trust and the Environment Agency.  The previous legislation which governed the Commissioners did not include adequate provision for the registration of vessels using the waterways or the levelling of charges for the use of waterways and associated facilities by recreational boats.

The Commissioners had been working hard since 2016 promoting a Private Bill through the House of Commons and the House of Lords and were

March on the Middle Level Navigation

extremely pleased in November 2018 when the new Bill received Royal Assent.  The new Act contains important provisions on charging allowing us to properly regulate navigation on the waterways and a system of registration for vessels using the waterways. These powers are akin to those used by the Canals and River Trust, the Environment Agency and the Broads Authority and other large inland navigation authorities.  Section 11 of the Act gives the Commissioners the important power to make Byelaws in relation to the waterways and their banks facilitating the maintenance and improvement of the waterways for the purpose of recreation and leisure pursuits, for controlling the navigation of the waterways and to regulate the conduct and activities of persons using the waterways.

With regard to these Byelaws, the Commissioners have now produced a final set which are currently being advertised. Following advertisement and consideration of any representations made during the advertising period, the Byelaws will then be submitted to Defra for confirmation and then published on their website.

The Commissioners are pleased to be in constructive discussions with the Environment Agency on the introduction of the registration system, with a view to aligning the registration process as closely as possible with them to facilitate smooth passage between waterways.  Once the arrangements for the Registration Scheme have been finalised, the Commissioners will be in a position to publish and advertise a list of registration fees for boats.  Further information will be available on the Navigation Section of the Commissioners’ website www.middlelevel.gov.uk

Well Creek on the Middle Level Navigation

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

early bird narrowboat

Was summer your busiest time at work?

Want to save money by booking in advance?

Are you searching for early-bird cheap narrowboat deals?

Our online narrowboat holiday offers could be just what you’re looking for.

For seasonal businesses summer can be the busiest time; and those working in hospitality can rarely take a break at that time. If your profession means you cannot take a holiday during the summer months, then at this time of year you may be beginning to think about relaxing. Plan ahead for the spring time and get in early to save money. You can get up to 10% off our narrowboat holidays when you book online, and our prices include fuel, and a damage waiver. You can search for all our special offers from April onwards: SPECIAL OFFERS.

Our luxury narrowboats can be hired for weekend, midweek or week breaks as well as holidays up to 14 nights. We also have two boats for day hire which take up to 10 people.

Popular holiday routes with Fox Narrowboats are a cruise to Ely, Cambridge or Peterborough. However, if you want to travel a little further afield we recommend visiting the ancient village of Fotheringhay, by cruising through the Middle Levels on to the pretty River Nene.

The Nene is one of the UK’s quieter rivers, connecting the east of England to the rest of the waterway network. Known for its stunning countryside and attractive villages your journey will take you past ancient mills and thatched cottages. With the Nene you have to think a little more carefully about where to attempt a bankside mooring. (You may like: The 3 Best Moorings When Narrowboating on the Nene.) Your journey to Fotheringhay will take you through Ferry Meadows Country Park. Stop in Peterborough to visit the nostalgic Nene Valley Railway and take a trip on a steam train. Fox Route 4 – Ferry Meadows to Fotheringhay is a 12 hour return trip; an extension to trip number three.

This attractive village has a lot of history including ancient castles and famous monarchs. Richard III was born here in 1452, and in 1587 Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded in the castle. So when her son, James I, came to the throne in 1603 he had it demolished, and today only a few stones and the castle mound survive. The first castle here was built in 1100 and the second in the 14th century.

The Church of St Mary and All Saints is an impressive 15th century church noted for containing a mausoleum to leading members of the Yorkist dynasty of the Wars of the Roses.

A local farmer charges for mooring in Fotheringhay, and the dog-friendly village pub, The Falcon is worth a visit for food, log fires, and fresh flowers. There is a beautiful garden and orangery overlooking the church.

You are sure to enjoy the journey to Fotheringhay, travelling in style on one of our comfortable narrowboats. Before leaving our hire boat marina you will be fully trained as a narrowboat steerer, and one of our qualified instructors will explain how to operate the locks.

Check availability for spring: SPECIAL OFFERS.

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.)

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Foxes News
Abby in New York

Abby

Abby is our new marina assistant.  Abby joined the company earlier this summer, however she went on leave soon after joining us to take on a volunteer roll as a staff member at the 24th World Scout Jamboree. Back at work now Abby is assisting with the hire fleet customers and working in reception.  We are sure that her experiences at the Jamboree will help her in her role with the company. Say hi to her when you next see her.

Abby will tell you about her adventurers which we think look amazing.

‘ I am a regular volunteer leader with a local Scout Group. Every four years the Scout Movement hold an event called The World Scout Jamboree, this year I was lucky enough to have been selected onto the 24th World Scout Jamboree held in West Virginia. I underwent several stages of selection including written applications and selection days before being offered a roll as part of the International Service Team for the UK Contingent. This meant that I would be travelling to West Virginia for two weeks to be a leader for the young people from Scouting and Guiding around the world. Different members of the International Service Team had different job roles for their time at the Jamboree. For example, I was part of the Zip Lining Support team. The World Scout Jamboree is a large event and this year 40,000 people attended from 152 countries.

After volunteering at the Jamboree, the UK Contingent organised a trip for the leaders to travel to Washington DC for two days. Some of us went on a sightseeing tour around DC. However, I went on foot with a few of my friends enjoying and exploring what DC had on offer. On my second day, I got to watch a Baseball game. It was amazing it was everything I expect it to be and more, just the atmosphere was incredible. To end that day, the UK contingent hosted a party to celebrate what we achieved through the last two and a half weeks. Some of the International support team were flying back to the UK the following day, however some of us were travelling to other parts of American.

For me, I was travelling to Boston then to New York. I’ve always wanted to go to New York so I jumped at the chance to go! In Boston we visited Harvard University, The Tea Party Ship Museum and did the Freedom Trail. I really enjoyed Boston but was very excited to go on to my next adventure in New York. When we went to New York we went to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the 9/11 memorial and museum, Times Square, Central Park and the Top of the Rock! It was great, I loved everything I did. On the last night me and my friends went and watched a Broadway show it, it was called ‘Puffs’ it was a lovely way to spend my last night in New York.

Though the thought of being away from home for just over three weeks was a bit terrifying I loved it and would do again tomorrow if I could! The best experience I could ever had done! Got to meet new people and make friends and hopefully I am going to have a chance of seeing them again soon.’

Jamboree Gateway
which one is my bag?
Zipline HQ
Baseball her I come
Abby in New York

 

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

Want to avoid the crowds of a boat trip in summer?

Want to save money on the cost of day boat hire?

Want to make some memories with family and friends?

Then pack yourselves a picnic and come out on a day boat trip!

Hiring a narrowboat for a day is a great way to get together with friends. Some people choose a day boat for a special family gathering. Enjoy the changing colours of the countryside on an autumn boat trip in the Fenland waterways. A midweek booking could offer you a low cost day out, at this quieter time of year. You’ll benefit from avoiding the busier summer holiday boaters on the water. Our local, calming surroundings are quite idyllic at this time of year.

A midweek break is a real chance to re-charge your batteries; and if exercise is your thing you can walk alongside the boat sometimes and help with the lock. Choosing your own journey and stopping points is well suited to those with an adventurous spirit. Enjoy the views, the wildlife and the history of Cambridgeshire as you cruise through ancient villages and towns. Take your binoculars and camera to take advantage of the nature-spotting opportunities, from kingfishers and other birds on and around the water, to flowers, and animals grazing in the fields.

If you haven’t tried day boat hire before, imagine learning to steer, working the locks and chatting to fellow boaters on your journey. Our staff will train you in boat handling basics before you set off.

A day trip out boating is a truly relaxing experience, giving you a well-earned break. You may also like to bring along your dog, as all our boats are dog-friendly. (Remember to bring poop bags and a lead.) It is also possible to purchase a special harness with a handle on top in case your pet decides to jump in. This will allow you to lift your dog out of the water in places where the embankments are too steep for them to climb out. You can read more about bringing your dog here: Canal Boating With Your Dog: The Ultimate Guide.

We have two very comfortable day boats available to hire: The March Adventurer and the March Explorer. On board our cosy day boats are a galley area with hob, fridge and a sink so that you can make heart-warming snacks and drinks. There is also a dinette, equipped with crockery and cutlery. Before leaving 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. You can also grab fish and chips in Outwell.

Each boat has a toilet and seating area and you’ll find a 12v mobile phone charging point on board, so that you can keep taking pictures with your phone.

There is also plenty of outdoor seating at the front so everyone can enjoy the fresh autumn air with a mug of hot tea or coffee. In case of rain there is a see through cover at the front for your comfort. You may like to visit a cosy country pub as you cruise through the countryside.

Our hire boat base is between the River Ouse and the River Nene, and you could cruise eastwards through the Middle Level Navigations, towards the pretty village of Upwell. This trip will take you around six and a half hours to cruise there and back.

Alternatively if you travel west, towards Peterborough, you’ll pass through the peaceful countryside, across the Greenwich Meridian before arriving at Ashline Lock and the ancient market town of Whittlesey before winding the boat and heading for home.

Whether you’re a family getting together to mark an anniversary or milestone birthday, or a group of friends celebrating a special occasion, day boat hire in the Fens this autumn is a great way to relax, unwind and recharge.

Read more: Day Boat Hire near Cambridge and Ely

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to do, Canal Blog, Ely & Cambridge, Featured articles

wine tasting cambridge

Want to try narrowboating on England’s quieter rivers?

Or taste champagne in a world famous college?

View internationally acclaimed works of art?

You may like to visit the ‘city of perspiring dreams’; a world famous University City. Cambridge is the home of students, bikes and colleges; a place to go shopping while admiring the incredible architecture. Obviously you’ll want to take a walking tour of the famous university grounds: The University of Cambridge is made up of 31 colleges. You may also check out the churches and chapels; particularly King’s College Chapel, a true masterpiece of English craftsmanship. There is also a great choice of shopping and restaurants in Cambridge and in the evening you can drink in the ancient pubs that once served famous Cambridge scholars.

However, here are three more unusual and less obvious things to see and do around Cambridge.

1) Arrive by Narrowboat

Your cruise to Cambridge can include pretty walks, wildlife and wildflowers, and traditional pubs as part of your holiday. This is the English countryside at its most idyllic; uncrowded waters and beautiful little rivers. On the way, make time to stop in Ely to browse antiques and visit the cathedral.

Your narrowboat journey from our hire boat base in March, to Ely will include pretty little villages, churches, waterside pubs and a short stretch of tidal river. The journey from Ely to Cambridge takes about five hours by narrowboat, along The Great Ouse and The River Cam. Along the way you will get to use boater operated electric locks. The navigation for powered craft ends at Jesus Green Lock, but above the lock Scudamore’s offer a wide range of tour and self-hire punting options. Punting is a traditional Cambridge pastime; see famous landmarks like the Bridge of Sighs, while floating down the River Cam.

2) Wine Tasting Day with Champagne and Lunch

Cambridgeshire Wine School’s Wine Tasting Saturdays run from 11am-4pm tasting 13 wines starting with Champagne and including a delicious 2-course lunch in the price. These events are held in a beautiful Cambridge College and each day includes a demonstration of sabrage – opening a bottle of Champagne with a sabre!

3) History and Heritage

The University of Cambridge Museums and Collections are all within short walking distance of the city centre. There are 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 Museums Ever Fun? The Answer Might Surprise You.

Travelling by boat has to be the prettiest and most relaxing way to visit these historical tourist attractions. June is a great time to visit Cambridge because of the Buskers and Street Performers Festival, and Strawberry Fayre, a colourful music festival. It’s not too early to book for next year if you have some specific dates in mind.

Our luxury narrowboats can be hired for weekend, midweek or week breaks as well as 10, 11 or 14 nights. You can get up to 10% off when you book online, and prices include fuel and a damage waiver. (Also, there are no surprise credit card charges with our secure payment system!)

You may also like: 3 Things You Must Do When Visiting Cambridge or 4 Night Break on the river Great Ouse

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.)

 

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to do, Amazing things to see, Canal Blog, Fayres & local events, Featured articles

A narrowboat holiday on The River Nene offers stunning countryside and charming villages with stone cottages and thatched rooves. This navigable river in Cambridgeshire is a lovely, quiet waterway, but in September there are some extra things to see and do.

The Nene Valley Festival takes place from 14-22 September, celebrating 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.

To get there by boat from our hire boat base in March you would travel through the Middle Levels. The full route to Peterborough is described here: March to Ferry Meadows Country Park; and it is a 12 hour return trip. However, if you want to see some of the festival you could plan a longer cruise. Along the Old River Nene you will cross the Greenwich Meridian, then Ashline Lock and the ancient market town of Whittlesey is an attractive place to moor. Beyond Whittlesey you pass through open country, and as you travel towards Peterborough you will see the cathedral across the flat fields that lead to Stanground Lock. During the Nene Valley Festival there will a Nene Wetlands Bat Walk at The Nene Wetlands Visitor Centre, on the evening of Saturday 21 September 2019.

A short branch of the River Nene leads from Stanground lock. Travelling by boat, turn left here and you will find visitor moorings along the length of the park which are convenient for visiting Peterborough and the cathedral. Peterborough celebrated the 900th anniversary of its iconic cathedral last year, and hosts a variety of events all year round.

The Nene Valley Railway is a preserved railway running between Peterborough Nene Valley and Yarwell Junction.  Relax in a restored wooden panelled coach and go back in time, on a heritage steam or diesel train.

You may also like: The Canal Boat Holiday That Train Enthusiasts Will Love

Family friendly events in September include Cyclefest, Heritage Family Fun Day at Rushden Lakes and Bushcraft Skills at Ferry Meadows Country Park.

As you cruise up river from the centre of Peterborough you will see parts of the acres of meadows, lakes and woods that make up The Nene Park. It runs for around six miles alongside the River Nene. On a longer holiday you can take your boat towards Fotheringhay and Oundle. From Ferry Meadows to Fotheringhay is a 12 hours return trip. The buildings in Oundle date back from the 17th, 18th and 19th century. Market Day is Thursday with a selection of at least 20 market stalls.

A Hidden Heritage Tour starting at Peterborough Museum is on every Saturday afternoon at 2pm; just turn up or pre-book. This is a fun guide to the interesting and undiscovered past of Peterborough – from earliest times, to the secrets of the Saxon abbey and Cathedral precincts, to the modern city.

Offering some beautiful views and striking landscapes, the Nene Valley is an oasis of tranquillity with a variety of family activities and heritage to explore. If you carry on upstream from Peterborough the river has a number of interesting towns and villages to visit 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).

Ready to book? Search our special offers.

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Note: This article refers to the Nene Valley Festival 2019. For up to date info on the festival check the official website. Nene Valley Festival.

Image Credit: nenevalley.net

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Guest & customer articles

On our Spring 4-night narrowboat break aboard Rural Fox we headed out onto the river Great Ouse.  Our first day after a cruise of 3 ½ hours and having negotiated the Marmont Priory lock we moored for the night in Outwell and headed to the Crown Lodge Hotel for dinner.

Rural Fox
galley
saloon

The following morning after a breakfast cooked on board we arrived at the Salters Lode lock for the tide crossing to Denver.  We gained an insight into what to expect from Paul the lock keeper and very soon we had crossed the tidal waters and were on to the river Great Ouse.  We moored for the evening at the Environment Agency moorings in Littleport and headed off to find the memorial to William Harley, grandfather of the ‘hog’.  William Harley was born in Littleport in 1835.  In 1859 he immigrated to Oswego and went on to have children.  One of his children was William Sylvester Harley who went on to form the Harley-Davidson Motor Company with Arthur Davidson in 1903.

William Harley memorial, Littleport

The following morning after an early start we arrived in Ely, from here we took a 20-minute train journey onto Cambridge.

In Cambridge we visited Scudamore’s to take a punt tour along the College backs.

I was intrigued to find out that the well-known Mathematical bridge is officially known as the wooden bridge and that back in 1963 students hung an Austin 7 car under the Bridge of Sighs having used 4 punts to get it there.

As a lover of cheese we then visited the Cambridge Cheese Company for some delicacies and before returning to the train we visited the Eagle pub for refreshment.  The pub has an RAF bar that has the inscriptions by World War II airmen covering the ceiling and walls.  In 1953 it was in this pub that Francis Crick interrupted the patron’s lunchtime on 28th February to announce that he and James Watson had ‘discovered the secret of life’ and they had come up with their proposal for the structure of DNA.  Here you can sample the special ale Eagles DNA.

The wooden or Mathermatical Bridge
Kings College
Cambridge Cheese Company
Cambridge Cheese Company
The Eagle
RAF Bar, The Eagle

After a fun day and short train journey we were back to Ely and the moorings where we stayed for the evening.

The following day was an early start and we headed down to Denver and crossed on the lunch time tide to wind our way back to March.  We crossed the Middle Level Main Drain at Muilicourt aqueduct before passing Outwell and Upwell, here we would have liked to stop at The Five Bells for a meal as I have previously eaten here and the food is plentiful however our holiday ended the following morning so we continued on to March for the night and moored in the town centre.

 

 

Total cruising hours for this journey 18, miles 58, locks 6.  Note there is a Tide Crossing to take into account when planning this journey.  Please consult Fox Narrowboats or the lock keepers at Salters Lode or Denver for crossing times when planning your trip.

This blog was written by Emily our general manager based on her boating holiday in May 2019

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