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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Books TV online narrowboating, Canal Blog, Featured articles
Adam Henson
adam henson visits fox narrow boats

Adam Henson

What does a celeb do when they want to retreat from the public eye and get back to nature? A summer narrowboat holiday is usually free from stress and paparazzi attention, but only a select few famous people have so far discovered the secluded peace and quiet of England’s canals and waterways.

Boaters on the CanalWorld discussion forums have spotted Matthew Corbett, Toyah Wilcox, Timothy Spall, Nicholas Cage, David Suchet, Heston Blumenthal, Brian Blessed, Camilla Parker Bowles and Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees messing about in boats.

Famous couple Prunella Scales and Timothy West have always been keen narrowboaters and their enthusiasm has recently been showcased on Channel 4 in the series ‘Great Canal Journeys’. Back in 1990 the actors were on the first narrowboat to travel the newly restored section of the Kennet and Avon between Bath and Devizes.

Do you remember when Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones) and Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) hit the news when they took a holiday along the Llangollen Canal in 2004? In a Sunday Times interview Harrison said, “You can see the English countryside in a way you can’t when you’re speeding down the M1.”

Swashbuckling Pirate of the Caribbean, Kiera Knightly, allegedly rented an East London canal boat in the summer of 2010. She was then sometimes seen taking a towpath walk through Hoxton with her partner, Rupert Friend. (We would have recommended the quaint and ancient streets of Ely or Cambridge, had Kiera asked us.)

Some waterways are busier than others, so the discerning celebrity may prefer the quieter routes offered here in Cambridgeshire. The East of England waterways have been described as “a hidden gem” by BBC Countryfile’s Adam Henson and Professor David Bellamy once wrote that The Fens are one of the best places in Britain to go boating (in The Fens Magazine Summer 2005). Fellow Countryfile presenter John Craven, (also known for Newsround) is another personality who is fond of narrowboating and is even a friend of the Canal and River Trust. In 2014 Fox Boats featured live on ITV’s daybreak show with ITV’s weather girl Kirsty McCabe.

If, like these stars you want to escape the limelight and avoid the crowds you may benefit from booking a Spring narrowboat holiday in the Fenlands: It’s a less busy alternative to the Norfolk Broads. The waterways are so beautiful at that time of year, and you won’t need a celebrity budget because hire boat charges are cheaper – especially with our 2016 early booking offer. It’s so easy to book online – while there is still availability, and you can hire a canal or barge style boat for a more comfortable living space.

Check availability now, before some high-flying superstar beats you to it!

by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to see, Canal Blog, Featured articles
narrowboat-holiday-cambridge-ely

swift fox stopped for lunch on a narrowboat holiday

If you’ve never tried a boating holiday on the Fenland Waterways you may discover a number of unexpected benefits that make it a little different from your average canal boat holiday.

Among Cambridgeshire’s attractive villages and cities is an impressive network of tranquil rivers, offering strikingly flat landscapes, underneath expansive skies. Here are our top 5 reasons why we love boating in Cambridgeshire.

1) More Water Than the Broads

The Fenland waterways offer more than twice the navigational distance than the Norfolk Broads, although your boating holiday may be a similar experience, enjoying working the locks and cruising through natural surroundings. However, there is so much more choice of place to explore and routes to take!

2) Divine Inspiration

This area has earned itself the name ‘The Holy Land of the English’ because of the churches and cathedrals of Ely, Ramsey, Crowland, Thorney and Peterborough. Ely Cathedral is particularly popular with visitors and is known locally as the ‘Ship of the Fens’ because of its waterway surroundings. If you are fond of discovering our heritage and exploring places of worship then these waterways will provide a fascinating adventure for you. Places to visit

3) Nature Reserves

The Fens nature reserves are a beautiful place to discover a variety of wildlife such as birds, wild flowers and dragonflies, as well as endangered species like the water vole. Travelling far from the rush of traffic and modern life you can get really lost in the natural beauty.

4) Places to Eat

Exploring the rivers and waterways of Cambridgeshire you won’t be short of a tempting choice of places to stop. From traditional country pubs, to fine dining in city restaurants there are many small villages and large towns that will cater for the travelling boater.

5) March

Fox Boats is based in March Town where you will find plenty of places to eat, as well as a museum and a church dedicated to the town’s saint, St Wendreda. March is a Fenland market town and like many Fenland towns, it was once an island surrounded by marshes. March lies on the banks of the old course of the navigable Nene, and today is very popular for leisure boating.

To find out more about boating in Cambridgeshire you may like to follow us on Facebook or sign up to receive blog articles by email. (See ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right.)

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Charity, Foxes News

EACH

Staff at Fox Narrowboats were delighted to hand over a cheque to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices Cambridgeshire fundraising manager Karen Newton on Friday as the companies fundraising for the year draws to a close.  The cheque was for a grand total of £2126.24. The money has been raised by running skippered boat trips at the March town St Georges Fayre, holding a book stall in the office throughout the year and finishing with Christmas tombola. 

Fox Narrowboats Finance Director Tracey Baxter said, “I am delighted with the amount raised for EACH this year.  I would like to thank all of our customers and supporters that have enabled us to raise such a large amount of money.”

Karen Newton, EACH Cambridgeshire Fundraising Manager, said: “We’re delighted to have the support of Fox Boats and are incredibly impressed with the generous sum of £2,126.24 which was raised for EACH thanks to a Charity of the Year Partnership. These funds will ensure we can provide vital care and support to local life-threatened children, young people and their families.”

St Georges Fayre 2015

St Georges Fayre 2015

In 2016 Fox Narrowboats will be partnering with MAGPAS Helimedix one of the first events for the charity will again be the popular boat trips at the St Georges Fayre.

 

 

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Booking budget tips, Canal Blog, Featured articles
Licenced stock - family narrowboat holiday
Licenced stock - family narrowboat holiday

Licenced stock – family narrowboat holiday

Narrowboat holidays and barge holidays offer beautiful scenery, freedom and quality time together. You also get to avoid the airport queues and discover our English traditions, heritage, folk art, and feats of engineering. If you want to avoid the usual tourist traps and queues then a narrowboat holiday could be just the short break you are looking for.

When to Book

The canal ‘cruising season’ is from March to October because weather and maintenance works can make travel more difficult out of season. The waterways are most busy from late July to early September because of the school holidays. At the busiest times on some canals you may have to wait in a queue of boats to use a lock, and the most popular mooring spaces (such as outside a pub) may be taken when you arrive. That’s the advantage of choosing the Fenland waterways which are generally less crowded.

Whatever the Weather

British weather is renowned for its feisty wind and rain, but a canal boat is far more luxurious than a camping holiday, offering all the facilities of modern living. Make the most of your holiday whatever the weather by mooring at a pub, making some tea, playing card games, going shopping or watching TV if it’s raining. With a hot mug of coffee on the roof and a sturdy umbrella it can even be fun to carry on cruising.

What if I’m Not so Agile?

A canal boat holiday can suit groups of any age, young or old. The towpaths can be a little uneven for those with reduced mobility, but if you choose to stay on board and let others in your party handle the locks, we suspect you will still enjoy watching the scenery pass by, meeting new people and discovering new places.

Will my Phone Work?

Mobile phones will work in most areas although there are places where reception is limited. If you find that the signal is weak inside a steel cabined boat, try going outside to improve your signal. You will also find that some networks are better than others. All of our boats have in-car chargers and 240v power supplies.

Help! I’ve Never Driven a Boat Before!

It’s not difficult for a novice to learn to steer a narrowboat, with a little bit of practice. The speed limit on the waterways is 4mph and accidents are very rare. You will simply require a little common sense and a willingness to take care. The weight of a narrowboat gives it quite a bit of momentum so you have to plan ahead when you’re intending to stop. The engine is controlled by a single lever, which you place in reverse to stop or slow down. Anyone over 21 can hire a canal boat with no training or licence required.

What Does it Cost?

The cost will vary, depending on the size of your party, the boat you choose and the time of year that you travel. Prices increase during the more popular summer months. However you may find that self-hire for a family holiday will compare favourably with the price of a hotel boat, or an ordinary hotel, and you will also save money on having to eat out, by having access to self-catering facilities on board. Of course the wonderful experience of romantically exploring the English countryside, creating treasured memories together is priceless!

Check availability for 2016

Still got questions? Check our FAQ

We look forward to meeting you soon.

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

halloween-cc-wiki-toby-ord

Whether you’re one of our current mooring customers or planning a boating visit to the Fenlands next year, these upcoming Halloween events will show you just how much there is to see and do around the Fenland Waterways.

1) Ely: Hallowe’en Ghost Tours

From the 27th to 30th October you can discover the dark side of Ely on an evening ghost tour of spooky passageways and eerie streets to hear the tales of scandal and death. It’s guaranteed to be so scary that it’s only suitable for children aged 8 and older; and is claimed to be one of England’s spookiest cities. If you travel by Fox narrowboat the cruise from March to Ely takes in ancient inns and the murdered ghosts of Southery, plus legends of violence and death surround the Fenland isle of Littleport: Read more in The Spooky Truth About Cruising to Ely.

2) The Cromwell Terror Tour at Oliver Cromwell’s House

Oliver Cromwell’s former home is now a museum and tourist information centre; great to visit at any time of year. But from 26th to 29th October 2015 they offer The Cromwell Terror Tour – including a glass of Cromwell’s hot cider punch or apple juice to steady your nerves! There is also an additional one-off Extra Terrifying Tour! on Friday 30th October 9.30 pm for adults only – if you dare!

3) Fossils Galore Halloween Fun Day

Fossils Galore Educational Activity Centre in March is holding a Halloween Fun Day on Saturday 25th October. They are offering reptile handling, haunted museum, creepy colouring, hook a scary duck and more! When it isn’t Halloween you can still enjoy fossil hunting in a prehistoric sand pit, an arts and crafts shop, tea shop, geode breaking and lots more.

4) Pumpkin Rescue Festival

From Friday 23rd October to Saturday 7th November Cambridge’s Pumpkin Festival is a celebration of food, which introduces new skills, carves up Halloween conventions and creatively encourages us to think about the food we throw away. Events include local businesses offering pumpkin themed street food, storytelling, a pumpkin carving competition, a FoodCycle lunch, a pumpkin picnic and a multi-faith pumpkin lantern procession at St Pauls. Many more events are listed on the website. However, you can visit Cambridge at any time as part of your Fox boating holiday.

5) Northampton Boat Club, River Nene

If you’re a local boater, Northampton boat club have a Halloween party on Saturday 31st. They are a small family orientated boating enthusiasts club situated on an island in the river Nene, not far from Northampton town centre. They welcome visitors to the club but are limited to the amount of visitor moorings they have, so please contact the club first, to enquire about available space.

6) Dr Fright’s Halloween Night

Earls Barton White’s Nurseries in Earls Barton host Dr Fright’s Halloween Night in the run up to Halloween. This is a walk-through Halloween experience including special effects, lighting effects, sound effects and live actors to make you jump, scream and laugh. Have we scared you off? Cambridgeshire is alive with history 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.

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles

swans-cambridge-waterways

Once upon a time, when my family lived on a narrowboat, in a village in Hertfordshire, we gradually got to know the local swans, Bonnie and Clyde.

I don’t know why I called them that: Perhaps it was their slightly aggressive attitude. They visited us regularly for bread, throughout the Autumn and Winter. My two young daughters, aged three and five, would sit on the front deck and call down the canal,

“Swan ATTENTION!”

For some reason they felt this was the appropriate call that should be used to summon the swans: And the swans came. Then the ducks came to try to fight for a bit of bread too. If there was any left over the big fat carp jumped up and had a bite as well. It was one of the loveliest luxuries of living on a boat to be friends with the swans; although it could be a demanding friendship at times. Clyde became bold enough to knock on the galley window with his beak if we were not on deck at a time when he wanted feeding. Once when I sat chatting with friends on the front deck he actually pecked me in the small of my back to let me know that he was there; ready and waiting for his bread.

But where was Bonnie? When the winter was over and daffodils grew beside our boat Bonnie was nowhere to be seen. Eventually we discovered their nest beside the next canal bridge; safely on the offside, undisturbed by towpath walkers. There Bonnie sat and waited, guarding her eggs. Clyde glided protectively around her, on the surface of the water, with his head held high and aloof, surveying the area.

When we returned from the school-run each day the would girls say,

“Can we check the swans?”

If it was cold and raining I would grumpily say, “No,” and drag the girls back to the boat for mugs of cocoa. But mostly I would smile and say, “Yes,” and we would sit on the canal bank opposite the nest and watch, and talk about the swans.

Then one Spring morning Clyde knocked on the bedroom window; Bonnie in tow, with three gorgeous grey fluffy cygnets too! I grabbed some bread and headed for the front deck calling for the girls as I went.

“Girls! The swans have had cygnets!”

Just one day earlier she had still been on her nest, so they must have been born that day and were straight in the water already!

“This must be their first outing,” said my husband.

“Those proud parents,” I mused. “I expect they said to themselves this morning, Let’s take the little ones down to The Bread Boat.”

“Yes,” laughed my five year old, “To the café!”

So the girls threw bread, I took photos, my husband took a video and we gleefully announced the news of the birth to other passing boaters and walkers on the towpath.

Spring is a beautiful time for boating on the Cambridgeshire waterways. Get closer to nature and book your boat holiday for next Spring. Bring a camera. (And some stale bread!)

Swans at Welney near Wisbech Cambrideshire

Find Swans and explore stunning wetlands, where incredible wildlife encounters take place everyday, set in the heart of the Fens.
Welney wetland centre

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to do, Canal Blog, Featured articles
shutterstock
cambridge riverside ghost

shutterstock

Cruising along through the countryside on a narrowboat, away from the sights and sounds of modern life, it’s easy to imagine that you might have travelled back into the past. For some, the attraction of a narrowboat holiday is a taste of a simpler life, reminiscent of times gone by.

Will you be one of the mooring customers who will be taking to the waterways this Halloween?

Our hire boat base and mooring basin in March is the ideal starting point for those who enjoy exploring old market towns and the romance of England’s “olden days”. But with Halloween fast approaching it’s possible that the past will soon be catching up with us in the form of ghostly hauntings!

A narrowboat is the stealthiest way to travel if you are planning a paranormal investigation in Cambridgeshire.

March

Before leaving the hire boat base in March beware that the local Ambulance Station is said to be haunted by a former supervisor. He is dressed in an old uniform with peaked cap, and his disembodied footsteps can be heard as he opens and closes doors.

You will notice the church is south of the river but it is said that the villagers of March had planned to build a church in the village. The Devil relocated the construction materials to across the river, where the church is now.

And finally, out on the Fens west of March a ghostly light has been reported, eerily drifting in an attempt to lure the unwary to their doom.

For further ghostly activity follow the Foxboats route from March to Cambridge, which harbours plenty of strange legends and eerie anecdotes. As you cruise down the Ouse from Salter’s Lode you will discover long lost rivers, ancient inns and the murdered ghosts of Southery. The charming Fenland isle of Littleport also has its own gruesome history of violence and death: Read more in The Spooky Truth About Cruising to Ely.

Cambridge

The Old Ferryboat Inn in Cambridge was built in 1050 and dates from the Anglo-Saxon age. 17 year old Juliet Tewsley tragically hung herself from a tree outside of the Inn after being rejected by her lover. She now returns to the inn on the anniversary of her death to look for her lost love. Her body is buried under the floor of the Inn.

The ghost of a nun haunts Abbey House, a sixteenth century house in Abbey Road, built on the site of Barnwell Priory, which was established in 1112. The otherworldly nun wanders into bedrooms around Spring time and stands at the end of beds before disappearing into the curtains. Other supernatural incidents include loud banging on bedroom doors, footsteps on the staircase and an apparition rattling chains around the room.

Ref. There is an extensive list of haunted sites of Cambridge on the Paranormal Database website and some of these stories came from http://www.hauntedisland.co.uk/

If Halloween has piqued your interest in ghost stories and local legends then book now for next year’s narrowboat holiday and discover much more of Cambridgeshire’s history, spectacular Fenland skies, and enjoy some leisurely boating on some of the least crowded waterways in Britain.

 

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

Waterways campaigner and IWA Peterborough Branch member John Revell talks about his latest campaigning trip on the local navigations.

project hereward

Old Bedford river

Lois and Roy Parker in their cruiser and Alastair and Jonathan Chambers and myself in my Fox narrowboat attempted to enter the Old Bedford river at Salters Lode on Saturday 5th September 2015.

The Parkers were successful and locked through the Old Bedford sluice into the Old Bedford river. They then proceeded along the Old Bedford for about a mile, negotiating their way through dense clumps of floating reeds before being stopped by an impassable mass of cott weed.

project hereward

The Parkers on the fresh water side of the tidal doors

They then turned round and made their way back through the sluice and returned to the Middle Level via the main lock at Salters Lode. Both tidal doors and guillotine gate at the Old Bedford sluice worked well and the Middle Level Commissioners’ relief lock keeper was very helpful.

I had no problems reaching the tidal doors in my narrowboat but was unable to enter the Old Bedford “on the level” on this occasion.

While we were there a canoe was launched and set off for Manea and I was watched by a common seal as I reversed into the main tidal river.

clumps of floating reeds Old Bedford

clumps of floating reeds Old Bedford

Navigating the Old Bedford remains problematical and efforts are being made to restore it as part of the East Anglian Waterways Association (EAWA) “Project Hereward” scheme. It is worth remembering that until the derelict Well Creek was restored to navigation there were only 2 ways to get from the Nene to the Great Ouse; either a sea crossing of the Wash or the route via the Old Bedford, Welches Dam lock, Horseways Channel and Horseways lock. It is not surprising that most boats, including Fox’s Hire Fleet, chose this latter route rather than the Wash.

#ProjectHereward

 

 

Thanks to John Revell mooring customer, for this guest article with photos.

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Towns & villages
Corinne Thomsett

I used to run a traditional pair of hotel narrowboats, Snipe and Taurus with my husband. We had a lot of routes that were standard fare – we did them regularly, and knew them really well, but every summer we would plan to go on at least one adventure to explore a new waterway.

Corinne Thomsett
Corinne Thomsett

One summer we decided it was time to venture onto the waterways between Northampton, Ely and Cambridge. As this area of the country was new to us, we asked the Hotelboat Mafia who to talk to. Everybody recommended Fox Narrowboats as being the experts in and on these waterways. They were wonderful, and gave us lots of great tips about which local towns and villages we should visit, and which of the little rivers were worth investigating.

Corinne Thomsett
Corinne Thomsett

We loved our six weeks cruising this area – the waterways are so different to any others we’d travelled.

These were the things we and our guests loved most about cruising from March to Ely:

  1. Super-friendly lock-keepers, who came out to help us work through the locks, sometimes with their whole family!
  1. Surprise seal sightings on the tidal stretch between Denver Sluice and Salters Lode.
  1. Big skies – Canals and rivers tend to follow the contours of the land, meaning lots of lovely rolling hills, but no stunning horizons, not here though!
  1. Upwell and Outwell – the two villages that run either side of the Well Stream, it’s like cruising down the middle of the road, and the names raised a smile too.
  1. Wind farms – there is something very surreal about boating through fields of huge wind turbines.
  1. Kingfishers, kingfishers, c! We recorded over 30 sightings in one day – no photos though, you’ve got to be quick to get a picture of a kingfisher.
  1. The River Nene… pronounced Neen at one end and Nen at the other, obviously.

Without the help of Paula and the team at Fox Narrowboats, we wouldn’t have had nearly such a good time; they helped with the planning, gave us a great mooring and full service for our guest changeovers – they even took in our huge Tesco shop for us, when we were a little bit late arriving – it completely filled their living room!

If you’ve never been, then you should call and book your trip today, I wonder how many kingfishers you’ll see?

This is a guest post by Corinne Thomsett

http://www.uk-va.com

 

 

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to do, Canal Blog, Featured articles
wiki commons: Dr Paul G Tuli
wiki commons: Dr Paul G Tuli

wiki commons: Dr Paul G Tuli

The Fenland waterways have a wealth of interesting and educational places to visit. When you’re boating with kids in the area, there are loads of ways to make learning fun. Here are our top three!

1. How the Fens were drained

Learn about the history of how the Fens were drained. Fenland water pumping technology started with wind pumps, then steam engines were introduced, followed by diesel engines. There are working examples of all three, and all of them are accessible by boat!

Wicken Fen Nature Reserve

At the National Trust’s Wicken Fen, you can moor up at the end of Wicken Lode, see how the Fens used to look before they were drained, and visit the last working wind pump. There’s also a traditional fenman’s cottage and a chance to explore the natural history of the area with nature walks.

Stretham Old Engine

On the banks of the Great Ouse at Stretham, with handy GOBA moorings nearby stands the majestic steam pumping engine at Stretham. The steam engine is only run on certain days to check the website in advance to avoid disappointment.

The Prickwillow Engine Museum

The museum is located in the village of Prickwillow, on the banks of the river Lark with a convenient mooring nearby. The old diesel pumping engine and a host of others are on display and are run on event days and Bank Holidays. The next event coming up at is the 4th Prickwillow Ploughing Festival on October 3rd and 4th, with heavy horse and vintage tractor ploughing skill displays, classic cars, food stalls and of course the engines will be running!

2. Get out and about in a riverside nature reserve.

Fen Drayton Lakes

Just a short hop on the Guided Busway or walk from the moorings at St Ives takes you to the beautiful RSPB reserve atFen Drayton Lakes. There are events and guided walks held here (see website for details) or just bring binoculars, follow the nature trail and see what you can spot!

Wiki Commons: Sebastian Ballard

Wiki Commons: Sebastian Ballard

Ferry Meadows Park

Just off the River Nene in Peterborough is the fantastic Ferry Meadows Park. You can use the pontoon moorings provided in the lake there and go exploring! Children’s Nature Discovery Packs are available to borrow from the visitor centre, as are orienteering maps. There are also several play areas for younger children.

3. Try Geocaching

Geocaching is something you can do wherever you are, but there are plenty of hidden treasures to be found along the waterways. Simply download the app to your phone and see if there are any caches to be found near you! A great way to explore the area, for kids to learn about map reading and using a compass, and something the whole family can do for free!

Guest Blog by Amy-Alys Tillson

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