Hire a boat to cruise the Fenland waterways and visit the historic cities of Cambridge and Ely.
Visit 'The Fens' on a boating holiday in Cambridgeshire and explore the tranquil rivers, visiting picturesque villages and cities such as Ely by boat. The landscape is flat and expansive, with the Fenlands occupying an area of nearly 3,900 km2. Surrounded by nature reserves, The Fens are home to a variety of wildlife such as dragonflies, birds and wild flowers as well as endangered species like the water vole.
On a boating holiday in Cambridgeshire you'll find plenty of places to stop for a bite to eat, there are lots of small villages as well as larger towns and cities to choose from.
A similar experience to boating on the Norfolk Broads, but with over twice the distance available to navigate. You can cruise through nature reserves on the man made rivers, working occasional locks on a traditional narrowboat holiday.
The churches and cathedrals of Ely, Ramsey, Crowland, Thorney and Peterborough, give the area the name 'The Holy Land of the English'.
Ely Cathedral is particularly impressive, known locally as the 'Ship of the Fens' due to its presence in it's Fenland waterway surroundings.
To find out more on each waterfront attraction, click on the stars on the map.
Cambridge City: home to a world famous University. Kings College Chapel is certainly worth a visit when on a boating holiday in Cambridgeshire.
Huntingdon: the birth place of Oliver Cromwell. Discover what life was life during the Civil Wars at the Cromwell Museum.
Ely: full of attractions including a magnificent Cathedral, Stained Glass Window Museum & Oliver Cromwell's house.
Ferrymeadows Country Park: Perfect for anglers & walkers. Less than 3 miles from Peterborough, running alongside the River Nene.
March Town: mooring here, there are lots of places to stop and eat, as well as a Museum and a Church dedicated to the town's saint, St Wendreda.
The fourth longest river in the UK. A boating holiday along this river is very varied, sights include Ely Cathedral, the historic market town of St Ives with it's 15th century Chapel Bridge, the Oliver Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon, Buckden Great Tower where Catherine of Aragon was imprisoned and the market town of St Neots.
Ely.
Take your hire boat into Cambridge on a boating holiday on the River Cam. A tributary of the River Great Ouse, the River Cam joins the River Great Ouse just south of Ely at Popes Corner. Attractions along the River Cam include Kings College Chapel and the Bridge of Sighs in Cambridge. Vistor moorings are below the last lock, the limit of navigation for powered craft, Jesus Green Lock.
These quiet navigations are a mixture of natural rivers and man made channels and are perfect for relaxation with plenty of pleasant towns and villages accessible by boat. These levels are actually below sea level and have to be pumped up to sea-level in order to keep the land drained. Moor for free at the centre of March, where you can enjoy a bite to eat in one of the waterside eateries. The town also boasts a beautiful church just 20 minutes walk from your boat. Cruise through the centre of the twin villages Upwell and Outwell, passing houses, gardens, shops and public houses.
March.
The tenth longest river in the UK, the River Nene connects The Fens with the rest of the canal network where it meets the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal. Moor at Ferrymeadows Country Park to have a go at water sports, or take the family into Peterborough to visit the Cathedral, Queensgate Shopping Centre, Key Theatre and the Nene Valley Railway.
Click to view an interactive map of the UK inland waterways.
