Page updated 26 May 2001 

The Fens Waterways Guide

Editors:	Not specified
Publisher:	The Fens Tourism Group
Available by Post from:	The Fens Tourism Group, Ayscough Hall, Churchgate, Spalding, Lincs, PE11 2RA Tel:  01775 762715 E-Mail;  enquiry@fenstourism.enta.net
Format:	An A4 sized full colour guide with many colour photographs and maps.

General Comments:

This brochure is the professional production you might expect from a local tourist office, with masses of colour photographs and maps and peppered with adverts from local businesses.  Aimed at both anglers and boaters it is divided into 7 sections:

• The Boston Waterways
• South Holland Waterways
• River Nene & Morton's Leam
• The Middle Level System
• The Old West River, River Cam and Tributaries
• The River Great Ouse, Ely Ouse & Tributaries
• The Bedford Rivers

Each of these sections has a page giving a general introduction to the area and it's boating and fishing features.  A further page then lists important information for each type of user.  For boaters this includes: Marinas, Moorings, Boat Hire, Navigation Notes, Navigation Authorities and Tourist Information Centres.  Each of these sections includes a colour map of the area, at about three miles to the inch.  These are good enough for general cruise planning, but don't contain enough detail for more than that.

As you might expect from a guide not produced by those who are primarily boating enthusiasts, it is not without errors.  For example a photograph on page 2 is captioned "Hermitage Lock, Old West River" but actually shows part of Lovey's Marina from outside The Cutter (with no lock in sight!).  More important, on page 25, Jesus Green Lock is shown half a mile down river from where it is.  This is important because it is well known that the lock is the limit of navigation for powered craft during the summer (though the guide doesn't point this out) and the "Winding Point 25.8 m (84')" which is actually below it is shown above it, in the correct position.  In fact, the guide is remarkably silent on the subject of the limits of navigation on all waterways were this is an issue, and because this is a guide aimed at anglers as well, the beautiful Wicken Lode is shown far longer than it is navigable, and without any indication of the winding point, or its size, at the head of navigation.

However, the great benefit of this guide is that it gives dimensions of every lock, which neither the Environment Agency leaflets or Imrays Guides do.  It also has the fullest list of facilities at moorings and marinas of any fenland guide.  As it is free, these two features alone make it a "required" document for visiting boaters.

All the above was part of my review of last year's edition of this guide.  Every word of it remains true for this years edition.  There have been changes, but they are minor and don't correct significant faults..  For instance, this year its in a three column format. Last year it was in two columns.

During the year more and more errors were brought to my attention. They are all repeated in this year's guide.  For example, in a table of boating facilities three, rather confusing, kinds of toilet disposal points are mentioned, "Sewage Pump Out", "Chemical Toilet Pump Out" and "Sewage Disposal".  This leaves you non the wiser about what to expect when you reach the facility.  One is lead to the conclusion that, unfortunately, people who know nothing about boats or the basic geography of the region compiled the guide.

There are some changes made to the maps.  Some may correct errors of which I was unaware but many errors remain.  For example, the confusion over the Old Bedford Sluice/Lock is still there.  Some of the inaccuracies have been compounded, notably the Relief Channel from Denver to Kings Lynn.  While this is now shown as navigable, last years inaccuracy in the mapping is repeated.  The map shows no new lock and the Relief Channel is a branch off the tidal section below the Sluice.  Such an error is so preposterous that one is left wondering how much the whole publication is a triumph of art over accuracy.

I was kind to the publishers in last year's review.  It was their first attempt in a new format.  I e-mailed them explaining a lot of the errors.  This year I just feel annoyed as they all remain in place and new errors have been introduced.

Reviewed by: Greg Chapman