Page updated 24 October 2005 

The River Great Ouse

General

Boat Clubs and Marinas I2kGOp9c2

Dick Clark's phone number is 01353 649462 (Evenings only)

River Great Ouse

Salter's Lode

NOTE: There is no coverage downstream from Salter's Lode

Well Creek

New Bedford River

Ten Mile River

Denver Sluice

Relief Channel

The Denver Complex I2kGOp15 I01GOp15

There is no water point on the EA Moorings.

The Denver Complex I2kGOp18c1

Facilities by the A.G. Wright Sluice include toilets, water (portage containers only) and refuse disposal. Elsewhere at the complex are a telephone and short and long term moorings FTG.

Wissey Mouth

River Wissey

Hilgay Bridge I2kGOp17GOp18c2 I01GOp17GOp18c2

The Windmill Inn and its EA moorings have been demolished though there are still EA moorings just upstream on the opposite bank.

Ship Inn

River Little Ouse (Brandon Creek)

Ship Inn I2kGOp19GOp21c1

A regular at the pub reports:

The pub is usually quiet during the week as it's rural roadside location means there are no true "locals". Regulars seem to drop in for an hour or two after work then leave. Weekends tend to be fairly busy, the better the weather the busier it is!

The pub was refurbished in 2003 and is now of a very comfortable standard. There is a restaurant which is non-smoking. This serves "pub grub" type food and the steaks are reported as especially good.

The landlord is not a boater himself, but is sympathetic and quite likes to hear chat about boats and the water way of life. He is a very knowledgable real ale buff and almost always has four real ales available in excellent condition. His standard brews are Adnams Bitter and Bass. Guest ales have included Wherry, Timothy Taylor, Landlord and a host of others. He will not serve ale in a lager glass nor vice versa. Ask him to demonstrate the difference. It's impressive! He is avidly anti Greene-King in an area otherwise almost universally GK territory.

There are a number of pub dogs. Fern the Bassett and Wiston a barking mad poodley type thing. There's a friendly cat called Felix who sometimes puts in an appearance.

There are tables and chairs by the river and a large car park. Although you will find a tap outside it doesn't work.

Littleport

Littleport Boat Haven I2kGOp20

The panel for Littleport Boathaven reports, "All facilities except petrol". A visitor in the summer of 2004 reported that when he called in for diesel "the pump was on its side and looked as though it hadn't been used for years." However, there is a diesel tank right up at the harbour end. You need to negotiate the boats moored all along the inlet and then reverse out.

In August 2002, the shower facility, in the portable toilet building, was reported as basic "the water being heated by a gas geyser, the door shutting (and opening) only with difficulty. The chemical toilet emptying facility comprises an old earthenware sink with a tap and hose." Two years later there were no reports that this had changed.

The facilities include a slipway and a modest chandlery. Services include boat repairs and moorings (long and short term), refuse disposal and telephone. Calor gas is usually in stock.

The long term moorings are amongst the cheapest on the Great Ouse, and the proprietor is reported as being "very good" to these customers and "knowing about diesel engines".

Sandhills Bridge I2kGOp20

The Black Horse pub, just downstream from the bridge, has installed a pump out station. The company that own the premises are providing this as a free service. It would appear that the pub also welcomes large parties of Vikings! (Image courtesy of David Mack)

Ely Ouse

Lark Mouth

River Lark

Adelaide Road Bridge I2kGOp22

There are no power cables crossing the river north of the bridge.

Ely

Ely Marina I2kGOp22GOp24GOp25c1

Showers are available but only to those who book a mooring for the night.  (The nearest shower facilities downstream are at Littleport and upstream at Earith.  Further upstream showers are much more readily available.)
Slipway and hoist available.  Limit - 20ft length.

Bridge Boatyard I2kGOp24GOp25c2

The panel on p24 says "All Facilities" but it has no crane/hoist.  Its slipway is limited to 35ft length and 5.5 tons.

Old West River

Pope's Corner

River Cam

Stretham Ferry Bridge I2kGOp27GOp29c1

Dick Clark Boatbuilders (Tel: 01353 649462 (corrected number - Evenings only)) facilities include a dry dock that will take deep drafted 70ft narrowboat, but not widebeams. (It is planned to add a roof so you can do paint jobs in winter/bad weather.) . There is an electricity supply and Cyril, the owner of the dock, offers plenty of good advice based on years of experience to DIY users. These need to provide their own pressure washer, scrapers and paint. (Dock charges: £100 for the first week, £80 for a second in September 2003).

Twenty Pence Inn I2kGOp28GOp29c1 I01GOp28GOp29c1

The Twenty Pence Inn has been demolished replaced with a housing development.

Aldreth I2kGOp30

Note: To be consistent the "tab" on this page should read "Old West River" not "The Great Ouse".

River Great Ouse

New Bedford River

Earith

Westview Marina I2kGOp32 I01GOp32

The Marina has a 35ton crawler crane. This can handle any boat up to 70ft broadbeam. Lorry access for 70-footers may still be a problem.

There are EA pontoon moorings outside with water and free pumpout facilities.

St Ives

Norris Museum I2kGOp37c1 I01GOp39c1

The Norris Museum is open 7 days a week.

Hemingford Grey

The Village I2kGOp39c1 I04GOp40c1

There is now only ONE general store and the Cock Public House is now a good class a la carte restaurant and retains just a small adjacent bar.

Hartford

Hartford Marina I2kGOp42

Slipway and Crane available.  Limit - 52ft length, narrowbeam.

Huntingdon

Godmanchester

Godmanchester Lock I2kGOp45c2 I04GOp47c1

The paragraphs concerning the lock at Godmanchester should read:

The main stream to Godmanchester Lock keeps to the west passing on the east a number of former mill races. At the lock, with its pointing doors and manually operated guillotine gate, the upstream and downstream landing stages are on the west bank and a good 48 hour mooring is available on the old walls adjacent to the new lock. There are footpaths to Huntingdon, Brampton and Godmanchester.

Immediately upstream of the lock on the east, a backwater leads to Godmanchester, past the gardens of elegant Georgian Houses. There is a short length of mooring but no signs, between two white posts on the north bank. There is also a very limited length, insufficient for a single narrowboat, just beyond the Chinese Bridge. However this backwater is the weir stream, and under conditions of high flow its use is not recommended for narrowboats which would need to wind immediately above the weir. Note also that there are no moorings in the backwaters downstream of the weir.

Buckden

Buckden Marina I2kGOp46

Slipway and Crane available.  Limit - 72ft length.

St Neots

Crosshall Marina I2kGOp52

Slipway and Crane available.  Limits - 45ft length and 11 tons.

Riverside Park I2kGOp52 I01GOp52

The moorings by the footbridge maintained by Huntingdon Council not the EA.

Eaton Socon Lock I01GOp52

There are no longer any tea-rooms at Eaton Socon lock but The Mill Tavern does still exist and serves good meals.

Above Roxton Lock I2kGOp57c1

On Line 10 replace 360° with 180°.

Bedford

Priory Marina I2kGOp60

Slipway and Crane available.  Limit - 70ft length.

Head of Navigation

Relief Channel

General

The Route I2kGOp15GOp16c2MLmap

The Relief Channel now provides a non-tidal navigable route to Saddlebow.  A new lock links the Relief Channel, immediately upstream of the A.G. Wright Sluice, with the Cut-Off Channel enabling the A.G. Wright Sluice to be by-passed.  Passage is not possible through the Tail Sluice onto the Great Ouse for the final mile down to Kings Lynn itself.

The Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce in Lynn both support the creation of a new marina at the mouth of the Nar, regenerating the old fishing harbour area of Boal Quay.  The Environment Agency has made a pre-feasibility study to determine the best navigable route to Lynn.  Their currently preferred route will use the line of the recently created "Flood Diversion Channel", which links the Relief Channel at saddlebow to the Nar. However, this route affects both the Sailing and Ski Clubs, which have leases on the lower sections of the Relief Channel, and impacts on a Site of Special Scientific Interest on the River Nar.

Where provided, the pontoon moorings are a minimum of 40mtr in length. If further money is obtained there are plans to extend some or all to 80m.

Denver

River Great Ouse

Relief Channel Lock I2kGOp15MLmap

The lock has "usable" length of 30mtr. (It is somewhat longer but is restricted by an exposed cill when empty.) It's width is 4.6mtr and depth is 2mtr.

Sluice Road Bridge I2kGOp15MLmap

Air Draft in the Relief Channel is limited by this bridge.  At normal water retention levels the clearance is 4mtr.  (For those marking the Middle Level Map: Sluice Road runs from Denver Village to the Sluice.  Sluice Road Bridge crosses the tail of the Cut-Off Channel and goes on to form an integral part of the Relief Channel (A.G. Wright) Sluice.)

Downham Market Bridge I2kMLmap

There are pontoon moorings available immediately upstream of the bridge.

Stowbridge Bridge I2kMLmap

There are pontoon moorings available immediately downstream of the bridge.

Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen Bridge I2kMLmap

There are pontoon moorings available immediately upstream of the bridge.

Navigation is not permitted below Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen. Lower reaches are let to water ski and sailing clubs.

Head of Navigation

New Bedford River

Salter's Lode

Earith

River Wissey

General

Dimensions I2kGOp4 I01GOp4

In the panel listing dimensions for the River Wissey (Gt Ouse to Whittington), the Length should read: 21m (68' 10")

River Great Ouse

Hilgay I2kGOp64

A 47ft (14.3m) narrowboat has reported winding fairly easily just above the village moorings.

Wissington I2kGOp65

At the Sugar Beet Factory great care should be exercised when passing under the Road Bridge as it has been reported that the new strengthening girders have reduced the headroom.  Don't assume that because you got under in the past that you will still be able to do so.

Stoke Ferry I2kGOp67GOp68c1 I01GOp70

A 21m (68' 10") narrowboat can easily turn in Stringside Drain at the head of navigation.

Head of Navigation

River Little Ouse (Brandon Creek)

General

Dimensions I2kGOp4

In the panel listing dimensions for the Little Ouse/Brandon Creek (Gt Ouse to Brandon), the Length should read: 21m (68' 10")

River Great Ouse

Brandon I2kGOp74

There is a obstruction hidden within the soft drooping branches of the willow tree close to the mooring.  Approach to the mooring through these drooping branches requires considerable care.

Brandon Lock I2kGOp74 I01GOp76

The EA have dreged below Brandon Weir so it is now easy to turn a 21m (68' 10") narrowboat below the lock.

Head of Navigation

River Lark

River Great Ouse

Prickwillow I2kGOp80

The Prickwillow Drainage Engine Museum opening hours are subject to change. It was reported as closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays in July 2003.

Isleham Marina I2kGOp10

The list of Toilet Pump-Out Services is incomplete.  Add:
River Lark:

• Isleham Marina, Isleham FTG

Isleham Marina I2kGOp78

The facilities include Diesel, Toilets, Telephone, Water, Gas, Refuse Disposal, Sewage Disposal and Pump-Out, long and short-term Moorings FTG.

Butterfly Boats now operate from the marina. Narrowboat hire added to marina facilities.

The GOBA moorings at the marina have been moved from the weir stream and are now upstream of the lock on the "Marina Island".

Head of Navigation