River Nene, Middle Levels, the Great Ouse and Cam

[gazza]

levels look ok for cruising at the mo - well, from the car on the return home from the superb dara o' brian at northampton derngate.

 

will try for a short run downstream today, god knows if the weather fairy will be smilling on us though

 

edited due to large intake of failing down water

Edited March 24, 2008 by gazza

[ditch paddler]

Today I have moved to Gayton. Went into Northampton to have a look and the SSA sign is still up on Beckett's Park Lock no.1. A man from another boat gave me the number of someone called Roy Smith who is apparently the river inspector. I'm going to give him a ring in the morning.

Hi chevetter, where are you trying to get to once on the nene, i believe i spoke to you briefly today did you mov e your boat to tthe other side of the junction or am i mistaken.

[Chevetter]

Hi chevetter, where are you trying to get to once on the nene, i believe i spoke to you briefly today did you mov e your boat to tthe other side of the junction or am i mistaken.

 

Not today mate, I moved my boat on friday and then got some Diesel etc. on saturday from the marina.

 

Good news by the way, just got a call from the EA recorded info line thing. Strong Stream advice has officially been lifted. Fact!

[gazza]

due to circumstances beyond my control, no boating today

 

spent my time bailing out my brothers boat, odd jobs round the house and generaly doing stuff that didnt envolve having fun.

 

the SSA sign and flag was still up at 1 pm at lower ringstead, the river did look perfectly navigable however.

 

so that was the first bank holiday of the year and didnt manage to mive off the mooring, oh well! will have to try again this weekend coming.

[bigcol]

Hi all

 

Please may i ask for some info re

 

I have a 10 ft beam narrow boat, is it posible to get fron the Grand union to the river nene.

 

Im asking as i know that there is a marina there close to where my daughters live.

 

I would be grateful to hear from some one whos done the trip.

 

I have been told conflicting details,

 

I was told that the locks are narrow, but have been told that their are wilder new locks installed

 

 

 

Col many thanks

[MoominPapa]

Hi all

 

Please may i ask for some info re

 

I have a 10 ft beam narrow boat, is it posible to get fron the Grand union to the river nene.

The Northampton Arm which takes you from the GU to the Nene has narrow locks (17 of them). The only ways to get a 10ft beam boat to the Nene from the the GU would involve the Thames, North Sea and Nene outfall, , the Trent, Witham and the Wash, or two cranes and a lorry.

 

I suspect the new, wider locks which are causing confusion would be the ones on the yet-to-be-built Bedford and Milton Keynes link. If that were built, it would be possible to take a wide boat from the GU onto the Great Ouse and then via the Middle-Levels to the Nene. The link is not yet built, there is no date set for its completion and it may never happen, so I wouldn't make any plans.

 

MP.

 

Edited to add route through LIncs and the wash.

Edited January 31, 2009 by MoominPapa

[PeterScott]

Super trip. Things you need, some of which have been mentioned

EA licence for the Nene and G Ouse

EA key to unlock the lock locks

Middle Level Windlass (lockkeeper at Stanground sells them)

Oomph (engine) for the tidal bit Salter's Lode to Denver

Oomph (arm) for the Nene manual locks

Not to be disappointed at not being allowed through Jesus Lock Cambridge

Join GOBA for extra mooring possibilities on the Great Ouse, maybe

Contingency Time for the day's notice at Stanground and the tide at Salter's Lode

The Plank

 

We enjoyed the Cut-Off channel at Denver (in 2007 to the mudpool of StIves National), but it doesn't actually go anywhere very interesting.

Bedford is fun, too if you are low enough for the bridges.

 

Regards

PeterScott

[PaddingtonBear]

Super trip it might be but closer reading of the specification is required before setting out.

[Neil TNC]

Super trip. Things you need, some of which have been mentioned

EA licence for the Nene and G Ouse

EA key to unlock the lock locks

Middle Level Windlass (lockkeeper at Stanground sells them)

Oomph (engine) for the tidal bit Salter's Lode to Denver

Oomph (arm) for the Nene manual locks

Not to be disappointed at not being allowed through Jesus Lock Cambridge

Join GOBA for extra mooring possibilities on the Great Ouse, maybe

Contingency Time for the day's notice at Stanground and the tide at Salter's Lode

The Plank

 

We enjoyed the Cut-Off channel at Denver (in 2007 to the mudpool of StIves National), but it doesn't actually go anywhere very interesting.

Bedford is fun, too if you are low enough for the bridges.

 

Regards

PeterScott

 

If you moor on The River Cam over winter you can navigate the Backs (through and above Jesus Lock) during the winter. I did it in a TNC members boat, back in 2001:

http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_01/01Backs.html

 

It states this is still allowed in the Cam Consvervators Boat Regisration notes:

http://www.camconservators.co.uk/

 

Motorised vessels are restricted from navigating upstream of Jesus Lock from 1st April to 31st October inclusive each year. This is to ensure safety for the large number of people using small craft such as punts on the ‘middle’ river (the Backs) during the summer months. Between 1st November and 31st March motorised vessels may navigate upstream above Jesus Lock. The gates are Jesus Lock are operated manually and a windlass is secured to the slacker. Please contact the River Bailiff if you require assistance or experience problems locking through. Headroom clearance along the Backs is restricted and the minimum headroom is 2.08 m or 6 feet 9 inches under Kitchen Bridge, St John’s College).

[FadeToScarlet]

We can make 1 metre 70 with the cratch down and the roof cleared... looks like I might get a punt and a tape measure before the first of april to sound out the route.

 

It would give the Scudamores people a bit of a shock.

[Neil TNC]

We can make 1 metre 70 with the cratch down and the roof cleared... looks like I might get a punt and a tape measure before the first of april to sound out the route.

 

It would give the Scudamores people a bit of a shock.

 

Go for it!

We gave some of the Scudamores punts a bit of a "shock" as they were jam packed under the last bridge.

I don't think it came out in my cr@p trip report, but in reality you will find few oportunities to do the Backs with just the right water level. The Cam Conservators keep the level lowered during the winter to allow for floods. NB Frogmoore II had higher airdraught than Earnest in normal cratchless trim (1.75m), so you should find a time with the conditions OK.

[MoominPapa]

The Cam Conservators keep the level lowered during the winter to allow for floods.

It's certainly true that the levels are lowered for chunks of time during the winter. I've always believed that this was to allow maintenance work on the many bridges and college buildings whose feet are in the water, and to facilitate removal of dead bikes and supermarket trolleys. (This being Cambridge, there are always many more of the former.)

 

 

MP.

 

 

We can make 1 metre 70 with the cratch down and the roof cleared... looks like I might get a punt and a tape measure before the first of april to sound out the route.

 

It would give the Scudamores people a bit of a shock.

 

Oooh! Shout if you want some crew. Melaleuca would fit under the bridges but I very much doubt we'd find enough deep-enough water to wind at the mill.

 

MP.

[FadeToScarlet]

Oooh! Shout if you want some crew. Melaleuca would fit under the bridges but I very much doubt we'd find enough deep-enough water to wind at the mill.

 

MP.

 

I should say we can make 1.70 with PaddingtonBear standing in the bows. Maybe I should just pile some coal in instead...

 

I've got a hankering to punt the boat along, too. Moor up next to my college.

[NB Willawaw]

We were in Cambridge back in the summer. We love the Fens and have been here quite a while.

 

I still wistfully look at the charts of the Wash and fancy a run across into Lincolnshire.

The Nene and Northampton don't appeal much on the return trip.

 

Wrong time of year for open water and a need to be back on the GU probably means it won't happen.

 

There's no harm dreaming though - I even considered paying one of the fishing boats to escort us across.

Edited February 2, 2009 by NB Willawaw

[bastonjock]

We were in Cambridge back in the summer. We love the Fens and have been here quite a while.

 

I still wistfully look at the charts of the Wash and fancy a run across into Lincolnshire.

The Nene and Northampton don't appeal much on the return trip.

 

Wrong time of year for open water and a need to be back on the GU probably means it won't happen.

 

There's no harm dreaming though - I even considered paying one of the fishing boats to escort us across.

 

i intend to do arun or two down the nene and out to the wash this year and even around to cambridge(as long as i can get under those bridges)

 

if you plan to do the wash accross to the witham,let me know,i can run with you as a safety boat as long as you dont mind being chapperoned by a plastic boat

 

my boat is cat C,ive had it out in the N sea up to a Force 7

[PaddingtonBear]

What a great offer, it is just a shame that we have just decided to go the other way(!) as we are going to the working boat rally in Braunston at the end of June and then will go up North from there.

 

The big problem on the Nene and to a lesser extent the Ouse is AIR DRAFT and even a slight rise in level effects the 'target' at many of the low bridges. The water level rises very quickly, sometimes overnight, effected by the weather over a wide area. The EA are very helpful and have a superb supervisor who is available for advice 7 days a week. It helps greatly if you have a good deep draft, as it does in most cases.

The Nene is very boring and in some places very, very ugly, esp. the mile upon mile of the massive chav. camp(s), replete with St Georges flags, drug dealers dogs and lag#r swilling fat people(?) dripping with cheap gold, starring threateningly as you pass.

[starman]

The Nene is very boring and in some places very, very ugly, esp. the mile upon mile of the massive chav. camp(s), replete with St Georges flags, drug dealers dogs and lag#r swilling fat people(?) dripping with cheap gold, starring threateningly as you pass.

 

You must be a Bear with a sore head this morning, Paddington. The Nene isn't that bad - in fact the Nene valley through Fotheringhay, Wadenhoe, Elton, Oundle etc is very beautiful and the chav camps no worse than some dodgy canal areas. The locks are tiresome, agreed, and the lack of overnight moorings even more so. The Wash trip sounds a good adventurous alternative, though - look forward to hearing more about it.

[bastonjock]

what is the minimum air draught on the middle level? I can get under the Bridge at Barnwell and through the arch at Fortheringhay,i have promised the wife that i will do more River boating this year,she is not to fond of the sea.

 

My air draught is more restrictive than my keel,i draw 18 inches with the keel up and motor down,my other alternative is to head downstream to sutton,then head back up the great Ouze

 

Ive only been on the Nene so far and was under the impression that all of the systems had those Locks or is it just that the nene Guilotines are a particular PITA.I bought my boat sept 2007 and after getting th saftey cert,licence etc,i took it up and down the nene a few times from Peterborough to Barnwell.I want to explore further afield this year,one of my plans is to do the nene,wash,norfolk coast and into the broads.

[nbfiresprite]

what is the minimum air draught on the middle level? I can get under the Bridge at Barnwell and through the arch at Fortheringhay,i have promised the wife that i will do more River boating this year,she is not to fond of the sea.

 

About 6 foot 6 inches (April to Oct) depending on the water level. Water levels are lower in the winter.

Two bridges to watch out for. Five bells on Well Creek, its lower than it looks. And the first bridge passed the junction on the route to Benwick and Ramsey.

 

Firesprite

Middle Levels

[Athy]

Do remove your stove chimney when going under the church (or Five Bells) bridge at Upwell; it is lower at the church end than at the other end. Our chimney struck sparks off the roof of the bridge as we got towards the church end, and was finally disloged, though thankfully on to the boat roof and not into the water! One of the bridges in Nordelph (the first one you come to from the Outwell end, from memory) is just as low, or almost.

[PaddingtonBear]

None of them are as low as Osney Bridge with the Thames in full flood . Apparently the 'real men' - well Earnest and The TNC (good name for a band?) reckon that to get absolutely everywhere on the Middle Levels your airdraft should be no more than 1.52m but perhaps that was before they raised Ramsey Hollow bridge - in fact my boat got under before it was raised.

Edited March 20, 2009 by PaddingtonBear

[nbfiresprite]

None of them are as low as Osney Bridge with the Thames in full flood . Apparently the 'real men' - well Earnest and The TNC (good name for a band?) reckon that to get absolutely everywhere on the Middle Levels your airdraft should be no more than 1.52m but perhaps that was before they raised Ramsey Hollow bridge - in fact my boat got under before it was raised.

 

Was that Winter or Summer?

 

Water levels are eighteen inchs lower in winter.

 

Firesprite

Middle Levels

[ditchcrawler]

Was that Winter or Summer?

 

Water levels are eighteen inchs lower in winter.

 

Firesprite

Middle Levels

I understand that when they took President through last year they adjusted the water levels for them.

[tillergirl]

Hi Chevetter - we did the middle levels, gt ouse and cam last summer and we really enjoyed it. No problems at Salters lode despite all the stories we'd heard.

 

You can read the blog of the trip at: http://tillergirlandco.blogspot.com/

 

And for the record - Ely is absolutely beautiful!!!!

 

We've promised ourselves a return trip when we get our own boat.

[MoominPapa]

I understand that when they took President through last year they adjusted the water levels for them.

King's Dyke was adjusted upwards to get them round the Briggate bend. Well creek must have been at the maximum level where it overflows the gates at Marmont Priory lock, otherwise they'd never have got over the shallow bits. (I think I read that in a few places a tow from a car traveling along Upwell high street was needed, Eeek!)

 

MP.