Easy Trail: Please be aware that the grading of this trail was set according to normal water levels and conditions. Weather and
water level/conditions can change the nature of trail within a short space of time so please ensure you check both of these before
heading out.
Route Summary
The River Cam rises at Ashwell in Hertfordshire and
meanders to Cambridge, flows along the ‘Backs’ past the
colleges and then on to join the Ely Ouse and thus on to
Denver Sluice. It is regularly canoed from Hauxton and is
a statutory navigation from Byron’s Pool.
These notes
describe a day’s exploration downstream from
Cambridge to Ely, starting from Chesterton, downriver
from the centre, and in the north-east area of the city.
When planning a visit to these waters it is advisable to
check the events calendar for the major rowing regattas
in the reaches between Chesterton and Baits Bite Lock.
Events and other details for this waterway are listed athttp://www.camconservancy.org/. Please comply with
instructions from race marshals; they will ask you to
paddle between races. However the section is best
avoided during the larger race meetings (e.g. the Bumps)
Start Directions
Small (free) Car Park adjacent to the (now closed) Penny
Ferry pub in Fen Road, Chesterton, TL 470670 (CB4 1TX)
Finish Directions
Willow Walk, Ely – TL 545799 (CB7 4AT)
Distance: 13 miles
Approximate Time: 4-5 Hours
The time has been estimated based on you travelling 3 – 5mph
(a leisurely pace using a recreational type of boat).
Type of Trail: One Way
Waterways Travelled: River Cam and River Great
Ouse
Type of Water: River Navigation
Portages and Locks: There are two locks to portage
Nearest Town: Cambridge
Start: Fen Road, Chesterton, TL 470670 (CB4 1TX)
Finish: Willow Walk, Ely – TL 545799 (CB7 4AT)
O.S. Sheets: Landranger No. 154 – Cambridge and
Newmarket
Licence Information: A licence is required to paddle
this waterway. See full details in Useful Information
below
Local Facilities: Plenty of pubs enroute
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Description
Start at Fen Road – next to the Penny Ferry, and set off left – downstream. You can either paddle as far as you feel able
or turn round, or you could go right through to Ely in the day, allowing 6- 8 hours for the journey. Keep to the proper side
of the river (right) to avoid collision with rowing boats. After just over a mile is Long Reach’, the location of The Bumps, a
curious rowing tradition where a pursuing ‘eight’ has to ‘bump’ the boat in front to move up a place on the race ladder.
At the ‘Plough’ you need to change sides on the river and paddle on the left side; all about visibility round the bend for
rowers. Baits Bite Lock (1.6 miles) – an easy portage on the left bank. ‘The Bridge’, Clayhithe (2.5 miles) offers very good
food – the best on the river past the ‘Bridge’, look out for sailing dinghies at weekends; this is the Cam sailing club’s reach.
At Bottisham Lock, 3.2 miles, portage right. This is a horrible lock side made of giant cheese (or canoe) grater and small
walls and railings make the portage even trickier. It is good to help one another here!
Once past the lock the Environment Agency is the navigation authority. Bottisham Lode goes off on the right soon after;
if you want to explore the Lodes, they are all canoeable, but you will need the OS map to find your way. At 4.4 miles,
Swaffham Lode leaves on the right. The Lodes are believed to be Roman in origin, dug for barge transport as there were
few roads in the Fens. Reach Lode and the ‘Five Miles from Anywhere and No Hurry’ public house is at 6 miles on the
right bank, with good landing and worth a visit.
Popes Corner is at 10 miles and here the Cam joins the River Great Ouse. On the corner is the ‘Fish and Duck’, which used
to be an ideal lunch stop on the way to Ely and a good place to watch cruisers failing to make the tight turn from the
Ouse into the Cam, but is now closed and being rebuilt. Turn left here onto the Old West River and you’ll wind your way
towards Huntingdon – another day! Carry straight on towards Ely along a fairly featureless and exposed section of
Fenland River. Ely Cathedral is on the horizon for a long time and eventually gets closer. As you enter the town at 13
miles is ‘The Maltings’ restaurant. Pleasant, but our pub destination is just on the left, ‘The Cutter’.
Ely Waterside is busy with cruisers and rowing clubs; there is a slipway on Waterside (river left) but it is always foul with
swan droppings and parking is limited, hence the suggestion to carry on through the city to Willow Walk, where you left
the car!
Useful Information
The waterways in this trail are managed by Canal and Rivers Trust and require paddlers to hold a licence. If you are an
existing British Canoeing member the good news is that your membership includes an annual licence for the waterways
covered within this trail – please ensure you take your membership card with you on the water as this acts as your
licence, if stopped with no licence, you will be at risk of being fined.
You can buy a licence directly from Canal and Rivers Trust for this waterway or by becoming a British Canoeing member
you’ll have a licence to cover you for a whole year. A British Canoeing membership gives you a whole range of benefits
including licenses to paddle on 4500km of Britain’s waterways and Civil Liability Insurance, worth up to £10 Million. If you
are planning to paddle regularly this will save you great deal of money and hassle alongside having peace of mind. For
more information on British Canoeing membership please click here
There are many tourist attractions in and around the Cambridge area. If you fancy a weekend canoeing in Cambridge,
then there is a canoeist friendly bed and breakfast very close to the launch area in Fen Road.
Further useful information can be found on the following websites:
http://www.camconservators.co.uk/jesuslock.html
http://www.rupertbrooke.com/
http://www.visitcambridge.org/things-to-do/byrons-pool-local-nature-reserve-p508261
http://www.cucbc.org/bumps
http://www.visitcambridge.org/VisitCambridge/Home.aspx
http://www.visitgreatouse.co.uk/
http://www.waterscape.com/canals-and-rivers/river-cam
http://www.ely.org.uk/
CANOEING SAFETY ADVICE
Spending an afternoon or day canoeing on a Canoe Trail can be a fun way to experience nature, help you to stay fit and
healthy and enjoy spending time with friends and family. It can also be a dangerous journey, if appropriate safety
guidelines are overlooked. To help make sure you remain safe at all times, read on to see our canoeing safety advice
guidelines.
Wear appropriate clothing
Always wear shoes. Rocks, rough terrain and river beds present serious hazards to boaters without the proper attire.
Nearly 90% of all boating injuries are attributed to lack of proper footwear. Other canoe safe clothing includes hats,
gloves, additional dry clothing, and layered items which can easily be removed. Take or wear a windproof top and
course always wear a buoyancy aid – for children make sure the crotch straps are used.
Be sure to:
- Know the weather forecast and check the water conditions before you set out canoeing. There is an Environment
Agency website where information concerning river levels can be found.
We recommend checking this before heading out as the river levels can rise
and fall quite quickly in wet or dry conditions. - Observe navigation rules for this waterway.
- Check to see if there are any events on the waterways when you wish to
travel. - Check that your equipment is well maintained and ready for the water.
- Check that your boat has the required buoyancy to keep it afloat in the
event of a capsize
ALWAYS be certain to let others know where you’re going and when you’re
expected to return.
MAKE SURE that the journey you plan