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IWA Branch
Navigation Authority
Environment Agency
Aqua House, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, PETERBOROUGH, PE2 5ZR
Tel: 01733 371811
Fax: 01733 464892
The river runs from Bedford to King’s Lynn with connections to the river Nene via the Middle Level; the Wash; the rivers Cam, Lark, Wissey and Little Ouse. There are a total of 18 locks along the 111 miles (178.6km) of waterway.
Generally
Length | Beam | Height | Draught |
77ft 8in | 10ft 5in | 6ft 6in | 2ft 6in – 4ft 6in |
23.66m | 3.17m | 1.97m | 0.75m – 1.37m |
Denver Sluice
Length | Beam | Height | Draught |
70ft | 16ft 6in | Dependant on tide | |
21.33m | 5.02m | ||
Little Ouse
Length | Beam | Height | Draught |
Navigation above Brandon Lock Limited to small craft | |||
River Lark
Length | Beam | Height | Draught |
Governed by adjacent rivers | |||
River Wissey
Length | Beam | Height | Draught |
Governed by adjacent rivers | |||
Boaters’ Services
Hire Boat Companies
Bridge Boatyard
Bridge Road, ELY, CB7 4DY
Tel: 01353 663726
Boatyards
Company: Ely Boat Chandlers
Address: 21 Waterside, Ely, Cambs, CB7 4AU
Tel: 01353 663095
Fax: 01353 664514
Website: www.elyboatchandlers.co.uk
Bridge Boatyard
Repairs, emergency call out, diesel, gas, slipway
(See above for contact details)
Priory Marina
Repairs, emergency call out, pump out, diesel, gas, cranage, slipway, chandlery
Priory Marina, Barkers Lane, BEDFORD, MK41 9DJ
Tel: 01234 351931
Hartford Marina
Repairs, pump out, diesel, petrol, gas, slipway, hoist (GRP boats up to 32'), chandlery, new and used boat sales
Banks End, HUNTINGDON, PE28 2AA
Tel: 01480 454677
Riverside Island Marina (River Lark)
Repairs, emergency call out, pump out, diesel, gas, cranage, slipway
1 Kingfisher, Isleham, ELY, CB7 5SL
Tel: 01638 780663
Visitor Attractions
Park Farm, Snettisham
Snettisham, KING’S LYNN, PE31 7NQ
Tel: 01485 542425
Fax: 01485 543503
www.snettishampark.co.uk/home.html
African Violet and Garden Centre
Terrington St Clement, KING’S LYNN, PE34 4PL
Tel: 01553 828374
Fax: 01553 828376
info@africanvioletcentre.ltd.uk
www.africanvioletcentre.ltd.uk
Ely Cathedral
Chapter House, The College, ELY, CB7 4DL
Tel: 01353 667735
Fax: 01353 665658
receptionist@cathedral.ely.anglican.org
www.cathedral.ely.anglican.org
Great Bircham Windmill
Great Bircham, KING’S LYNN, PE31 6SJ
Tel: 01485 578393
Historical Information
Until the 13th century, the river flowed via Upware and Wisbech but then changed its course to come out at King’s Lynn. The river became important for trade and from the 17th century improvements were made to the navigation. At the same time, drainage works were carried out in the area. By the early 20th century, navigation had ceased upstream of St Ives, but the Great Ouse Catchment Board reopened navigation to Godmanchester and then Eaton Socon just before the Second World War. The navigation was reopened to Bedford in 1978, following a campaign led by the Great Ouse Restoration Society, and supported by IWA, with volunteer support from Waterway Recovery Group.
Further Information
For book, maps, guides, DVDs, vidoes and gifts on this waterway click here...
Websites
Great Ouse Boating Association
Local government links
