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Getting to St Ives by boat

 

  The course of the River Great Ouse  

As can be seen from the sketch map above transit to St Ives from the Grand Union Canal is via the Northampton branch down a flight of 12 locks into the navigable River Nene. Follow this link for navigation notes for this passage available on the IWA website.

From Peterborough one joins East Anglian Waterways and the 'Middle Levels' to navigate to the sluice at Denver to join the River Great Ouse. Follow this link for another description of these waterways. The journey across the Middle Level and up the River Great Ouse to St Ives is relatively simple in comparison to the first part of the journey - it's nearly flat, with only a handful of locks. Ely will be your last chance to visit a supermarket on foot until you get to St Ives but be warned it's at the top of the hill.

Last chances to relax in peace

There's a nice pub, the Fish and Duck, that does good food at the junction of the River Cam and River Great Ouse with plenty of moorings and other services. It hosts a small marina and boat yard. Another good stop further up river is the Pike and Eel Pub, Hotel and Restaurant at Needingworth/Holywell, It too has good moorings and exceptional food. From the Pike and Eel you're only about 45 minutes cruising from St Ives - lock access permitting.

Local services in St Ives for boat owners

There are two marinas/boat yards both with engineering and chandlery services in St Ives, one at each end of the town;

 

L. H. Jones Boatyard is just downstream from St Ives near the Harrison Way Flyover and 100m above St Ives lock both pictured here. Jones Boatyard offer

For any enquiries please contact Jones Boatyard. Details below:

And just upstream from St Ives heading towards Huntingdon is Hartford Marina, however you will have to pass through the Hemingford and Houghton locks to get to it but it is a very pretty short trip. 

Hartford Marina can offer the following services to boat owners:

 

There are two supermarkets in St Ives, Waitrose and Budgens, located close to the Market Place about 1,000m from the festival moorings with smaller shops much closer. Do your food shopping on Saturday or Sunday because Monday the town centre will be taken over by the Bank Holiday Market. Be warned this is a HUGE event in it's own right on normal Bank Holiday Monday's. This year it is likely to be absolutely packed with the two events running concurrently. (The two supermarkets open from 10 to 4 on Sunday)

 

   

 

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