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Three narrow boats within a lock on the river Great Ouse. Boaters are stood chatting while waiting.

Ancholme   |   Black Sluice   |   Great Ouse   |   Nene   |   Stour   |   Welland & Glen

Great Ouse Navigation

The River Great Ouse and its tributaries, the Rivers Cam, Lark, Little Ouse and Wissey provide approximately 158 miles/255 km of navigable waterway.

The upper reaches of this river flow through some of the most peaceful and unspoilt waterway locations in Britain, offering a wide range of natural and historical sites and pretty rural towns to visit.  The lower reaches take boaters through the characteristic Fenland landscape with a skyline dominated by Ely Cathedral.

There are many sites of interest to visit along the river, including the Stretham Pump, Wicken Fen and the Pumping Engine Museum at Prickwillow.  The Ouse Washes is a site of special value to nature conservation, and Welney Wildfowl Trust is one of the best places to view wildfowl all year round./255 km of navigable waterway.

A map showing the river system of the Great Ouse and tributaries.
Two narrow boats moored with green grass bank and very blue sky above.
Two Waterways patrol boats moored next to each other within a boat yard.
Looking directly up the Ely Ouse towards the building within the city of Ely
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