Fourteen boats attended our cruise to draw attention to the value of our neglected waterways and to some of the low bridges which prevent many boats gaining access to large parts of the extensive Middle Levels network. They cruised together along some of the less used parts of the Middle Level system.

The boats gathered in Ramsey Basin on a sunny Good Friday, to moor against some very dilapidated staging that had been provided new about 10 years ago. Unfortunately a dispute between the landowner and the local council has prevented much needed repairs to these moorings. Our branch chairman arrived to be greeted by the boaters who had arrived before him and he then moored in a spot specially reserved for him i.e. where no one else wanted to moor.

Right: boats gathering at the Ramsey moorings.

On Saturday the boats cruised down the Old River Nene to Exhibition Bridge which has very restricted headroom preventing all but one of the boats from passing. Having retreated from Exhibition Bridge the flotilla then turned down New Dyke on towards Holme, which was to be the destination for the day.

Left: not enough room to get under Exhibition Bridge.

The New Dyke takes boaters in to the heart of the Great Fen Project, a long-term plan involving the linking of Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen by connecting and enlarging these two existing vitally important National Nature Reserves. The project will combine nature conservation, tourism, education and local access. The IWA Peterborough Branch is active in promoting waterway access to the site. Many of the boats on the cruise travelled down Monks Lode, a waterway leading to Woodwalton Fen.

Right: the end of navigation at Monks Lode.

The Holme end of the New Dyke was dredged and cleared of rubbish by The Middle Level Commissioners, who also cut back branches overhanging the waterway to facilitate the cruise.

Our branch secretary also spent some time corresponding with a local land owner to get permission to use the a private road to walk to the Admiral Wells pub. His efforts did not go in vain as many boaters made use of this facility and found the walk most rewarding.

Left: the moorings at Holme.

On Sunday the convoy made its way to the Forty Foot Drain where the low Ramsey Hollow Bridge restricts cruising for many craft. The IWA Peterborough Branch have plans to lift this mark 2 Bailey Bridge to open up another circular cruising route to many more boats.

This marked the end of an enjoyable trip through the under developed rural waterways of the Middle Levels which, with a relatively modest financial investment in the improvement of facilities, could offer so much to tourism and the local economy.

Right: not much clearance for boats at Ramsey Hollow Bridge.