A narrowboat weekend in Cambridgeshire is perfect for the twitchers and nature lovers! Our narrowboat base at Ely offers easy access to the nearby Fens wetland reserves as well as quaint English villages that date back to medieval times, letting you cruise through central England near the historic city.
Recommended Routes For Weekend Breaks
ELY BASE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
The Black Prince Cambridgeshire canal boat hire base is located in the heart of the Fenland waterways at Ely. From this famous cathedral city, you can cruise the unspoilt waters of the fourth largest river in the UK, the Ouse, to Wicken, plus the River Cam and the Old West River.
Ely to Cambridge Return
Miles: 38
Locks: 3
This is a three-day canal boat holiday from Ely to Wicken Fen and Cambridge is perfect for weekend breaks and holidays, a lovely route for those keen on both wildlife spotting and visiting historic sights.
St Ives and Return
Miles: 45
Locks: 3
This is a 3-night canal boat holiday from Ely to St Ives and back. Your cruise begins at the Black Prince base in the lovely city of Ely, situated about 14 miles from Cambridge and renowned for its magnificent Norman cathedral. It’s a countryside cruise then to St Ives in Cambridgeshire, which is famed for its 15th-century chapel bridge.
Mini Breaks to Remember in Cambridgeshire
A weekend short break in Cambridgeshire starts from our narrowboat hire base in Ely and from here you can explore the river networks in Cambridgeshire including the River Ouse.
This type of holiday is always memorable and with the adventure of being captain of your own narrowboat on a river, the experience just became more interesting!
For lovers of the outdoors, canal boat holidays in Cambridgeshire offer plenty of stunning scenery, the opportunity to do some wildlife watching, explore the beautiful riverside towns and villages visit botanic gardens as well as exploring the university of Cambridge and its college chapels.
Family Weekend Breaks in Cambridgeshire
A narrowboat holiday can offer a fun family weekend break in Cambridgeshire.
Particularly suited to older children and teenagers who want to see Cambridge University and the surrounding region, canal boat breaks in Cambridgeshire offer the opportunity to get fully involved in driving the boat and managing all the aspects of this type of holiday, from casting off in the morning to mooring up for the night. You can also try your hand at a bit of Cambridge punting, if you’re looking to get even more boating experience.
Black Prince also offer family activity packs that children can use to get fully immersed into their canal boat break. These will be particularly useful in Cambridgeshire as there is plenty of wildlife to spot and write about as well as lots of different options for food and drink.
Find out more about hiring a boat from our base in Cambridgeshire – there’s never been a better time to plan Cambridgeshire family weekend breaks!
Spring, Summer and Autumn breaks in Cambridgeshire
Black Prince Holidays offers weekend breaks throughout most of the year, from mid-March to the end of October. This gives you the chance to appreciate the stunning Cambridgeshire scenery whatever the season.
Spring and autumn weekend breaks tend to be popular for quieter waterways, lower prices and fewer tourists in Cambridge city centre, whilst the summer weekend breaks offer more lively canals with the opportunity to be more social on your holiday! We offer weekend short breaks throughout the main summer season, including July and August.
Dog-friendly Weekend Breaks
Black Prince welcomes up to two dogs on your narrowboating weekend away, with the first pet travelling free of charge, so your pooch can be part of the crew!
You just need to remember to bring all your normal dog kit with you, such as the dog bed, lead, poop bags, toys etc.
We also welcome other pets on our pet-friendly boats, please call our team to see if we can cater for yours!
You can read more about our pet-friendly boating holidays here.
Last-Minute Weekend Breaks in Cambridgeshire
There are occasionally last-minute weekend breaks available at our canal boat hire base in Cambridgeshire.
It’s probably best to call our team directly on 01527 575115 if you would like to book five days before travel so that we can ensure you are booked in and receive all the relevant information that you’ll need before travelling.
Starting days for weekend breaks in Cambridgeshire are Fridays and Saturdays, with departure times between 2pm and 5pm. Friday departures are for three nights and you are due back to base on Monday morning by 9.30am, Saturday departures are due back Tuesday morning by 9.30am.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I go for a weekend break in Cambridgeshire?
Apart from the obvious city of Cambridge, the cathedral city of Ely is worth visiting as well as the riverside towns of St Ives (not the Cornwall one!) and St Neots.
Do all your bases offer weekend breaks?
Yes, you can cruise over the weekend from any one of our nine canal boat hire bases across England, Scotland and Wales. Please note that we have both Friday and Saturday departure days.
How many nights is a weekend break?
A weekend break is 3 nights, departing either on a Friday or Saturday (please note that this is dependent on the boats we have available).
Can I travel for just two nights on a weekend?
No, I’m afraid our minimum hire duration is 3 nights.