Long-term moorings in Ely

Moorings in Ely are on the River Great Ouse, in the Cambridgeshire fens. Long-term berths are at a marina on the Waterside and at another four miles south at Popes Corner. The public riverside in the city is for short visits only.

Moorings in Ely

• Cathedral Marina: at Waterside in the city, run by Ely Marine Ltd. Cruisers and narrowboats berth in basins, on fingers or bankside, and broad beam boats and Dutch barges along the river front.
• Fish and Duck Marina: at Popes Corner, Little Thetford, four miles south of Ely, where the Great Ouse, Cam and Old West meet. It takes boats up to 70ft long and 14ft beam on riverside, pontoon and quayside moorings.
• Ely Riverside: East Cambridgeshire District Council's moorings run from Annesdale to Willow Walk. They are visitor moorings: staying over 48 hours, or returning within 48 hours of leaving, brings a mooring charge.
• Environment Agency moorings: the agency lets long-term moorings on this river system at Denver and at Upware, but not in Ely itself.

On the water

The Environment Agency is the navigation authority for the Great Ouse, as part of Anglian Waterways. A boat must be registered with the agency, insured and hold a Boat Safety Scheme certificate. A gold licence covers both the agency's waters and the Canal & River Trust's.

• Upstream: the River Cam joins at Popes Corner, and the Old West River leads on to Hermitage Lock, which is 30.5m long and 4m wide. Beyond it the river is tidal for a stretch at Earith.
• Downstream: the river is not tidal through Ely. It runs past Littleport to Denver Sluice, where the tidal channel to King's Lynn begins.
• To the canals: a short tidal crossing from Denver to Salters Lode leads to the Middle Level and the River Nene. From the Nene, narrow beam craft can reach the Grand Union Canal by the Northampton Arm.
• Headroom: the agency gives 3.19m at Ely High Bridge and 3.06m at the railway bridge at Ely.
• River Cam: managed by the Cam Conservators, not the agency. Bottisham Lock on the Cam is 29.8m long and 4.5m wide.
• Strong stream advice: the agency issues it for the Great Ouse from Bedford to Earith, upstream of the Ely stretch.