Moorings on the Middle Level Navigations

The Middle Level Navigations are a network of Fenland rivers and drains between the River Nene at Peterborough and the tidal Great Ouse at Salters Lode. Boats enter from the Nene at Stanground and from the Ouse through Salters Lode Lock, and the system passes March, Whittlesey, Benwick, Ramsey, Outwell and Upwell. Well Creek, through Outwell and Upwell, is the main route for boats crossing between the two rivers.

The Middle Level Commissioners manage about 120 miles of waterway, of which around 100 miles is navigable, with six main locks and more than 100 pumping stations. Low bridges limit headroom in places and weed can hold boats up. Low water often stops passage between Horseway Sluice and Welches Dam, where the lock was closed as unsafe in 2006. In the same year a Bailey bridge raised at Ramsey Hollow gave 3 feet more headroom and opened a 33 mile cruising ring on the Levels.

Moorings on the Middle Level Navigations include March Marina, the base of Fox Narrowboats, on the Old River Nene at Westry beside March, and visitor moorings in the town run by Fenland District Council. There are also nine designated rural moorings across the system, which are 24 hour stops with mooring posts along the bank.