Navigation – Overview.

Welcome to Navigation on the Middle Level.

The Middle Level Commissioners manage 160km of navigable waterways in the historic Fens of Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, providing a critical connection between the Environment Agency’s River Nene and River Great Ouse navigations. The Nene-Ouse Navigation Link is, at present, the only connection between the Great Ouse and the canal network. Boaters should be aware that, just like the Nene and Great Ouse, water levels can fluctuate in the Middle Level System.

Exploring the Middle Level by water enables you to access the historic Fen towns of Whittlesey, Ramsey & March along with the quaint villages of Benwick, Ramsey Forty Foot, Upwell & Outwell.

From long, straight, embanked, man-made drains, where you get a sense of the human endeavour involved in the drainage of the Fens, to the pretty Well Creek, there’s a real diversity to explore.

As well as having beautiful scenery, this pump-controlled system can provide additional challenges before, during and after times of heavy rainfall. Make time to explore this unique environment and take care to adapt to any changing conditions.

Key Information

NAVIGATION OFFICER’S CONTACT DETAILS

Tel: 01354 653232

Mobile: 07725 134170

Email: kevin.russell@middlelevel.gov.uk

LOCK KEEPERS’ CONTACT NUMBERS

Stanground Lock: 07824 600470

Salter’s Lode Lock: 07398 822986 or 01366 382292

If you are new to boating, a bit rusty or are hiring a boat, in support of their Boaters Safety Handbook, the Canal & River Trust (here) and the Environment Agency have published five short animated videos we encourage you to watch.

Visiting our office

Our office and depot on the Old Nene has a visitor mooring and water point. Whilst our mooring remains a private mooring the section closest to our neighbour, Fox Narrowboats, is now available primarily for visitors to our office to use.

If you wish to use the visitor space on our mooring, please pre-agree this by ringing Kevin Russell our Navigation Officer on 07725 134170 during working hours Monday – Friday. If Kevin is unavailable, please ring the office on 01354 653232. A 30min water stop, if there is space, is fine. Please give us a call and we’ll meet you at the gate to say hello.

Our operational requirements take priority so we may need to temporarily close the space. Any use of the visitor space without being pre-agreed will be considered as unauthorised.

Exploring the Middle Level

We welcome boaters sharing their journeys of exploration beyond our navigation link route, such as Mike Daines and John Revell’s accounts of their adventure on Monks Lode and to Yaxley.

Whether you’re a boater on our system, live alongside our navigable waterways or have an interest in the Middle Level navigation, we’d value your thoughts and feedback.
Please spend 10-15 minutes completing our survey. This will be open until 31st October 2024. Many thanks in advance.
The survey can be found via this link or the QR code below:

MLC Navigation 2024 Survey