In 2015 I bought a kayak after spending too much money hiring them on a regular basis (£10.50 an hour!!) and started spending time on the local river-ways enjoying the piece and quiet.
This page is where I keep a note of places I have launched from so I can go there again. For some reason some of the links aren’t clickable, but the links still work if you copy and past them into your address bar.
We generally paddle up river first so that it’s easier on the way back, unless there’s somewhere else to finish in which case I’ll try and remember to put the finish point too.
Don’t forget: paddle on the right (unless the big signs tell you otherwise).
— Last Updated May 2021
Lammas Land Carpark, Driftway, Cambridge
https://goo.gl/maps/wYuYKHSqknu
– Upstream: turn right.
– The carpark is always full during the weekend and summer holidays. Best to get there early morning or late afternoon.
– Access the river from the far left corner of the car park when you enter.
– I have been on an easy night paddle from here. Parking closes at 10pm.
Chain Road, Over
https://goo.gl/maps/WYojKRVkJqD2
– Upstream: turn left.
– Park right at the end of the road. Plenty of parking, a nice little slipway, and lots of grass to picnic/BBQ/chill out.
– We practiced (tried learning) how to roll for the first time here. The river bed is very muddy with lots of plant life.
Baits Bite Lock, Fen Road, Milton
https://goo.gl/maps/c3VxX8i8A442
– Upstream: turn right.
– You can’t park at the actual lock, but there’s room for parking at the end of Fen Road which is a few minutes walk/paddle from the lock itself.
– Approx 1 hour gentle paddle to The Plough Pub in Fen Ditton. Easy to get in/out at the back of the pub, plenty of room.
– Apparently it’s not safe to leave your car there overnight.
Bannold Road, Waterbeach
https://goo.gl/maps/QfrZ9nmW3Nw
– Upstream: turn right (via a left u-turn).
– Park right at the bottom of the road, outside the Toll House and get in the water from there (unless you want to portage two narrow bridges, not recommended on your own).
– You’ll need to go left first and then double back to get to the lock itself, which is pretty high on the upstream side but doable.
The Bridge Pub, Clayhithe Road, Waterbeach
https://goo.gl/maps/94AAmDjQoo22
– Upstream: turn right.
– Easy entry from the back of the pub, however if you’re not going to use the pub itself then there is a small parking area across the road from the entrance, which then has a short path down to a mooring area (saves carrying across the road).
Five Miles From Anywhere (Pub), Old School Ln, Upware
https://goo.gl/maps/Uj6b8PDXt732
– Upstream: turn left.
– Lots of parking, with a nice little slipway in the carpark too.
– The right fork almost immediately takes you towards Cambridge.
Annesdale, Ely
https://goo.gl/maps/6YuJPCHo99cgwgxF8
Fish and Duck Marina, Ely
https://goo.gl/maps/KNoW44K5xuVFiRwB8
Lazy Otter (Pub), Cambridge Rd, Stretham
https://goo.gl/maps/eUYHaDmW1u9ME4Vj9
Isleham Marina, Ely
https://goo.gl/maps/JFvs1K26di77QWtz5