Guidance

Information for boaters on the River Great Ouse

River Great Ouse: bridge heights, locks, overhead power lines and facilities.

From:
Environment Agency
Published
1 April 2014
Last updated
26 April 2022 β€” See all updates

The River Great Ouse and its tributaries, the Rivers Cam, Lark, Little Ouse, and Wissey provide approximately 255 kilometres of navigable waterway.

Visit the Inland Waterways Association website to see the .

Read the Anglian navigation byelaws before using the waterway.

River Great Ouse bridge heights

On a river or waterway it is the person in charge of the boat (boat master) responsibility to ensure the boat can pass safely through the bridge. Sometimes, for example with bridge arches the clearance may be uneven and greater at some points across the channel than others. We usually state typical heights of the arches of bridges. These heights are usually the ones with the greatest clearance but other parts of the bridge may have much lower clearance.

Usually headroom, the space between the roof of the bridge and the rivers surface, is limited gauge boards are sometimes present. Theses boards are found up and down the stream of the bridge to show the space available, these should be used. The boat master should know if the height of their boat is above the waterline. Remember to measure this to the boats highest point which may include; masts, chimneys or aerials for example.

Useful aids such as β€˜tell tales’ can also be purchased from chandlers or boat shops. These are an extendable, usually flexible pole that can be mounted to the bow and furthest forward point of a boat. You also need to set the highest point of the boat with a marker at the tip. This type of device can then give a useful indication to the boat master under any low structures over the river if their boat will fit beneath. You must approach with extreme caution and dead slow taking account of any flow that may be naturally present in the waterway for this to work. Such aids may not offer much assistance if approaching low bridges or structures from the upstream side under any degree of river flow. It is essential for safety that boat masters are satisfied there are no headroom issues. Especially if on the river in any heightened level or flow conditions such as after periods of rainfall.

Water levels especially on rivers when compared to canals do go up and down, sometimes significantly. The information provided on bridge heights is provided as an indicative guide only and available headroom may be significantly less or sometimes more than what is stated. It is the boat masters responsibility to ensure the safety of their boat and those on board at all times. Information provided is intended as guidance and should be read in conjunction with the gov.uk Terms and Conditions information.

Bedford Ouse: Bedford to Hermitage

Location Headway (metres) Headway (feet)
Kempston Mill Vehicular Track Footbridge Awaiting Data
Queens Park Footbridge Awaiting Data
Mainline Railway Bridge Awaiting Data
Mainline Railway Bridge II Awaiting Data
Footbridge between railways bridges Awaiting Data
Branch Line Railway Bridge Awaiting Data
Prebend Street Road Bridge Awaiting Data
Charter Walk / St Mary’s Embankment Footbridge 3.0 9’9”
St Mary’s Street Road Bridge Awaiting Data
Suspension Bridge Footbridge Awaiting Data
Butterfly or Renaissance Footbridge Awaiting Data
Bedford Lock Footbridge 2.38 7’9”
Engineers Footbridge 2.1 7’0”
Road Bridge 2.7 8’10”
Footbridge 2.9 9’6”
Old Railway Footbridge 2.3 7’6”
Road and Pipe Bridge 2.7 8’10”
Sewage Works Bridge 2.6 8’8”
Railway Bridge 2.6 8’8”
A421 Road Bridge 6.2 20’4”
Footbridge 4.4 14’5”
Road Bridge (GT Barford) 3.0 9’9”
Footbridge 4.5 14’9”
Tempsford Old Road Bridge 3.1 10’1”
Tempsford New Road Bridge 3.7 12’
A428 Road Bridge 6.1 20’
Eaton Socon Lock Footbridge 2.7 9’
St Neots Town Bridge 2.8 9’2”
St Neots Paper Mill Bridge (B1041 Road Bridge) 2.9 9’5”
Offord Lock Bridge 2.5 8’1”
Railway Bridge 4.8 15’9”
A14 Road Bridge 5.5 18”
Huntingdon Bridge 3.4 11’2”
Hemingford Lock Bridge 2.7 8’10”
St Ives Town Bridge 2.7 8’10”
A1096 Road Bridge 4.1 13’5”
Rail Bridge 3.8 12’5”
Hermitage Lock 3.4 11’1”

Old West: Popes Corner to Hermitage Lock

Location Headway (metres) Headway (feet)
Railway Bridge 3.6 11’9”
Wicken Road Bridge 3.2 10’6”
Green End Road Bridge 3.5 11’5”
Lazy Otter Road Bridge 3.2 10’6”
Cambridge A10 Bridge 3 9’10”
Twentypence Road Bridge 3.3 10’8”
Aldreth High Bridge 4 13’1”
Willingham Flat Bridge 3 9’10”
Hermitage Lock Road Bridge 3.4 11’1”

Ely Ouse

Location Headway (metres) Headway (feet)
Ten Mile Rail Bridge 4 13’1”
Hilgay Road Bridge 4 13’1”
Littleport A10 Road Bridge 3.4 11’1”
Sandhills Road Bridge 3.45 11’3”
Queen Adelaide Road Bridge 3.16 10’4”
Queen Adelaide Rail Bridge - -
Potters Road Bridge 3.4 11’1”
Potters Foot Bridge 3.5 11’4”
Railway Bridge d\s of Ely, Willow Walk 3.1 10’1”
Loveys Road Bridge 3.25 10’8”
Railway Bridge u\s at Ely 3.06 10’
Ely High Bridge 3.19 10’5”
Newmarket Railway Bridge 3.15 10’4”

River Cam: Popes Corner to Jesus Lock

Location Headway (metres) Headway (feet)
Dimmocks Cote Road Bridge 3.7 12’1”
Dimmocks Cote Road Bridge 3.1 10’2”
Clayhithe Road Bridge 3.4 11’1”
Baitsbite Lock 3 9’10”
A14 Road bridge 4.9 16’
Stourbridge Footbridge 3.2 10’6”
Elizabeth Road Bridge 4.9 16’
Midsummer Common Foot Bridges x2 3 9’10”
Victoria Road Bridge 3.2 10’6”
Jesus Lock 4 13’1”

The Lodes

Location Headway (metres) Headway (feet)
Upware Lock and Road Bridge, Reach Lode 2.7 8’10”
Wicken Lode Foot Bridge 2.7 8’10”
High Bridge, Burwell Lode 2.7 8’10”
The Anchor Road bridge, Burwell 2.5 8’2”

River Lark: Ely Ouse to Judes Ferry

Location Headway (metres) Headway (feet)
Branch Bridge 3.4 11’1”
Railway Bridge, Prickwillow 2.6 8’6”
Prickwillow Road Bridge 2.6 8’6”
Isleham Lock 2.65 8’69”
Judes Ferry 3.2 10’6”

Little Ouse: Ely Ouse to Brandon

Location Headway (metres) Headway (feet)
Brandon Creek A10 Road Bridge 3.1 10’2”
Little Ouse Village Road Bridge 3.1 10’2”
Redmere Farm Road Bridge 3 9’10”
Hockwold Sluice 3 9’10”
Railway Bridge d\s Brandon 2.7 8’10”
Brandon Lock 2 6’6”

River Wissey: Ely Ouse to Whittington

Location Headway (metres) Headway (feet)
Railway Bridge 2.7 8’10”
Hilgay A10 Road Bridge 2.6 8’6”
Hilgay Old Road Bridge 2.6 8’6”
Wissington Foot Bridge 3 9’10”
Wissington Beet Factory Pipe Bridge 3.2 10’6”
Wissington Beet Factory Old Road Bridge 3.5 11’5”
Wissington Beet Factory New Road Bridge 4 13’1”
Stoke Ferry Sluice 3 9’10”
Stoke Ferry Road Bridge 2.5 8’2”
Whittington Road Bridge 2.9 9’6”

River Great Ouse locks

There are 22 locks on the River Great Ouse and its tributaries.

Lock dimensions

Name Lock length (metres) Lock length (feet) Lock width (metres) Lock width (feet) Lock depth (metres) Lock depth (feet) Lock headroom (metres)
Bedford lock 29.7 97’ 5” 3.3 10’ 9” 1.1 3’ 7” 2.05
Cardington lock 28.5 93’ 6” 3.11 10’ 1” 1.15 3’ 9” 2.75
Castle Mills lock 29.5 96’ 9” 4 13’ 1” 1.2 3’ 11” 4.3
Willington lock 29.5 96’ 9 4 13’ 9” 1.3 4’ 3” -
Great Barford lock 29.5 96’9” 4 13’ 1” 1.2 3’ 11” 4.55
Roxton lock 26 85’ 4” 4 13’1” 1.15 3’ 9” 2.75
Eaton Socon lock 31.5 103’ 4” 3.3 10’ 9” 1.6 5’ 2” 2.7
St Neots lock 32.9 177’ 1” 3.3 14’ 1” 1.05 3’ 11” 3.2
Offord lock 30.5 100’ 3.4 11’ 1” 1.2 3’ 11” 2.5
Brampton lock 31.7 104’ 3.4 11’ 1” 1.45 4’ 9” 2.8
Godmanchester lock 30.5 100’ 4 13’1” 1.1 3’ 5” 2.75
Houghton Lock 37.5 90’ 3” 3.65 11’ 11” 1.5 4’ 11” 2.75
Hemingford lock 28 91’ 10” 3.85 12’ 7” 1.5 4’ 11” -
St Ives lock 31.3 102’8” 3.35 10’ 11” 1.5 4’ 11” -
Brownshill lock 30 98’ 4 13’ 1” 1.5 4’ 11” 3
Hermitage lock 30.5 100’ 4 13’1” 1.5 4’ 11” 2.75
Bottisham lock 29.8 97’ 7” 4.5 14’ 7” 1.5 4’ 11” -
Upware lock 18.7 61’ 3” 4.3 14’ 1” 1.3 4’ 2” -
Isleham lock 26.8 87’9” 4.55 14’ 9” 1 3’ 2” -
Brandon lock 12.4 40’ 6” 3.7 12’ 1” 1.4 4’ 5” -
Denver lock 39.5 96’ 7” 5.4 17’ 7” 2.04 6’ 6” -
Relief channel lock 30 98’ 4” 4.6 15’ 2 6’ 5” 2.75
Jesus lock* 32 104’ 9” 3 9’ 8” 1.4 4’ 5” -
Baits bite lock* 32 104’9” 4.3 14’ 1” 1.2 3’ 9” -

Distances between locks

Name Distance to next lock downstream (kilometres) Distance to next lock downstream (miles) Cruising time to next lock downstream (minutes) Facilities
Bedford lock 5 3.1 45 -
Cardington lock 2 1.24 30 -
Castle Mills lock 4.5 2.79 40 -
Willington lock 1.5 0.93 25 -
Great Barford lock 3 1.86 35 water tap
Roxton lock 8 4.97 1hr 30 -
Eaton Socon lock 3.2 1.99 40 -
St Neots lock 6.5 4.04 1hr -
Offord lock 3 1.86 35 refuse disposal
Brampton lock 2 1.24 30 -
Godmanchester lock 6 3.73 50 -
Houghton Lock 2.5 1.75 30 -
Hemingford lock 3 1.86 35 -
St Ives lock 8 4.97 1hr 30 refuse disposal
Brownshill lock 3.5 2.17 40 -
Hermitage lock 23 14.29 4hr 10 refuse disposal, toilets, showers, water tap, lock keeper
Bottisham lock 15 9.32 1hr 30 -
Upware lock 4.6 2.86 60 -
Isleham lock 16 9.94 2hr 30 -
Brandon lock 22 13.67 4hr -
Denver lock and Complex 18 11.18 4hr pump out, refuse disposal, Elsan disposal, water tap, toilets, slipway, lock keeper
Jesus lock* 25 15.53 3hr pump out, refuse disposal, water tap
Baits bite lock* 21 13.05 2hr 15 -

*Jesus lock and Baits bite lock are managed by .

Speed limits

All speed limits are indicated on the River Great Ouse and its tributaries by signage.

Speed limits on the Great Ouse vary between 4 miles per hour (6.4 kilometres per hour) to 7 miles per hour (11.2 kilometres per hour ). On the tidal section of the river the speed limit is 15 miles per hour (24.1 kilometres per hour).

There are a number of speed indication systems on the Ely Ouse and Old West River to make the river safer. 2 transit posts have been placed at certain points on the riverbank and serve as speed markers. When travelling between the 2 posts it should take at least 30 seconds or longer. If it takes less time than this then you’re speeding and must slow down.

Speeding can cause unnecessary wash, erosion and harm wildlife as well as damage to other boats and the speeding boats themselves. We operate regular patrols and undertake speed monitoring activities and enforcement on the rivers where necessary. We do this to encourage compliance and make the river safer and more pleasurable for all river users.

Overhead power lines

There are headroom restrictions from overhead power lines on the River Great Ouse.

Because river levels change and overhead power line heights vary, we cannot provide the heights of power lines.

Some network operators specify exclusion zones around power lines, depending on the voltage being transmitted. This is to prevent electricity arcing or jumping from a transmitting wire to a boat mast, for example.

If your vessel has raised masts, radio aerials or booms you should contact the before using the waterway.

For more safety advice see the Energy Networks Association guide .

River advice for boaters and Strong Stream Advice

Locks on the rivers Nene and Great Ouse are β€˜reversed’ during floods and high flows. This closes the affected locks to navigation. The Environment Agency strongly recommends that you don’t attempt to navigate during these periods. When strong stream advice is in force, signs along the river are displayed and red LED β€˜X’ lights activated at reversed locks. When lit these lights mean to stay well clear and off the river, some marinas and boat clubs also display red flags.

To find out the latest river advice for boaters call the Floodline information service to find out what status the river is in for boating. The status are, normal and no warnings in force, caution which means to be aware and Strong Stream Advice where locks are closed and navigation is strongly advised against.

To find out more; Telephone Floodline: 0345 988 1188 Select option 1 and then option 1 again, when prompted;

River Nene quick dial number: 032112 River Great Ouse, Bedford Ouse from Kempston (Bedford) to St Ives Town quick dial number: 033211 River Great Ouse, Bedford Ouse from St Ives Lock to Hermitage Lock at Earith quick dial number: 033212

Mooring

Read the Anglian waterways guide for information on mooring.

Updates to this page

Published 1 April 2014
Last updated 26 April 2022 show all updates

  1. There has been additional information added including Strong Stream advice.

  2. Changed headway measurements for Railway Bridge, Prickwillow and Prickwillow Road Bridge.

  3. Telephone number updated

  4. Information added about overhead power lines.

  5. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Contents

Related content