About the river

The River Great Ouse and its tributaries provide approximately 255 kilometres of navigable waterway. It is the fourth longest river in the United Kingdom and flows through 5 counties:

• Northamptonshire
• Buckinghamshire
• Bedfordshire
• Cambridgeshire
• Norfolk

VisitIt is navigable from Bedford to the Wash at King’s Lynn with connections to the River Nene via the Middle Level.

There are also connections to the:

• River Cam
• River Lark
• Little Ouse
• River Wissey
• New Bedford River
• Old Bedford River
• Flood Relief Channel, from Denver Sluice to near King’s Lynn

Navigation notices

You can see the latest navigation notices on the River Great Ouse Mapping tool.

River Inspectors

• Bedford Ouse: 07717 423 512
• Ely Ouse and Stour: 07741 614 288
• Hermitage Lock: 01487 841 548

Useful information

Before you use the waterway you should read the Anglian navigation byelaws

You can find out more about the River Great Ouse by:

• reading the River Great Ouse Fact Sheet (PDF, 290 KB, 2 pages)
• reading the River Great Ouse Map (PDF, 16.9 MB, 1 page)
• visiting the Inland Waterways Association website to see the Fens Waterways map and read about the Waterways Link project.

Organising an event

ReadIf you want to organise an event on the AnglianRiver navigationGreat byelawsOuse you should read River Great Ouse Event Organisor Information (PDF, before91.9 KB, 2 pages).

You can apply for an event using the waterway.Anglian Waterways event form

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 ‘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 channelChannel 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 biteBite 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 biteBite lock*	21	13.05	2hr 15	-

*Jesus lock and Baits biteBite lock are managed by Conservators of the River Cam.

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.

Request a speed exemption

To request a speed exemption you should read River Great Ouse Speed Exemption Guidance (PDF, 182 KB, 2 pages).

You can apply for a speed exemption using the Anglian Waterways speed limit exemption form

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 local electricity network operator before using the waterway.

For more safety advice see theNational EnergyGrid Networks- AssociationSailing guide ‘Safety information for watersports’safety.

River advice for boaters and Strong Stream Advice