Guidance

RiverInformation Nene:for bridgeboaters heights,- locksRiver and facilities

Nene

Information forabout boaters on the River Nene.Nene, including navigation notices, bridge heights, lock dimensions, overhead power lines and facilities.

From:
Environment Agency
PublishedPublished:
1 April 2014
Last updatedupdated:
29
24 AprilSeptember 2024 2026 — See all updates

River conditions

You can find current river conditions on Anglian Waterways: river conditions, closures and restrictions.

You can also:

  • find out more about river advice for boaters
  • register for the service

Some locks on the River Nene are ‘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
  • red LED ‘X’ lights activated at reversed locks, which, when lit mean to stay well clear and off the river
  • some marinas and boat clubs also display red flags

About the river

The River Nene flows through Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and borders Norfolk. It also links the Grand Union Canal to the River Great OuseOuse, via the Middle Levels.Level. Originally a commercial navigation, the Nene is now used almost entirely for recreation.

There are 145 kilometres of navigable waterway, with 38 locks between Northampton and Peterborough. Each lock is approximately 26m long and 4.6m wide.

The Environment Agency navigation starts at the junction with the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal near Cotton End Lock. It extends 91 miles to the sea, ending at Bevis Hall just upstream of Wisbech.

Read the recreational byelaws for Anglian waterways.

You need to register your boat with the Environment Agency if you want to take your boat on this stretch of the River Nene.

If you are visiting the River Nene from the Grand Union Canal you can buy your visitor registration and navigation key from the Environment Agency marina at Northampton.

Navigation notices

You can see the latest navigation notices on the River Nene bridgeMapping heightstool.

Facilities

506
  • at Northampton marina - telephone 0786 758 0129
    • LocationHeadway

    Environment (metres)

    		HeadwayAgency (feet)
    Billingsanitary Bridge2.47.87
    Whistonfacilities Farm(water, Bridge2.89.18
    Doddingtonpump Roadout, Bridge2.68.53
    Wollastonchemical Footbridge2.68.53
    Millstoilet Roaddisposal) Bridge2.68.53
    Ditchfordare Bridge2.78.86
    Highamavailable Ferrersat FarmNorthampton Bridge2.99.51
    IrthlingboroughMarina Bridge2.68.53
    Ringsteadand Bridge2.759.02
    WoodfordWellingborough OldEmbankment. RailThe Bridge2.99.51
    Denfordpump Farmouts Bridge2.68.53
    Pipesat Viaduct3.09.84
    Islipboth Roadthese Bridge2.78.86
    Isliplocations Footbridge2.27.2
    Thrapstonare Footbridge2.58.2
    Titchmarshtoken Farmoperated. Bridge3.09.84
    ThorpeTokens Bridge2.68.53
    Achurchcan Footbridge2.68.53
    Ashtonbe Footbridge2.58.53
    Cotterstockpurchased Bridge2.78.86
    Fotheringhayfrom:

    • the Bridge
    		2.16.89
    EltonEnvironment Footbridge2.89.19
    WilgarAgency Bridge2.68.53
    Nene- Valleytelephone Rail03708 Bridge3.310.83
    Bluebell506 Footbridge2.89.19

    Speed

    Find limit

    out about call charges.

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    • Wadenhoe
    • Upper (7mph).Barnwell lock
    • Yarwell lock

    Water is free at all Environment Agency sites.

    You can find out more about the facilities on the River Nene using our mapping tool.

    Locks

    There are 38 locks between Northampton and Peterborough. Typical lock dimensions are 26 metres long and 4.6 wide. Most locks have pointing doors at the upstream end and vertical guillotine gates at the lower end.

    You’ll need an Environment Agency navigation key to operate the guillotine gates and a windlass to fit 2.6 centimetres square to operate the paddles.

    YouFrom canNorthampton getMarina, navigationyou keyscan along with registrations and pumpout tokens from:buy:

    • Northamptonnavigation Marinakeys
    • visitor 0160registrations
    • pumpout 460 4344 (maps and electricity cards are also available)tokens
    • Peterboroughelectricity Visitorcards Informationfor Centreuse 0173in 345Northampton 2336Marina only
    • Dogmaps

    You incan aphone DoubletNorthampton lockMarina 0370on 85007867 6506 580 129.

    Moorings and Northampton Marina

    TheYou Environmentcan Agencyfind hasn’tout gotmore anyabout permanent moorings on theour RiverNorthampton Nene.Marina pages.

    Tidal passage

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    StrongUseful stream adviceinformation

    Locks

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    • River

      Speed Nenelimit

      The quicknavigation dialhas number:a 032112

    • Riverspeed Greatlimit Ouseof (Bedford11.2 Ouse,kmph Kempston,(7mph).

      Request Bedforda tospeed Stexemption

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      • the
    • River GreatNene Ouse- (Bedfordspeed Ouse,exemption Stguidance (PDF, Ives141 LockKB, to2 Hermitage Lock, Earith) quick dial number: 033212
    • River Ancholme quick dial number: 031212
    pages).

    Facilities

    EnvironmentYou Agencycan sanitaryapply facilitiesfor (water,a pumpspeed out,exemption chemicalusing toiletthe disposal)Anglian areWaterways availablespeed atexemption Northamptonform.

    River MarinaNene andbridge Wellingboroughheights

    LocationHeadway Embankment.(metres)Headway The(feet)
    Billing pumpBridge2.47.87
    Whiston outsFarm atBridge2.89.18
    Doddington bothRoad theseBridge2.68.53
    Wollaston locationsFootbridge2.68.53
    Mills areRoad tokenBridge2.68.53
    Ditchford operated.Bridge2.78.86
    Higham TokensFerrers canFarm beBridge2.99.51
    Irthlingborough purchasedBridge2.68.53
    Ringstead fromBridge2.759.02
    Woodford theOld EnvironmentRail AgencyBridge2.99.51
    Denford (telephoneFarm 0370Bridge2.68.53
    Pipes 850Viaduct3.09.84
    Islip 6506)Road andBridge2.78.86
    Islip atFootbridge2.27.2
    Thrapston NorthamptonFootbridge2.58.2
    Titchmarsh marinaFarm (telephoneBridge3.09.84
    Thorpe 0160Bridge2.68.53
    Achurch 460Footbridge2.68.53
    Ashton 4344Footbridge2.58.53
    Cotterstock orBridge2.78.86
    Fotheringhay 0786Bridge2.16.89
    Elton 758Footbridge2.89.19
    Wilgar 0129Bridge2.68.53
    Nene outValley ofRail workingBridge3.310.83
    Bluebell hours).

    Footbridge    		2.89.19

    Find out about call charges.

    There

    Updates areto alsothis waterpage

    Published points1 at:

    • ThrapstonApril Nine2014
    Last Archesupdated mooring
  • Wadenhoe
  • Upper24 BarnwellSeptember lock
  • Yarwell2026 — lock

    • Water Show isall freeupdates

    1. Updated Environmentpage Agencywith sites.

    Publishedcontent 1on Aprilriver 2014
    Lastconditions, updatedspeed 29forms, Aprilevents 2024 + showand allnavigation updates
    1. notices.

    2. Corrected the telephone number for strong stream advice. Corrected the River Ancholme quick dial number.

    4. Updated contact telephone numbers for Northampton Marina and the Environment Agency.

    6. Removed a link.

    8. Reference to Gayton marina removed as they are no longer agent for the Environment Agency.

    10. Some small updates

    12. New information added.

    14. First published.

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