The River Cam begins in Ashwell, Hertfordshire and moves north towards Cambridge. It then flows to Fens and then to Ely and King’s Lynn, where it joins the sea. During its early days, Cambridge was based on this river as it connects to King’s Lynn, which used to be the busiest port in England. Through this river, the goods traveled to Cambridge, which contributed to its robust economy.
The most popular part of the River Cam is called The Backs, which got its name from the number of universities that were built on the banks of the river. It stretches for a mile and surrounds some of the best architectural styles in all of England. Along it are nine bridges and eight colleges, including King’s College and its famous chapel, Queens’ College and Mathematical Bridge, and St. Johns and the Bridge of Sighs.
Like other rivers, the Cam is used for various types of recreational activities, such as rowing. By taking a guided boat or participating in the activity on your own, you will definitely see much of the city of Cambridge as the river runs right through it. After paddling, you can opt for a quick stop on the banks of the river to rest and relax.
A punt is basically a narrow boat that has a flat bottom. It looks like a Venetian gondola, except it doesn’t have a curve. A boat generally seats five people, one of them standing at the back of the boat and propelling it with a long pole.
The design of the pan was made during medieval times. It is ergonomic and allows smooth navigation in shallow waters. Before, the boats were used primarily for commercial fishing, but now they are used only for recreation.
Navigating may, at first, seem very easy and effortless. For passengers, it can be relaxing as they can sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. However, the one who is driving may find that kicking is not as easy as it sounds. The post can get stuck if the bottom is particularly muddy. If this happens, you must drop the post, especially if you are inexperienced in driving. Otherwise, the person could be thrown through the punt while struggling to remove the jammed post.
Unless you are remarkably skilled and possess an innate talent for clearing, your first attempts will probably not be as successful. It can even look like fun and be a source of entertainment for some onlookers on the riverbanks. But no transport. Learning how to use it will not take that long and you may even enjoy learning how to do it.
Sailing along the River Cam is one of Cambridge’s most popular attractions, so be sure to include it in your itinerary when visiting the city. If you are not brave enough, you can get a guided kick. Boats can be hired for around £ 8 per hour at Magdalene Bridge, Silver Street Bridge, Jesus Green, Mill Lane, Grantchester and Trinity College from Easter to early October.