About the river
The River Great Ouse flows from its source near Brackley to the sea at King's Lynn. It runs through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
The Great Ouse and its tributaries - the River Cam, Lark, Little Ouse and Wissey - provide approximately 159 miles (255 kms) of navigable waterway.
The upper reaches of the river flow through one of the most peaceful and unspoilt water environments in Britain. Here you will find a wide range of natural and historical sites and pretty rural towns to visit.
The lower reaches take boaters through the characteristic Fenland landscape with a skyline dominated by Ely Cathedral.
The Bedford Rivers, also known as the Hundred Foot Drain (which is tidal) and Old Bedford River, were constructed as drains. They connect Earith in the south with Denver Sluice in the north. The Old Bedford is navigable, but only a few times a year.
The River Great Ouse and the surrounding areas are brimming with wildlife. The Ouse Washes is a site of special value to nature conservation and the Wicken Fen Nature Reserve remains one of the most important wetlands in Europe.