Punting on the River Cam
Punting on the River Cam
The River Cam runs through the heart of Cambridge, which allows visitors to pass one of the finest educational institutions in the world, the University of Cambridge, with close up glimpses of Trinity College, Magdalene College, Jesus Green and the Bridge of Sighs.
Punting first came to Cambridge at the beginning of the 20th century as a pleasurable pastime, which quickly became popular amongst the university students and locals alike.
Maurice “Jack” Scudamore began making well-crafted punts that came into high demand. Scudamore’s Punting Company now owns the world’s largest fleet of punts, with around 150 boats available for hire along the two traditional routes.
Similar to the Gondolas tour experience in Venice, the punts in Cambridge provide a relaxing tour of the city on the water. The punt boats consist of a 6 or 7 metre long, flat-bottomed wooden boat that can be propelled forwards by repeatedly pushing a large 5m pole into the riverbed beneath. The slow-moving river means that you can steer and drive the punt yourself, if you wish.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to take control of the punt, there is a variety of chauffeured punting options, such as traditional tours, seasonal tours, punting lessons, punting and food, and punting parties.
Key Points
- Punts were developed in the medieval period to provide a stable craft that could be used on waters that were too shallow for a rowing craft. Punts were used during this time in Fens, the marshy flatlands north of Cambridge, for local trades.
- One of the most famous bridges to go over the River Cam is the Mathematical Bridge, at Queens’ College, which was built in 1749.
- The River Cam is 64km long and the entire river is navigable.
- Punting as a recreation first became popular on the Thames between 1860 and 1880.
Opening Times
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Location
Punting on the River Cam
Punting on the River Cam
The River Cam runs through the heart of Cambridge, which allows visitors to pass one of the finest educational institutions in the world, the University of Cambridge, with close up glimpses of Trinity College, Magdalene College, Jesus Green and the Bridge of Sighs.
Punting first came to Cambridge at the beginning of the 20th century as a pleasurable pastime, which quickly became popular amongst the university students and locals alike.
Maurice “Jack” Scudamore began making well-crafted punts that came into high demand. Scudamore’s Punting Company now owns the world’s largest fleet of punts, with around 150 boats available for hire along the two traditional routes.
Similar to the Gondolas tour experience in Venice, the punts in Cambridge provide a relaxing tour of the city on the water. The punt boats consist of a 6 or 7 metre long, flat-bottomed wooden boat that can be propelled forwards by repeatedly pushing a large 5m pole into the riverbed beneath. The slow-moving river means that you can steer and drive the punt yourself, if you wish.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to take control of the punt, there is a variety of chauffeured punting options, such as traditional tours, seasonal tours, punting lessons, punting and food, and punting parties.
- Punts were developed in the medieval period to provide a stable craft that could be used on waters that were too shallow for a rowing craft. Punts were used during this time in Fens, the marshy flatlands north of Cambridge, for local trades.
- One of the most famous bridges to go over the River Cam is the Mathematical Bridge, at Queens’ College, which was built in 1749.
- The River Cam is 64km long and the entire river is navigable.
- Punting as a recreation first became popular on the Thames between 1860 and 1880.