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Layer up for a Cambridge Punt in February

The average weather in Cambridge during February is a low of 2 degrees with a high of 9 degrees Celsius.

Although this is not as cold as earlier months, you should still layer up if you are going punting in Cambridge. The city is surrounded by water and can feel a lot colder than being in central London or the southern parts of the country. Even if it is slightly windy, you might feel the windchill through your bones.

This can make your Cambridge punt uncomfortable if you are not wearing the right clothes. This is what you should pack in your suitcase if you are planning to visit the city for a Cambridge punt in February.

Coats and Jackets for a Cambridge Punt

Although the weather forecast predicts around eight days of rain, England is very unpredictable. You never know when a random shower might surprise you while punting in Cambridge, especially if you do not have an umbrella or a headcover.

When you bring a coat, you should ensure that it is waterproof to wear in the rain and not get your inner clothes wet. Your coats and jackets should be lined with warm fleece on the inside to keep you toasty enough to spend the day on the River Cam comfortably.

This way, you will be able to appreciate the ride instead of shivering and wanting to rush indoors.

Woolly Hats

When you are punting in Cambridge, a woolly hat in February can be a lifesaver to keep your head and ears warm.

It might not be the most flattering part of your winter wardrobe and might wreak havoc on your hair, but it will help your body lose less heat to withstand the cold weather.

You can pull a woolly hat all the way down over your eyes to the top of your neck. Then it can also act as a cover for the back of your neck in case you do not have a scarf.

If you buy a black woolly hat, it can match any outfit. You can also get them without the fluffy ball material on top in a fitted size that covers your head fuss-free.

Scarves and Gloves

Scarves are always fashionable, no matter what season. Wearing a scarf to cover your mouth and neck, creates better insulation with a pocket of warm air.

Then you will not have to breathe in the cold air while punting in Cambridge on the River Cam.

If it is uncomfortably chilly, you should also wear gloves to keep your fingers warm, or else they might feel numb.

Many gloves are designed to use on smartphone and camera touchscreens, which is beneficial because you will want to take plenty of photos during your Cambridge punting trip.

The Right Boots

Even though the predicted temperature is not below freezing, parts of England do experience snowfall in February and March.

You will need to buy boots that are waterproof for treading snow with high-quality rubber soles and significant traction to prevent you from slipping on ice.

The best boots can be both fashionable and versatile for cold and rainy days.

Look for sneakers or boots that have a thick faux fur lining on the inside for extra warmth during your magical Cambridge punt this winter season.

Importance of the River Cam

A trip to England would never feel complete without punting in Cambridge and marvelling at
the sights surrounding the world-famous university that was home to legends like Professor
Stephen Hawking.

A Cambridge punt involves a flat-bottomed wooden boat with a quirky
chauffeur who is most likely a resident or a student at the university.

You can take a ride with friends and family and learn about the history of Cambridge and why it has a special place in
many people’s hearts. If you are visiting the city for the first time, you might be wondering
which side of the River Cam to take the tour from to get the best views. There are two main options
for a Cambridge punting tour.

Please note that we only do tours along the College Backs  (the lower River Cam).

The Lower River Cam

This is a short stretch of River Cam that runs through the heart of Cambridge University and is best if
you want to see all the famous landmarks, such as King’s College Chapel and the Mathematical
Bridge.

If you want to explore the university, this is the better tour because then you will get to
enjoy all the views and stories during your Cambridge punting tour. This is an exceptional ride that will
give you a lot of insights into student life at this renowned establishment.

During the tourist season, this route may be the most crowded, but you can always book in advance to avoid
queues and secure tickets for your preferred timings.

Unless you steal a student card or sneak into the university, this is the best way to see all the grounds and iconic buildings even if you
spend less time on the River Cam.

The Upper River Cam

The upper River Cam is a lengthier stretch that leads towards picturesque villages outside Cambridge.
Instead of gazing at buildings, you might see more natural scenery and farms.

This side of the river is less crowded, so if you are self-punting in Cambridge for the first time and need some
space to master your punting techniques, you can practice your skills on this side without
bumping into all the tourist boats that swarm the lower river.

Unlike the lower River Cam, you can also enjoy a more relaxing atmosphere because there are hardly any crowds at the upper river,
and you will find plenty of beautiful scenic spots for a picnic break.

However, be careful of swans and ducks that might attempt to steal your food.

Please note we no longer offer self hire.

The Popular Route

The lower river is a popular choice among tourists, but the upper river is preferred by locals because of its serenity and chance to
spend more time on the river.

You should not have any problems buying tickets at the last minute, but it is always better to book those beforehand because Cambridge gets very crowded
during the warmer months.

If you are only visiting for a day, you might miss out on a punting in Cambridge tour if there are too many people and you have not booked the tour on the college backs in advance.

Punting in Cambridge: the technical bits.

A quant is a pole that is used to propel a barge or punt boat through the shallow waters while punting in Cambridge. The barge quant has a cap at the top and a prong or teeth resembling a pitchfork at the bottom. This stops the pole from sinking into the mud. A quant used for

Cambridge punts are usually around four meters or thirteen feet long and is generally made of hollow metal or wood. This way, it can always float even if it is left in the water. Depending on the size of the punt, a longer quant might be required to propel it.

In earlier days, these poles were essential to drive yachts when there were no engines or if the wind was not strong enough. Sailors for large vessels relied on quant poles that were at least twenty-six feet long. Aside from propelling a Cambridge punt, the quant is used to steer the boats by acting as a rudder. The rudder is a primary control surface that helps boats move through the water.

The chauffeur using the quant can quickly stick it behind the punt to safely control and navigate the direction it moves.

There is also a common saying, “I wouldn’t touch that thing with a barge pole,” or “I wouldn’t touch that with a ten-foot pole,” which usually referred to a long pole that is meant to tread through dirty slush and mud at the bottom of a river.

How to Use A Quant whilst punting in Cambridge.

The main reason quants are used for punting in Cambridge is to propel the boat from the rear or front deck. The angle that the chauffeur holds the quant depends on how deep the water is and how fast they want to travel.

For large tour groups, they will go relatively slow because punting in Cambridge is a relaxing trip for you to see the sights around the university, so you might notice that they are not holding the quant at a steeper level, which is meant for deep waters. This is because the bottom of the quant should be able to reach the bed of the canal, and a shallower angle is needed for speed. Your chauffeur might hold it relatively straight because they do not want to go all fast and furious with families and children on board.

Your punting chauffeur will drive the quant downward and then push it slightly back, which propels the punt.

On larger boats, the chauffeur will walk along the side of the punt and brace against the quant to drive forward at the speed they are walking in. For reversing, the quant needs to be pushed forwards and then pulled out of the water.

Your chauffeur will place their hand over it and then pull up, as though they are climbing up and down the pole. Whilst punting in Cambridge, the chauffeur will usually stand at the back for most of the rider and then slide their quant in the water at a forward angle.

This will glide the punt loosely in the direction they want it to go. They will then push the quant just past a vertical angle, sloping it downwards from front to the back of your punt, and then push on the quant to propel forward. At the end of this stroke, the quant gets twisted with a downward roll of their wrist to break it free from the bottom and then retrieve it by throwing their hands forward, getting ready for the next stroke.

You will notice how smooth and rhythmic this style is, which is the best form to give you a safe yet adventurous ride that will satisfy all your punting in Cambridge tourist needs.

Punting in Cambridge

Punting in Cambridge is the most popular activity that is enjoyed by residents and tourists every
year. You can either go book a tour with a group or hire a punt to enjoy exploring the historic
River Cam.

A traditional punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow that is perfect for
rowing on shallow water and small rivers. They were initially used as cargo boats and are now
used for pleasure trips for those who want to enjoy the sights around the world-famous
Cambridge University.

These boats can be rented by the hour if you want to experience your
own unique Cambridge adventure. If you are hiring a punt, you will need to know how to row
safely along the narrow and crowded waters because punting is not easy. Here are some
rowing techniques to learn for your next self-punt to ensure safety for everybody on board.

Please note we no longer offer self hire punting tours.

Rowing Style for Punting in Cambridge

The most basic technique for punting in Cambridge is to push the boat along with the quant, which
is the long pole you will be using while shoving it directly against the riverbed.

The Cambridge tradition most punters use requires them to stand on the back of the boat and punt forward
with the open end.

The River Cam is narrow and very crowded full of punts, but you will see
most chauffeurs using this style, which is known as the “Cambridge End.”

Rowing Technique for Beginners

When you have a firm grip on the quant, stand near the back or “Till.” It would be best to
position yourself closest to the side as much as balance allows as you look over the side of the
punt.

Using your forward hand, push the pole down vertically close to the side of your punt and
guide it with your lower hand. Let the quant fall down all the way until you feel it touch the
bottom of the riverbed, and then reach forward with both hands by gently pushing the pole
past your chest.

It is essential to be gentle for the first time so that you can control your
steering. When you complete each stroke, relax your muscles and let the pole float upwards
behind you like a rudder. This relaxation habit after each stroke will prevent you from falling
over if the quant gets stuck unexpectedly.

We see a lot of people fall in whilst punting in Cambridge for the first time!

Rowing Technique for Experienced Punters

Instead of using the quant as a rudder, more experienced punters will steer during their
strokes. They do this by standing forward further and stay close to one side of the punt. If they
want to turn the boat in the direction they are facing, they throw the pole close to the punt and
pull it towards them. This type of stroke is known as “Pinching” the punt. To face the other way,
they throw the pole slightly further out and pull their feet towards it. This style is called
“Shoving around.”

Some Cambridge punters with a lot of experience might also use a one-
handed technique, which is more challenging. The one-handed method requires a punter to
throw the pole forward instead of pulling up, which is a “Bucket recovery.”

The advantage of doing this is so the punter can drop their pole directly onto the riverbed at an angle facing their position without slowing momentum.

The pole is in a vertical position, and pressure is applied to steer the punt. This style is beneficial if you want more power in fast-flowing streams or if
the punt is already racing.

Haunted Punting

Haunted punting might seem a bizarre concept but just because Halloween is over, it does not mean that going on a haunted trip and hearing about ghosts isn’t still a lot of fun.

Instead of the usual walking tours, why not take a ride through the River Cam and hear spooky stories about Cambridge University that will put every horror movie to shame.

This will make punting in Cambridge a lot more exciting, especially if you want a little more thrill rather than the usual stories about the architecture.

St. John’s College

The second college you will see on your haunted punting tour. This college is one where people have reported several haunted sightings and bizarre incidents.

It was built on a Medieval hospital that was forced to shut down.

You can ask your chauffeur about the ghost of Doctor James Wood, who was an impoverished student at the college. He could not even afford a light in his room while students today are spoiled with laptops, televisions, and mobile phones. Back in the day, he used to sit in the O staircase in the Second Court and use the light from other rooms to work through the night.

Some people reported that his apparition is still haunting the same place at nights and surprised a few students by following them to their rooms.

Another famous ghost is James Ashton, who was brutally murdered in 1746 in the First Court next to the library. He was discovered stabbed in his room, and everybody suspected that his friend John Brinkley killed him.

However, Brinkley escaped justice because his father had some very powerful lawyers. He fled after the murder, and Ashton’s angry spirit can sometimes be heard screaming loudly in the building.

King’s College

Arguably the most famous sight along the river, King’s College is a very popular haunting site. Naturally, Kings College has to be included in our list of haunted punting locations.

This is because the founder, King Henry VI, had gone insane after prison when he was defeated in the War of the Roses.

The chapel was used during the civil war by Oliver Cromwell to house parliamentarian cavalrymen.

Students at Cambridge have reported noises coming from inside the chapel at night. You might hear horses neighing and soldiers scraping their feet. Even the police were called many times by students and teachers because they spotted moving figures on the roof.

Another unusual haunted punting story is that of Barret’s Coffin.

A scholar named Barret was a very eccentric person and lived in the Gibbs Building while strangely keeping a coffin. People often heard him screaming loudly throughout the night but ignored him because of his quirky personality.

One day, the screaming stopped, and when scholars entered his room, they found him dead, lying in his coffin with a smile on his face.

For a long time, the Gibbs building was no longer used for accommodation because people could not sleep and always complained about the random screaming.

It was so bad to the point that the college tried exorcising the building. The exorcism did not work, and now people just continue to tolerate whatever happened in the building.

Clare College

When you are haunted punting in Cambridge, ask your chauffeur about the Black Widow of the Cam.

Her name was Elizabeth De Clare, and she was married off to the richest man in England against her wishes when she was only twelve years old.

Her husband died after the wedding, and Elizabeth had to remarry. Her second husband also passed away after getting married. Then she went on to marry a third wealthy husband, who perished from food poisoning.

Elizabeth became the richest woman in Europe and was unstoppable.

Supposedly the people of Cambridge formed a mob and tortured her until she confessed to murdering all her husbands.

The local men tied Elizabeth to a boat and floated her until Clare Bridge, where she was then killed by burning arrows. She suffered an agonizing death, and her vengeful spirit continues haunting the River Cam.

Romantic Punting in Cambridge

Cambridge is an exceptionally scenic and ancient university city.

There are many romantic activities for couples to celebrate their love and punting in Cambridge is an excellent way to enjoy each other’s company. You can surprise your partner with a tour on the River Cam and relax while you are being chauffeured around this beautiful location.

Instead of sharing a punt with other tourists, you can hire a private ride to take your significant other on the most exciting historical journey. While booking the tour, ask us to personalize the ride.  Whilst romantic punting in Cambridge our chauffeurs can make suggestions about which are the best spots to get photographs.

Why the River Cam?

The River Cam provides the most gorgeous setting for a romantic outing, and it is inspirational to share that with a special person. Ask your chauffeur to take photos of you together so that those memories can last forever.

This is one of the most relaxing tours after exploring the city together. After spending the day in Cambridge, your significant other would really appreciate getting a chance to sit back and rest their feet while taking in more breathtaking sights.

The boat can be decorated with rose petals, and cushions to give you the best experience possible. If this does not impress your date, nothing else will.

If you are celebrating an anniversary together, you can arrange to have a chilled bottle of champagne on board with flutes to sip along the ride while toasting your relationship.

During your punting in Cambridge, you do not have to worry about the weather because we will have blankets and covers on the punt. We can even supply you with a deli grazing box to share together to make the trip extra special. The views you will see along the way are nothing short of something from a Jane Austen novel, which is what makes Cambridge such a romantic city.

A romantic day out in Cambridge

There are lots of activities for couples to partake in and strengthen their bond. After the romantic tour punting in Cambridge, you can stop at a quiet spot to have a picnic in the nearby Jesus Green. If it is not too cloudy, you will see the most magnificent sunset from the water that will literally take your breath away. Dusk is the most romantic time of the day when the sun is going down, and you can stroll under the soft pastel-coloured sky while holding hands as all the buildings light up around you.

At the end of the night, you should cosy up together in a local pub, especially one that has a wood-burning fireplace to set the mood. We recommend Pickerel Inn, just off Magdalene Bridge.

After all that fresh air you experienced on your romantic punting in Cambridge. Enjoy some great food and drinks in Cambridge, and before you know it, you will be coming back to this city for more. Travelling together with loved ones is one of the most unique experiences. As you look at all the beautiful sights together, you are celebrating that there is nobody else you would rather be with to share these magical moments.

Best spots for punting in Cambridge

Best spots for punting in Cambridge is a hotly debated topic between locals and tourists alike.

Cambridge has a wealth of fascinating history that captures the soul.

Punting in Cambridge is the most popular tourist activity for a reason because you get to see all the beautiful architecture and hear the most enthralling stories.

Cambridge is also a very picturesque location if you enjoy taking photographs or even a few selfies for Instagram.

Here are the best spots for punting (in our opinion), ready for your adventure on the River Cam. So that you can truly experience everything that Cambridge is famously known around the world for.

Mathematical Bridge

This historical bridge was built during the seventeenth century and was inspired by bridges in China.

You can see that very little material was used to create this long-lasting structure.

Most people believe that the bridge was designed by Sir Isaac Newton. But it was his student, William Etheridge, who designed it in 1748.

The bridge is right beside Queen’s College, which is one of the oldest and largest colleges at Cambridge. It was founded in 1448 and spans both sides of the River Cam.

You should ask your punting chauffeur to tell you all about the bridge’s design, and how the timber sturdily holds it in place despite being a weak material.

All of the college backs punting tours pass this bridge as it is one of the hotly anticipated spots for punting photography.

The Wren Library

The Wren Library was built in 1695, as part of Trinity College in Cambridge. It was designed by famous British architect Sir Christopher Wren, constructed in 1695. The same architect also
designed the famous St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

This is one of the most beautiful views on the River Cam, especially during sunset.

Sir Isaac Newton, Prince Charles, George VI, Eddie Redmayne, and many more have studied in this library during their time at Trinity College.

Bridge of Sighs

One of the most famous spots for punting is the Bridge of Sighs.

This gorgeous bridge looks like something from Harry Potter.

It was named after the Venetian Bridge of Sighs by Queen Victoria. It was built back in 1831 by Henry Hutchinson.

The bridge crosses the River Cam linking between the New Court and Third Court colleges.

Queen Victoria once said that this was her favorite spot in the city, and that’s how this bridge became such a popular tourist attraction.

There is also a common myth that the word “Sighs” came from Cambridge University students who were very stressed during exams.