Punting on the River Cam

A punt is a flat based boat with a square cut edge at either end and is made for use on shallow waters or small rivers. Punting on the River Cam could be described as England’s version of the gondolas in Venice. Punts were traditionally used as cargo boats for angling and fowling but today their use is mainly for enjoyable trips for visitors to Cambridge or for racing purposes. Traditionally, a punt is approximately 24 feet in length and 3 feet in width. The punting technique is harder than it looks and takes quite a bit of practice. The technique involves moving the boat along by pushing down on the river or lake bed. The tradition in Cambridge is to stand on the till and then punt forward with the open end. Sometime around 1902 and 1904, punting was first made know to Cambridge and it was not long until it took off as the most favoured on the River Cam. The river here is shallow so it makes it an ideal location for punting. The punting tour takes about 45 minutes and you will get to see Cambridge itself as well as many impressive buildings along the way including King’s College Chapel, The Wren Library and the Bridge of Sighs. This is a truly unique experience in such a fantastic setting.