Cambridge Punting tours of the colleges
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
By Tim Campbell
The historic Cambridge backs are a world famous tourist attraction and there is no better way to experience them than a leisurely punt tour with a knowledgeable local guide. A standard return trip takes approximately 45 minutes and takes in the almost 1 mile stretch of river from Jesus Green to Silver Street. En route are many landmarks, including 7 colleges, the Mathematical Bridge and Bridge of Sighs, and of course the Chapel at King's College.
Tourists visiting Cambridge usually don't realise that it's not possible to stroll along the river banks and look around the famous Cambridge colleges. The reason for this is that there is no path along the river bank and the college grounds are separated from each other with high walls and fences. In the days of horse drawn barges they built a stone causeway long the centre of the river in order to get around the tolls the colleges wished to charge for crossing their land. These days, a Cambridge punt tour provides the best and most relaxing way to see the colleges, whilst letting the experienced guide do the hard work and tell you about the sights along the way at the same time.
Visitors are required to pay an admission fee if they wish to visit the grounds of any Cambridge college. Should you visit all of the colleges that you would see on a Cambridge punt tour it could come to a hefty fee by the end of your visit! Depending on the time of year you are visiting Cambridge you might also be disappointed to find the colleges closed to visitors because of exams or other events. You never get this problem if you are punting in Cambridge!
Whilst there are one or two very large and well known punt companies in Cambridge these are not the only option. I prefer to chose the experience and knowledge that a small, independently owned and locally staffed business can provide. The more personal approach really adds to the experience for me.
In 2005 Cambridge River Tour was set up by two experienced former punt chauffeurs with years of knowledge of Cambridge punting.
They started out specialising in running punt tours on the traditional six person punts but now cater for groups of any size.
The guides who provide the tours (and do the punting) and knowledgeable, experienced, friendly and local all of which means you will have a great time.
You might only make one trip to Cambridge during your life time and punting along the Cam is an absolute must do during your trip. The memories will last you a life time.
They are able to service the needs of groups from the smallest up to the very largest. Regardless of if you are visiting alone, organising a hen party, have a large tour group who are visiting or are just planning a day out with a few friends and want to enjoy Cambridge punting.
From humble beginnings operating a couple of 5 seater punts they have built on their years of experience to offer tours on the more spacious 12 seater punts.
Tourists visiting Cambridge usually don't realise that it's not possible to stroll along the river banks and look around the famous Cambridge colleges. The reason for this is that there is no path along the river bank and the college grounds are separated from each other with high walls and fences. In the days of horse drawn barges they built a stone causeway long the centre of the river in order to get around the tolls the colleges wished to charge for crossing their land. These days, a Cambridge punt tour provides the best and most relaxing way to see the colleges, whilst letting the experienced guide do the hard work and tell you about the sights along the way at the same time.
Visitors are required to pay an admission fee if they wish to visit the grounds of any Cambridge college. Should you visit all of the colleges that you would see on a Cambridge punt tour it could come to a hefty fee by the end of your visit! Depending on the time of year you are visiting Cambridge you might also be disappointed to find the colleges closed to visitors because of exams or other events. You never get this problem if you are punting in Cambridge!
Whilst there are one or two very large and well known punt companies in Cambridge these are not the only option. I prefer to chose the experience and knowledge that a small, independently owned and locally staffed business can provide. The more personal approach really adds to the experience for me.
In 2005 Cambridge River Tour was set up by two experienced former punt chauffeurs with years of knowledge of Cambridge punting.
They started out specialising in running punt tours on the traditional six person punts but now cater for groups of any size.
The guides who provide the tours (and do the punting) and knowledgeable, experienced, friendly and local all of which means you will have a great time.
You might only make one trip to Cambridge during your life time and punting along the Cam is an absolute must do during your trip. The memories will last you a life time.
They are able to service the needs of groups from the smallest up to the very largest. Regardless of if you are visiting alone, organising a hen party, have a large tour group who are visiting or are just planning a day out with a few friends and want to enjoy Cambridge punting.
From humble beginnings operating a couple of 5 seater punts they have built on their years of experience to offer tours on the more spacious 12 seater punts.
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If you would like to find out more about Cambridge Punting, then visit Cambridge River Tours. To book your Cambridge Punt tour now.
Posted byBertie at 4:58 AM
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