Branch
IWA Great Ouse Branch
Published

1 June 2023

Like most rivers the Great Ouse flows into the sea. The main boundary between the non tidal river and estuary is at Denver Sluice. The Middle Level is a series of drainage channels. To get from the non tidal waters of the River Great Ouse to the Middle Level requires a short estuary crossing between Denver and Salter’s Lode Lock. For those who have not made this crossing before, it can be daunting. Chris Howes, author of the Imray guides to the Great Ouse and Fenland Waterways, IWA member and Eastern Region representative has put together this very useful guide to navigating between the Middle Level and the Great Ouse.

In it you well find details of how to contact the lock keepers at either end for the best times to cross, how the tides affect crossing and how to avoid the sand bar, as well as tips on equipment and checks to carry out before you make the crossing.

View, download and print the guide here https://waterways.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IWA-Guide-to-the-Denver-Salters-Lode-Crossing.pdf