Inclusive Boating at its Best

Inclusive Boating at its Best

Hartford Marina is home to a very special operation aimed at inclusive boating for all.

The Ladybird Boat Trust was founded in 2013 and is located at Tingdene’s Hartford Marina, on the River Great Ouse near Huntingdon. The charity offer wheel-chair accessible trips afloat onboard ‘The Ladybird’ Widebeam, where guests can enjoy a spacious, heated cabin with a kitchen and accessible toilet facilities that can accommodate up to 20 passengers. And if the weather suits, an open foredeck allows passengers to embrace the stunning scenery and wildlife along the river in the fresh air.

The Trust offers this incredible service to disadvantaged or disabled individuals of all ages, alongside their carers, to experience life on the water and develop or maintain a passion for boating. Many of their groups return year after year, with the boat trip becoming a cherished annual event.

Their dedicated boatmaster and trained crew are all volunteers who generously offer their time and expertise to operate nearly 150 trips each year. Trips usually last between 1 and 5 hours, running from 10am to 3pm, and journey either upstream toward Godmanchester and Brampton or downstream toward the Hemingfords and St Ives. In 2023, they were proud hosts of an impressive 140 trips, welcoming numerous specialist groups, day centres, and care homes to name a few.

The Trust works diligently to cover their £18,000 annual operating costs, the majority of which is funded by the kind donations of passengers and groups, so donations are incredibly important to keep the service operating, and the team are all deeply appreciative, no matter the amount. Find out more below on how to donate.

We are very proud to house such a great cause at Hartford Marina and look forward to seeing ‘the Ladybird’ out and about on the Great Ouse this summer!