Scudamore's Punting Company

Who they are

Scudamore's is Cambridge's oldest punting company: it has been on the river since 1910 and is still a family business. Its founder, Jack Scudamore, was among the first to hire out these flat-bottomed boats, pushed with a long pole resting on the riverbed, for pleasure rides and not just for work. More than a century later it has its landing stages right in the centre, at Mill Lane and Quayside, next to Bridge Street, and its own boatyard, Scudamore's Boatyard, from which it also hires out canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.

It is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. The hours change with the season: in November, for example, it works from 9:00 to 16:30 and the last trip leaves at 15:30. In winter it serves mulled wine on board.

What they do

The best-known trip covers The Backs, the stretch of the Cam that runs behind the university's colleges, with a chauffeur who handles the pole and tells the story of each bridge and each building. It can be done shared, in a punt with other travellers, or private, with the boat just for your group. The upper Cam route goes upriver, past Sheep's Green and the Paradise reserve, to the meadows of Grantchester, a quieter and greener trip. The Punt & Walk combines a private trip along The Backs with a walking tour of the centre with an official Blue Badge guide, and there is a combined version with the City Sightseeing tourist bus, which has audio in several languages.

They also offer trips with afternoon tea, with champagne or with gin, sunset trips, a treasure hunt for children and a Bat Safari at dusk, organised with the Wildlife Trust, to see bats over the river. For groups there are celebration, corporate and school trips; those for more than 25 people are arranged to order.

Hiring a punt

If you want to wield the pole yourself, you can hire the punt by the hour on The Backs or at Grantchester, or a rowing boat or a canoe. Before setting off, staff give a short briefing and hand over the boat; from then on you are on your own. It is worth knowing that punting is hard at first and that in summer the college stretch gets very crowded. One dog is allowed on the paddleboards, when conditions permit.

Bookings and conditions

You book on their website, choosing the type of trip and the number of people, by phone (01223 359750) or by email ([email protected]). The booking, cancellation and hire conditions are in two documents on their website, one for all services and another for the hire boats, and it is worth reading them before paying. They also have an accessibility statement with details of their landing stages. Trips are given in English; the website offers no other languages. Anyone who looks under 25 may be asked for ID to be served alcohol.