On a warm, summer afternoon there is no better way to spend your time than at Oundle’s oldest and best kept secrets. The Oundle Boating and Riverside Club, situated just off North Street on the west side of the River Nene, offers a fun and relaxing experience for the whole family.

The club, which has been a historic part of Oundle since 1899, offers its members the chance to experience the River Nene in all its glory while providing a safe and friendly environment for both adults and children. Members have a wide selection of pleasure boats at their disposal, ranging from stable one-person and two-person kayaks, suitable for both children and the inexperienced canoeist, to more advanced craft such as single person rowing boats and Canadian canoes for those who enjoy a more serious sport.

The boating season officially begins in May when the boat club celebrates with its annual spring BBQ. This is just one of many social events that fill the Oundle Boating calendar, allowing new members to experience the friendly and social atmosphere that the boat club provides. The ever growing club, which at present has 60 members, also holds a range of other events throughout the year, while its strong links with Bedford sub-aqua club allow it to host a range of events other than boating.

The Boating Club is entirely self funded, paid for completely by membership subscription fees and external donations. It has formed a strong community, where the members work together to run their club. The club’s committee help to organise the maintenance of the twelve club-owned boats and the storage that is situated next to the clubhouse. In addition to this, the club has two fixed environmental employees who, as members, have volunteered to ensure that the boating activitiy is carried out in an environmentally friendly manner, while also ensuring members follow the club’s water safety schemes.

After taking a trip out on the river and experiencing the fun that boating in Oundle can offer, I was surprised about how little I knew about the Boat Club and about how such a fun amenity was not overwhelmed with more members. Tucked away at the edge of Oundle, the boat club really is Oundle’s best kept secret.