Derby Riverboat
Take a trip on the UK’s most bio-diverse urban river
The Derby Riverboat, Outram, was launched on the River Derwent in October 2021 and began taking passengers in August 2022. The service runs each year between Spring and Autumn taking 12 passengers at a time on regular trips up and down the river from the city centre up to Darley Abbey and back (taking approximately 45 minutes).
Please note that the Causey Bridge platform requires passengers to board the boat via a swimming pool style ladder and is therefore not recommended for all visitors.
We are working with third parties to build the Phoenix Green Electric Boat Station which will replace the existing boarding platform and allow full wheelchair access, please follow us on social media to get updates on the new boat station. Currently there is only one boarding / disembarking point but this maybe expanded in future years.
Charter trips / Group Bookings are now availability (subject to our regular timetable) please contact info@derbycanal.org.uk to find out more.
Customers using the boat will be able to listen to an audio commentary on the way up the river which is crammed with facts about Derby’s fascinating history and it’s exciting plans for the future. There will be on board refreshments and educational entertainment for children of all ages. Please see our e-brochure for more details.
Over a years’ worth of design work has gone into the boat and great attention has been made to making the boat as environmentally friendly as possible. The boat’s propulsion system is fully electric with the batteries being partially charged using on board solar panels. The Trust hopes that this will inspire local people to adopt electric vehicles and encourage local boat owners to convert to zero emission propulsion.
The Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust aim to improve the customer offering year after year adding new features each season.
Please see our e-brochure by clicking on the thumbnail, right.
Why is our boat called “Outram”?
The first boat in the Derby Riverboat fleet is called “Outram”.
Benjamin Outram was born in Derbyshire in 1764; he built many canals and railways across England and Wales and was so well respected amongst the engineering community he became one of the country’s leading engineering consultants at the start of the industrial revolution.
The Derby Canal is widely regarded as the pinnacle of his achievements especially as it included some innovative engineering concepts such as the 13 metre long single-span Holmes Aqueduct and the “Little Eaton Gangway” a tramway which cleverly extended the goods transport network to this essential part of the country and brought coal to the city of Derby and beyond.
In 1790 he founded the Benjamin Outram and Company, later to become Butterley Engineering Company, to use iron and coal found during the construction of local canals and which was later to produce St Pancras Railway station and the Falkirk Wheel boat lift in Scotland.
We are proud that our first boat will carry the name “Outram” and maybe in future years can be joined by other boats on the river and the restored canal.
Tickets
Please visit our tickets page for more information on how to buy tickets and for price information: