College Backs Punt Hire

To seek a dream?

Just to pole a boat upstream

To where the green grass is more verdant

From Farewell Again, Cambridge (Xu Xhimo)

If you're looking to have your very own Cambridge adventure on the river then hiring one of our rental punts is just the thing! Take out a self-hire punt and head along the College Backs for a sense of grandeur. For sights that once inspired the poets Lord Tennyson and Xu Zhimo and many more.

feature-img Tickets from just £25.50

feature-img Flexible online bookings

Guaranteed entry time

1. Select length of hire:

90 minute hire
from £25.50

3 hour hire
from £43.50

Do you want to experience the best sights of Cambridge and have a go at punting? The 90 minutes College Backs punt rental is a great way to navigate Cambridge's heritage.

Highlights:

- See the Mathematical Bridge
- Pass by the world famous King's College Chapel
- Admire the Wren Library
- Punt under the Bridge of Sighs
- Go under the “Cam Bridge” at Magdalene College

Do you want more time to fully explore every bit of the College Backs? Then a 3 hour hire would allow plenty of time for a longer adventure.

Highlights:

- See the Mathematical Bridge
- Pass by the world famous King's College Chapel
- Admire the Wren Library
- Punt under the Bridge of Sighs
- Go under the “Cam Bridge” at Magdalene College

Know before you buy ▾

COVID-19 Safety ▾

Getting here ▾

The minimum age for hiring a boat is 16 years old. If your party has members 15 years old or younger they must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or older.
The maximum capacity of a self-hire punt is 6 people (5 passengers + 1 punter).
Aim to arrive 15 minutes before your booking slot to allow time for checking in. At check-in you'll be asked to leave a contactless card hire deposit, then read and electronically sign our Conditions of Hire.
You can easily reschedule your booking up to 1 hour before departure by following the link in your booking confirmation.
Once you've boarded your punt you'll receive a hire handover briefing from a member of our staff, after which your hire commences.
Any additional hire beyond your allotted time will be calculated at the usual hourly hire rate of £3.5 per 6 minutes.
We ask that you do your best to return your punt on time at the end of your hire slot to avoid potential delays to other customers who may be waiting.
Punt hire on the College Backs takes place between our Mill Lane and Quayside punt stations and boats can't be taken on the upper river towards Grantchester. To see Grantchester and its meadows you can book our Grantchester self-hire boats.
Paid bookings, cancelled up to 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund minus an administration fee equal to 30% of the booking's value up to a cap of £50. We are unable to offer refunds less than 48 hours in advance except in cases of dangerous conditions.
Bookings are subject to our Terms & Conditions.

Please call us on 01223 359750 if you have any questions about your purchase.

What we’re doing differently

Requiring visitors to book in advance to avoid crowding and limiting numbers on each punt.
Thoroughly sanitising all equipment (boat, cushions, pole and paddle) before and after each use.
Implementing designated pedestrian route layouts and signage on site, along with dedicated members of staff to monitor the flow of people.
Conducting briefings and hire handover procedures from one meter plus when socidal-distancing rules are in place.

What we ask of you

Bring your own hand sanitiser (and other PPE if you want to of course).
Be confidently mobile as we have had to adapt how we hold the boat to get you on and off and are unable to offer you a supporting hand or arm.
NOT to participate if you / anyone in your household/group have been infected or displayed any coronavirus symptoms, or have been in contact with anyone that has the virus, within the last 14 days.

During your visit

In order to maintain social distancing, please arrive on time. Sadly, if you're more than 15 minutes late, we won’t be able to guarantee you entry. Your entry will be at the discretion of the Duty Manager, who will base their decision on visitor numbers and the ability to maintain social distancing.
Have your booking confirmation ready to show the Scudamore’s staff member at the front entrance, preferably on your mobile device, to minimise contact.
To help keep everyone safe, please follow social distancing and government guidance throughout your visit. Please look out for our staff and any signs around the site, taking care to follow their guidance.
You are encouraged to clean or sanitise your hands immediately before and after your trip. Hand sanitiser will be available on site for the use of any customers who don’t have their own.

Before your visit, please check which punting station you are booked from; your confirmation letter will state this.

We have two locations in the city centre which you can book from:

Mill Lane Punting Station

Granta Place
Mill Lane
Cambridge
CB2 1RS

Quayside Punting Station

Magdalene Bridge
Cambridge
CB5 8AB

Parking and Public Transport

More information on Cambridge parking and public transport to our locations can be found here.

Select pricing - per boat:

Punt age requirements:

- To hire a punt you need to be aged 16 years or older
- There is no minimum age to seat in a punt
- One adult aged 18 years or older is required if the punt will seat people aged under 16 years old

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Select pricing - per boat:

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Have a question?

Do I need to pre-book?

Yes. We’ve introduced an advance booking system for our self-hire punts. This system enables customers to book a specified time slot to help us manage visitor numbers and maintain safe social distancing. If you're looking to book more than 3 boats please contact our Bookings Team on 01223 359750 or at enquires@scudamores.com.

What if I just turn up?

If you haven't booked before you arrive we strongly advise to do so on the day through our website. This guarantees you a time slot and a cheaper rate. For those that unable to pre-book we may have walk-up availability at the kiosk at our standard rates.

Can I change my booking time?

Yes. The time and date of your booking can be changed up to 1 hour in advance. Just follow the unique link in your e-booking confirmation where you can select a new date and time.

How many people can go in a punt?

All of our self-hire punts are limited to 6 people (5 passengers + 1 punter).

What should I wear?

We suggest that you wear something you don’t mind getting a little wet. Dress for the weather so bring along a mac if the forecast is for rain. You need to make sure you have the correct footwear, which is non-slip, stable, can’t fall off easily and offers protection to your toes and heel. Please do not punt in bare feet or wear sandals, flip-flops, slip-on, leather-soled or high heel shoes.

Are dogs allowed?

Yes, we are decidedly dog friendly, so feel free to bring along your four-legged friends! In our experience, dogs love a day out on (and sometimes in) the river every bit as much as their owners.

Can I book a kayak or a canoe?

Our kayaks and canoes are not available along the College Backs. They are availableto book towards Grantchester from our Boatyard punt station.

Any other questions?

Email: enquiries@scudamores.com
Phone: 01223 359750

Concessions

Take a look to see if you can use our concessions rates.

Find Out More

How to Punt

Looking to master the art of punting? This is the guide for you...

Learn here

College Backs Punt Hire

Punt Hire on the College Backs

1. Select length of hire:

What we’re doing differently

What we ask of you

During your visit

Mill Lane Punting Station

Quayside Punting Station

Parking and Public Transport

Select pricing - per boat:

Select pricing - per boat:

Have a question?

Concessions

How to Punt