Trudi’s relaxing midweek break on the River Avon
Starting on a Tuesday afternoon from our base at Pershore on the River Avon, we planned a very relaxing, laid-back boating break. We wanted to escape the ‘rat race’ for a few days and this break couldn’t have been more perfect.
On our first afternoon we headed west towards the historic town of Evesham. Between Pershore and Evesham lies the small village of Wyre Piddle, where there is a lovely waterside pub. Bypassing this and quite a few amazing riverside homes (some traditional and others uber-modern) we made our way to our evening destination.
Just outside Evesham there is a tiny ferry which takes people from one side of the river to the other; it’s rather quaint and you need to warn the ferryman you’re approaching by beeping your horn 3 times, allowing him to move his chains so you don’t run into them. After this it’s not long before you see the bell tower of Evesham Abbey and parkland to your left. We moored up before Workman Bridge and walked into the town centre. Having looked around the town we found a pet-friendly pub (The Red Horse) and settled down to dinner.
On Wednesday morning we turned around and retraced our steps back towards Pershore. Mooring at Pershore Recreation Grounds, we walked into town past the public swimming pool and leisure centre. Stepping into the Star Inn, we investigated the lunch menu and decided to try some local tapas… a very good decision. After this we wandered around Pershore Abbey and its grounds; taking photos and sitting back in the sunshine. We then nipped into the local supermarket for supplies on our way back to the boat. In the evening we sampled another local pub (the Angel Inn) and enjoyed an excellent dinner there. From Pershore we cruised west towards the historic town of Tewkesbury.
The western part of the River Avon is mostly made up of farmland with cows, sheep and horses drinking from the river bank; whereas the eastern part of the river, towards Evesham, is mainly bordered by lush green woodland. At Twyning we stopped at the Fleet Inn for a G&T and snacks before continuing on, past Tewkesbury Marina and under King John’s Bridge, to our overnight moorings (which cost £3.00 per night).
Wandering over Flour Mill Bridge, we headed to the centre of Tewkesbury.There are lots of local shops and pubs in the town; museums, coffee houses, traditional bakers, butchers, hotels and restaurants. Walking down the High Street towards Tewkesbury Abbey, we stopped at the pretty Bell Hotel which is typically Tudor in appearance. We then strolled across the road to the Abbey itself, taking in numerous interesting features, including shops adorned with colourful medieval banners and some very aged timbered architecture. Feeling lazy that evening, we got a takeaway pizza to enjoy on the boat, whilst watching a film on DVD.
On our last full day we cruised back to the town of Pershore once again, mooring at the Recreation Grounds and enjoying a laid back lunch of cheese, paté and biscuits on the boat; feeding scraps to a vast convoy of ducks. That evening we walked back along the High Street to enjoy another fantastic dinner. On Saturday morning we ‘pootled in’ under Pershore Bridges and back to the boatyard once again.
The River Avon does have locks but there are no ‘flights’ to contend with. The locks are quite wide and the rush of water can be powerful, so we recommend that you open the paddles half-way at first to avoid swamping the front of your boat with water. Each lock takes about 15 minutes to complete and between Evesham and Tewkesbury there are just 6 locks.
For more information on the River Avon:
Visit our website: https://www.waterwaysholidays.com/central_england.htm or call us on 01252 796400 for friendly boating advice.
