Short Break Route Suggestions (3 & 4 nights):
Relaxed route: Hampton Court and Return – 35 miles, 14 locks, 13 hours total
Cruise downstream through Old Windsor Lock towards Runnymede where the Magna Carta was sealed by King John on 15th June 1215. Overlooking Runnymede is the Air Forces Memorial with the names of the twenty thousand men and women who died during World War II and have no known graves. Also the site of the John F Kennedy Memorial. Continue through Bell Weir Lock and past Staines where there are public moorings if you need to stop for groceries or a meal in the town. Pass through Penton Hook Lock and moor at the visitor moorings in Penton Hook marina to visit Thorpe Park theme park. Alternatively, continue past the towns of Chertsey and Weybridge to Hampton Court. Moor up at the palace moorings to explore the home of Henry VIII and visit the grand gardens and maze.
Intermediate route: Hampton Court and Return – 35 miles, 14 locks, 13 hours total
As above but with more time to visit both Thorpe Park and Hampton Court as each visit can take more than half a day.
Active route: Windsor, Henley and Return – 48 miles, 18 locks, 19 hours total
Our marina is only 1 mile downstream of the visitor moorings by Windsor Bridge for easy access to explore the town and castle and Eton College on the other bank. The College Chapel, School Yard and cloisters are open most afternoons. Windsor Castle (dates from 1066) is the largest inhabited castle in the world. Open, with few exceptions, throughout the year. Includes St George’s Chapel, dating from 1475 which holds the tombs of ten monarchs. 6 miles upstream is the village of Bray which offers a choice of excellent restaurants and pubs. Next is Maidenhead with its busy and attractive riverside and Brunel’s famous rail bridge over the Thames constructed in 1839. With a span of 128ft, it is the world’s longest single brick built arch. The route now passes Cliveden, now owned by the National Trust, previously the home of Lady Astor and the background to many 20th C political intrigues and scandals. Cookham village is worth a visit with its antique shops, pubs, restaurants and boutiques and is one of a number of locations along the Thames where the colourful Swan Upping Ceremony takes place during the third week of July. Above Cookham bridge the river widens out towards Bourne End and in 3 miles arrives at Marlow. There is a large choice of places to eat, including a well known hotel; all services can be found in the town. There are stunning views and scenery towards the beautiful market town of Henley-on-Thames, set in the heart of Oxfordshire countryside. Visitor moorings are available at Mill Meadow or either below and above the bridge; close to the moorings is the River & Rowing Museum which features displays and information about the River Thames.
Weekly Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: Caversham and Return – 66 miles, 26 locks, 26 hours total
As per the active short break above (but spend more time sightseeing off the boat) and continue past Henley. Wargrave is a large historic village with a post office, chemist, grocery store and 3 pubs. 3 miles upstream is Sonning, a very pretty and well preserved village. The 19th C church has remarkable monuments and some good 15th C brasses. The 18th Century Sonning flour mill with working wheel on the island has been converted to a Restaurant/Theatre. The river now heads towards Reading, passing the entrance to the Kennet and Avon Canal and the Thames & Kennet marina which has pump out facilites, overnight moorings and shower facilities. The entrance to the Kennet and Avon Canal is just past the marina entrance on the opposite south bank. A supermarket is accessible from moorings just above the canal entrance on the west bank. Visitor moorings are also available close to Reading Bridge or Caversham Bridge nearer the centre of of the town. With Caversham to the North and Reading to the South of the river, there are plenty of services nearby including chemists, supermarkets etc.
Intermediate route: Goring and Return – 86 miles, 30 locks, 33 hours total
As per the relaxed weekly route above, but continue past Caversham for another 9 miles towards Goring. En route, stop above the lock at Mapledurham. Most of the village is a conservation area and there are 33 listed buildings in and around the village, including farmhouses, barns, stables, houses, cottages, statues, etc. as well as a restored and working water mill, one of the oldest corn mills on the Thames. Visit the estate and Mapledurham House, built around the time of the Spanish Armada (check for opening times). A couple of miles further on is Whitchurch on north bank and Pangbourne to the south. Kenneth Graham, author of Wind in the Willows in 1904, lived in Church Cottage, Pangbourne. Whitchurch Bridge is a toll bridge. There are a couple of easily accessed dog friendly pubs within walking distance of the bridge. Between Whitchurch and Goring is Beale Park, a 300 acre wildlife park with a renowned collection of rare species of birds and mammals and miniature railway. Free daytime moorings are available, with access to Beale Park through the nearby River Gate.
Active route: Wallingford and Return – 98 miles, 34 locks, 38 hours total
As per the intermediate route above towards the beautiful market town of Wallingford. Moor up by Wallingford Bridge (small fee for overnight mooring) for a short walk into the town - one of the oldest Royal Boroughs established in Saxon times. Visit the Castle Gardens, with the remains of a Norman castle or browse the shops in the centre before turning your boat for the return journey. The pleasant broad stretch of river from Goring passes by the small villages of Moulsford and North Stoke. Wallingford has links with Agatha Christie who lived nearby and is also the setting for the fictional Causton in the Midsomer Murder TV series.
Fortnight Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: Hampton Court Palace, Wallingford and Return – 133 miles, 49 locks, 51 hours total
A combination of the route down to Hampton Court and then come back up river, passing the marina and on towards Wallingford and back again.
Intermediate route: Oxford and Return - 142 miles, 52 locks, 55 hours total
As per the active week to Wallingford, allowing more time to visit places en route and spend a day in Oxford. Above Wallingford is Benson which has a boatyard with pump-out and water facilities. The village has a good range of shops and services. 7 miles up river, Abingdon is reached with moorings available below the bridge for access to the town with its many pubs and eating places. There are also visitor mooirings just upstream by Abbey Meadow - a pleasant park with an interactive water feature, outdoor heated swimming pool and well equipped play area. Ceremonial Swan Upping takes place in late July each year. The approach to Oxford is marked by Kennington Railway Bridge, followed by Isis Bridge. Bridge heights get progressively lower with Osney Bridge, nearest the centre of Oxford, having 7' 6" headroom, so not all cruisers can pass under. Oxford has lots to do including a Tourist Information Centre, the colleges, galleries, museums and botanic gardens.
Active Route: Lechlade and Return- 201 miles, 72 locks, 77 hours total
Continue past Oxford for a real rural escape travelling through quiet, open meadowland, past picturesque riverside pubs and villages. Cruiseupstream, passing through Pinkhill Lock and the waterside pub at Hythe and under one of the oldest stone bridges on the river at Newbridge. Continue through Shifford Lock, following the contours of the river past a riverside pub at Tadpole and through a couple of locks on the way to Radcot. Pass under the impressive triple-arched 13th Century stone bridge and continue through Grafton Lock and then you are in beautiful countryside en route to the pristine village of Kelmscott, home to Kelmscott Manor, built in 1570. The house and gardens are open to the public at selected times of the year. The river meanders its way to St John’s Lock, after which there are several mooring points to choose from to stop and visit the market town of Lechlade; watch out for the cows on the field moorings - they can be very curious! The tall spire visible from the river belongs to the 15th Century church of St Lawrence. Take a stroll around this idyllic Cotswold town or sample one of the many pubs, cafes and browse the antique shops. Turn either at one of the boatyards or at the Round House winding hole a little further on.
