Benson Waterfront

[Actionmat]

Moored at Wallingford and decided to walk to Benson Waterfront yesterday, to check out their moorings and book ourselves in for the evening and a meal, then hire a canoe the next day.

It should have been a mile, but as the bridge is shut at the lock due to works, the diversion on the Thames path made it over 3 miles, quite a bit of it along a busy road.
We got there at 6pm, thought we'd pay for the mooring fee and have a drink, then I planned to get a taxi to our boat to bring it up river.
Unfortunately, my wife was informed that the visitor moorings were 'probably' taken. I could see room, but it was a 'no'. Next bus back to Wallingford - due in two hours. No taxi firms answering their phones! 3 mile walk home in the dark giving my little boy a piggyback for most of the way.

I wouldn't have bothered them again, but we were in need of a pump out and water, so went through Benson earlier. All stern on moorings taken by one huge side on unattended narrowboat, left after one £20 pump out.

Tried to call before we left, but no one was picking the phone up. Won't bother again.

 

[byron]

Unfortunately Benson isn't geared up for visitors which is a shame really as it offers plenty of facilities. There may even still be washing machines and dryers there. water, fuel, pump out and not least the cafe.

 

[Actionmat]

Their website certainly gives the impression that visitors are welcome and after a week away it looked like the perfect place to stop. It's still the school holidays, the home of 'le boat' and not geared up for visiting customers? I don't get it.

 

[landlockedpirate]

Been using them for 15 years when we visit the Thames for slipway, mooring, car parking, cafe, even camped there in the motorhome a couple of times. Always found them friendly and accomodating.

Its hardly Bensons fault that the bridge is shut and you couldnt get a bus or taxi.

 

[thamesS23]

We moored overnight at benson waterfront whilst on our summer cruise earlier this year. It was a lovely spot and had a great meal at the cafe, but have to agree with comments about not being set up up for visiting boats.
I started contacting them about 2 weeks before we went there as we knew what day we would be arriving. Told them that the stern to mooring outside the cafe was not suitable for our boat and could we have one of the finger pontoon moorings with water and electricity. Spoke again about 2 days before arriving, and went through my request again, they said no problem just go on mooring number 1. They then told me that as it was a sunday i was just to go and pay for the mooring in the cafe as the office would be shut. Arrived as planned and pontoon number 1 had a boat on it, so went and into the cafe and explained and the waitress, although trying to help, could only offer the advice of just find an empty pontoon and moor there. I knew that this could be a problem as how were we to know which empty moorings wouldnt have the owners coming back at anytime. Luckily a resident there overheard and help us find a empty mooring, but only after he got hold of someone telephone number to check that they were not going to come back that night.

 

[Chris_d]

I think its a waste of time trying to book there, we just turn up and raft off one of the Le Boats if there is not a space. The only overnight moorings in Benson are at the lock. Its best to use it as a lunch stop only we find.

 

[Actionmat]

Been using them for 15 years when we visit the Thames for slipway, mooring, car parking, cafe, even camped there in the motorhome a couple of times. Always found them friendly and accomodating.

Its hardly Bensons fault that the bridge is shut and you couldnt get a bus or taxi.

I didn't say the bridge closure was their fault, but the lack of knowledge, making a call to a manager to check the mooring situation or answering the phone in the first place fell well short of my expectations.

 

[Chris_d]

I didn't say the bridge closure was their fault, but the lack of knowledge, making a call to a manager to check the mooring situation or answering the phone in the first place fell well short of my expectations.

Not surprising really the café is not connected with the boatyard in any way unfortunately.

 

[Steve Clayton]

Going upstream then at the end of the Benson river moorings is a footpath through to the main road. The adjacent field says "no mooring" but we used to ignore it. Never a problem

 

[Actionmat]

Thanks for the tip. Went past there and moored up just past The Thame. I'm glad we did, I had no idea how close it was to the village of Dorchester. A very pleasant morning spent walking around the Abbey, followed by lunch at the White Hart.

 

[prof pat pending]

There are also a number of moorings just past Days that are an easy walk to the village

Some of the more secluded spots between the trees are very nice, any of them up to the steel wall work but you may have to climb a 5 bar gate

 

[watson1959]

Shame about your experience at Benson: I have to say it's completely different to my own.

Had a very fast call back from my out of hours request for mooring a few days hence; booked a place; we then arrived after office closing with full access to spotless toilets/showers; left money next morning in the Le Boat office as we wanted an early-ish start.

 

[thamesS23]

although my experience of the 'organisation' wasn't brilliant, I have to agree that the facilities (especially the shower block), were some of the best I have experienced.

 

[Bertramdriver]

Going upstream then at the end of the Benson river moorings is a footpath through to the main road. The adjacent field says "no mooring" but we used to ignore it. Never a problem

I live here. Don't get hung up with rules and regulations. If you can't get on next to the cafe go up or down river and find a space. Down river ignore the don't moor sign in the park (put up by the very infrequent tourist boat co) but be careful the walkway is a bit ropey. If you've booked a pontoon space and you arrive to find it occupied either raft up or slide into an empty space. That way you will signal that you need attention and someone will find you. The cafe and le boat marina are not related so don't sound off at the waitresses.
The lock and bridge being repaired is driving us all crazy so don't take it personally and please come back. It's a great place to be