New to the Thames and not sure where to go

Whitelighter

Whitelighter

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So this year I have the use of a Stevens 1040/34 based at Windsor race course marina. Really looking forward to haring it as a change from coastal boating but I have never been on the river before so am a little unsure of a few things.

Firstly, where can I go? Can I stop anywhere along the river or do I need to go into another marina?

Are there any bylaws or regulations I need to be aware of?

Where would be a good place to go in a day (so there, overnight and back) from the Windsor base.

Thanks in advance.
 
Whitelighter said:
So this year I have the use of a Stevens 1040/34 based at Windsor race course marina. Really looking forward to haring it as a change from coastal boating but I have never been on the river before so am a little unsure of a few things.

Firstly, where can I go? Can I stop anywhere along the river or do I need to go into another marina?



Are there any bylaws or regulations I need to be aware of?

Where would be a good place to go in a day (so there, overnight and back) from the Windsor base.

Thanks in advance.
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The biggest desision will be to turn left or right outbthe marina ... You will find you mostly turn left and head up river.

Plenty of places to moor and yes most marinas will have visitors berths but you will find far more moorings elsewhere which will be nicer.

Will answer more on morn.
 
Hi

I am a newbie having only been doing this for two years. My experience is limited to the area within a few days boating of Lechlade - which is a long way left of you :-) Up here one can moor overnight in the middle of nowhere by banging a couple of pins in to a field. There are rumours of farmers asking for £5 mooring fees but I've never seen them because I moor at dusk. Except at the field just downstream of Ha'penny Bridge at Lechlade where a daily mooring charge is collected - mostly to ensure people don't live there rather than for the £4 charge. I believe one may use an anchor in the Thames over night - providing a hazard isn't created. I've not done it over night but certainly have used an anchor in quiet places for an hour or three. Not sure how wise that is at busy Windsor though.


I guess you've seen this:

http://www.visitthames.co.uk/things-to-do/boating
 
Whitelighter said:
So this year I have the use of a Stevens 1040/34 based at Windsor race course marina. Really looking forward to haring it as a change from coastal boating but I have never been on the river before so am a little unsure of a few things.

Firstly, where can I go? Can I stop anywhere along the river or do I need to go into another marina?

Are there any bylaws or regulations I need to be aware of?

Where would be a good place to go in a day (so there, overnight and back) from the Windsor base.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

We just had our first year of boating on the Thames, and didn't know much about mooring places. We got hold of a copy of the Thames map and asked around. We love mooring at Cookham, Henley and Hurley for overnight and weekend trips. Windsor on the Eton side is nice for the day, as we have a wander in town, then get a coffee on the way back. There's loads of other nice spots too.

Get hold of the map and pop into racecourse office, I am sure they will mark off a few places for you..

I started a thread some time ago, and got a good response. Have a look.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?315403-List-of-places-to-moor-up-on-the-thames&highlight=where+to+moor+on+the+Thames
 
Your limit upstream will be Osney Bridge Oxford which was built ridiculously low. Still lots of interesting towns to moor up in between Windsor and Oxford. Of course the tidway through London below Teddington if you get your tides right with mooring in St.Katts by Tower Bridge is a must.
 
Hello,welcome to the Thames,lots of good places to moor,im based at Windsor,[Willows]next to Windsor Marina,we usually do an o/night at Cookham,[3 locks up] or Temple or Hurly,also some good eating places. On longer trips up to Oxford area,cheers,all the best,Dave.
 
Get a copy of the River Thames Cruising guide produced by the BMF the marina office should have them and they are free. Alternatively buy a copy of River Thames Book by Chris Cove-Smith which has recently been updated and reprinted this also gives you information about pubs, restaurants etc. As already said Cookham is a good over night or if you want to go a bit further, Hurley, Medmenham or Henley these are all left out of the marina. Do not go into another marina unless you really need to, make sure you have mooring stakes and put them in the ground. You cannot moor on peoples property and anywhere else will have no mooring signs, otherwise it's reasonably apparent where you can moor. Some places are free, some charge. Medmenham and Henley are looked after by Steve and he will come along by boat or car to collect £8 for the night. If you are going later in the year a BBQ is a good thing to have or find the nearest good pub. Thames Forumites will be able to point you in the right direction!

I am just up the river from you at Windsor MDL if you need any more help.
 
Welcome to the Thames.

This is the start (well almost) of my third year.......its a lovery river....you'll have a great time whichever way you go. I'm based in Reading, however a mate and I made it down to Windsor Racecourse for an overnighter last autumn: it was a good 8hr trip including queues at locks and stop for lunch on the islands at Cliveden.....

Lovely river.......lots of friendly people and a few who believe they own it :)
 
You may need to watch your draught at some of these places!

I think it's around 4 feet on your Stevens, Am I correct?

If so, watch out at Windsor on the meadow side, lots of boats moor bows in to prevent prop damage.

We enjoy Windsor, Hurley, Staines, Hampton Court Palace (free!) Cliveden islands (watch draught!) Cookham, and plenty of other places.

Why don't you start off with a pretty mooring though? Windsor's better than Racecourse, and has a clubhouse, while Bray is far prettier, and also has a clubhouse which is open for club events. You don't actually need to leave your moorings in either of those cases, if you don't feel like it!

You also don't need a Garmin and rescue crew to go out in the first place :p
 
B1s Advice.

As an occasional visitor,the best advice we were given was start looking for your overnight mooring early.This ensures you skilfully pilot into a monster mooring space before a relaxed lunch,avoiding the desperate late in the day "squeeze in anywhere" stress inducing drama(Hampton Court) in either a spot 6" to small or even worse at the far end of nowhere where all the rocks/shopping trolleys/livaboards lurk with their bloody noisy generators.
 
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A good weekend trip for you would be to Harleyford Marina but only if you prefer shorepower overnight (just upriver from Marlow). About four leisurely hours. Watch the bridge height at Cookham Lock cut with your windscreen or high canopy! If you don't need shore power then Marlow would be a good trip, but can get busy in the summer. Hurley lock (at Harleyford/Hurley) has some lovely overnight moorings and you can wander into the village for a pint. About 1.5 miles upriver from Hurley are the meadow moorings on the right bank (£8) and you can walk to the Dog & Badger for some decent food (some here might disagree :) ). Obviously no shore power but a beautiful spot and great for a summer bbq or a peaceful night watching the sheep. Some of the bankside here can be shallow for a keel. Just keep the nose out. Assuming no floods this year you should have a great time. And I discovered, after being on the coast, that you can keep the beer/wine handy without fear of it flying overboard...
 
Cashbuyer said:
A good weekend trip for you would be to Harleyford Marina but only if you prefer shorepower overnight (just upriver from Marlow). About four leisurely hours. Watch the bridge height at Cookham Lock cut with your windscreen or high canopy! If you don't need shore power then Marlow would be a good trip, but can get busy in the summer. Hurley lock (at Harleyford/Hurley) has some lovely overnight moorings and you can wander into the village for a pint. About 1.5 miles upriver from Hurley are the meadow moorings on the right bank (£8) and you can walk to the Dog & Badger for some decent food (some here might disagree :) ). Obviously no shore power but a beautiful spot and great for a summer bbq or a peaceful night watching the sheep. Some of the bankside here can be shallow for a keel. Just keep the nose out. Assuming no floods this year you should have a great time. And I discovered, after being on the coast, that you can keep the beer/wine handy without fear of it flying overboard...
Click to expand...

Sorry - before you all have a go. That should read 'keep the stern out' Doh
 
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