Overnight Mooring in Oxford

[jez56uk]

Weather permitting I plan to cruise up river to Oxford from Reading next week (week off as its half-term). Having never ventured further up river than Clifton Hampden I'm interested in the forums views on overnight moorings that are close to the city centre. According to the EA website there are 2 public sites.. but are there any others that charge a fee? Having the family with me, the top priorities are safety, quiteness and reasonably close proximity to the centre.
Thanks

 

[heron]

If you want to be near the city centre, The Watermans pub is probably the best moorings. We`ve stayed there quite a few times, its close to the shops, safe and quiet, free and the pubs not bad either. If you can squeeze under the bridge I'd strongly recomend venturing further upstream even if its only a lock or 2. Its a completly different world past the bridge.

 

[jez56uk]

Never done it, but if I lower the windscreen the quoted air draft is 7' 3"..so just 3 inches to spare to squeeze under the bridge.. If time permits it's definitely an option to try it. Thanks for the advice on the Watermans's.

 

[ianc1200]

Does anybody know whether Osney Marina do visitors moorings (for payment obviously). A friend thinking of going up and spending a week exploring Oxford, & could do with the security & safety, hopefully electrics/showers etc.

IanC

 

[TrueBlue]

Never done it, but if I lower the windscreen the quoted air draft is 7' 3"..so just 3 inches to spare to squeeze under the bridge.. If time permits it's definitely an option to try it. Thanks for the advice on the Watermans's.

Just in case anyone else is reading this thread, "The Waterman's moorings" is the stretch between the upstream end of Osney lock and the Botley Road bridge" - about 200 yds+ long. Relatively quiet - despite the bridge carrying one of the main traffic arteries into Oxford.
Reasonably secure as there is always foot traffic passing by.
The moorings are "managed" (kept an eye on) by the lockkeeper who may be able to advise you when it's full-ish.
You could also ask him about the clearance under the bridge - he has been known to "run a bit of water" down for a short period.

Cross over the bridge and walk straight on and you'll be bang in the centre of the City.

Can I make a plug for an inexpensive Chinese restaurant - SoJo - it's in Hythe Bridge Street; the left hand of the two roads leading to the centre. Slightly before the bridge over the canal, on the right hand side. It does a select yourself Manchurian Wok lunch for about £6, or a choice of Dim Sum for a similar cost, as well as a full and slightly different main menu. The younger Mr. Coren praised it in a Torygraph article last year.


It's a much better mooring than the lower one at Christ Church meadow which although longer and quieter suffers from the occasional setting adrift of craft in the early hours of the morning.

 

[LimL]

I've never had a problem opposite Christ Church meadow except for the leaves from the trees overhead! And speeding cyclists. It is shallower nearer Folly Bridge though (my draft is 1.2m) and when there last autumn I had to moor on the down river part.

There are concealed mooring rings halfway down the stone bank in many places, use these to deter miscreants!

 

[oldgit]

There are concealed mooring rings halfway down the stone bank in many places, use these to deter miscreants

And remember when leaving the boat or turning in for the night.....to drop your anchor.
give it plenty of chain and fasten it so the chain dangles on the outside .If they do let the boat adrift the boat will be away from the bank and harder to get to if when they oiks then realise anchor is down........er and do not set off in morning forgetting it is down.
Ahem ...err... somebody I know does this frequently.

 

[nickcred]

Safe

Moored there each year on our annual getaway and apart from a few noisy teens never had an issue, just drop Anchor and enjoy

 

[byron]

Moored there each year on our annual getaway and apart from a few noisy teens never had an issue, just drop Anchor and enjoy

What you on about Nick. There's only one noisy Teen on your boat. . . oh! wait a mo., he sometimes brings a friend

 

[nickcred]

lol

just saw this Byron as have been on hols in Algarve, the good lady insisted we had some beach this year and even worse took the 18 year old lol, luckily without said friend Now I know why we were never disturbed it was our teen who was the noisy one

Managed to find some boats having carefully rented an apartment 10 mins from the Marina, went Dolphin watching, fantastic, round the caves and then for my sins rented a couple of jet ski's, noisy son said it was the best thing he had ever done. I think he meant beating his Dad on lap times lol. Have to admit it was a real buzz and those things handle incredibly well. My wife said "o no I have seen that look in your eyes before, you have that I am going to have to buy one of these look on your face" Sounds like permission to me lol

Spent yesterday down in Poole Harbour on the little speedboat we purchased a few weeks back, great fun despite it taking 2 hours in the horrible traffic and was nice just to Anchor up for lunch and not worry about mooring spaces.

Monday next week me a friend and I are heading down to Kris Cruisers from Temple for the 300 hour engine service, intend taking it really slowly and with plenty of beer stops and not planning to arrive until Wednesday. Why take a day when you can take three. I can't wait to get back on the river, even two weeks seems forever

 

[byron]

Wish I was rich like you and could afford two boats and a holiday abroad. The best I can manage is a night in the garage with a sleeping bag. Which reminds me, Eileen is back from Spain on Tuesday next.

 

[nickcred]

lol old cheap boats for me but still fun, looking at the Jet Ski's the one I like 2nd hand is still 5k, too much for a few days of run each year I am thinking Save it for the upgrade for the old Birchwood one day, hope you are well Byron and we will get up your way in the summer. Eldest shocked me last week by saying he wants to learn to sail, think he has a vision of bumming around for a year or so after college/before Uni, more skills the better I say

 

[byron]

Sailing is truly the best way to truly learn about boating. It teaches a multitude of skills like reading waves, winds, currents. My youngest sailed & raced out of Ramsgate aboard Peter Jackson's 'Assassin' and was the better for it. He became an all rounder when he added that experience to his general experiences with me. At the age of 14 he was single handing my boat from St Kats to Ramsgate and often single handed it to Calais & Bolougne.

Encourage him it will do nothing but good and will come out of it able to teach you a thing or two.

 

[the_wanderer]

Be careful below Osney Lock.

If the moorings above Osney Lock are full do not moor below the lock. It may look pleasant and peaceful during the day but there are all sorts of scumbags wandering about at night.

The moorings above the lock are excellent and free for the first 24 hours and the area is well lit and tidy. The Watermans Arms is well worth a visit and does good food and beer. Breakfasts are also available as at my last visit in September last year. If you miss the breakfast opening time there is a lovely little greasy spoon just over the bridge on the left towards town. Highly reccomended.

If the moorigs are full carry on to above Godstow Bridge. The moorings are free and a three mile or so bus ride into town. The Trout pub is a bit up market but there are a couple of quite reasonable pubs in the village that serve good food and quite a good general store.


Regards.

Alan.

 

[ianc1200]

Could be related to the water levels thread, but my friend booked into Osney Mill Marina last Thursday for a week, but the depth on entering the marinas & in the berth itself was not enough for a 3'6" draft, however for shallower craft they do sometimes have visitor moorings if prebooked.