Suggestions for weekend away

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BITA

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Hi there,

We are new to boating and new to the forum. We have recently acquired our first boat and have been pootling up and down the thames for a few months now. We are now ready to embark on a few days away staying somewhere other than our marina.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to go?

We are based at windsor racecourse marina. We want to go away for a few days staying overnight in 2 marinas with toilets and walking distance to a good restaurant. We would then like to still make it back home in one day.

Thanks for any help. :)

P.S. Sorry if this is on the forum more than once. It doesn't seem to be appearing.
 
Hi and welcome, you will have various suggestions I am sure, but you could go down river to Penton Hook Marina -very comfortable in a day - then second day from PHM down to Hampton Court and then back to PHM for overnight, before retracing your steps back to WRCM.

Enjoy.

Best wishes
 
Go up to Cookham for the night then maybe onto Marlow or Henley, loads of nice places to eat and the best bit of the Thames IMHO, however you will have to get used to managing away from marinas:)
 
Thanks for your help.

Yes, we have a lot to learn, like mooring on the banks with pegs you bang in?!

Unfortunately on this trip one guest needs access to toilets for medical reasons and we would prefer not to use the toilet on board for that. :o

I think we may try going to Harleyford ? We don't mind a bit of a walk into town.

We have 2 weeks booked off so will try experimenting during that time. Other problem is that none of our cooking devices work on the battery. Only on shore power.
 
There are a few places well worth knowing about where you can get access to decent loos, showers etc when moored bankside.
Cookham Lock is one (shower tokens from the lock keeper), Higginson Park Marlow another - pay mooring fee at the Leisure Centre, where facilities are.

Doesn't solve your electric cooking problem of course.....
 
Harleyford not good for eating options and a long way from town, you could try Bourne End marina I think they have facilities.
 
Hi,

Harleyford seems to be about 1.5 miles into town which is an ok walk for us if it has a path? If anyone knows what the walk is like would be helpful..

Bourne end was another option we had thought of, seemed just a little too close, but it may be the one we go for.

Had contemplated trying to get to Walton in a day but I think that would be too ambitious.
 
You can't get to the Towpath from the Marina so it will be out the estate and down the road to Marlow, not recommended. Not sure if you can cross the river easily
to Hurley but you would be much better off in Marlow town or Bourne End tbh.
 
Alan ashore said:
There are a few places well worth knowing about where you can get access to decent loos, showers etc when moored bankside.
Cookham Lock is one (shower tokens from the lock keeper), Higginson Park Marlow another - pay mooring fee at the Leisure Centre, where facilities are.

Doesn't solve your electric cooking problem of course.....
Click to expand...


Thanks will look into this.
 
Chris_d said:
You can't get to the Towpath from the Marina so it will be out the estate and down the road to Marlow, not recommended. Not sure if you can cross the river easily
to Hurley but you would be much better off in Marlow town or Bourne End tbh.
Click to expand...

If you walk out of the marina basin and around past the hard standing, then past the lakes you'll come to the edge of the estate. Turn right down the lane and you'll come to the towpath. Left for Marlow and right to cross the river via the bridge and on to Hurley. Both a fair walk though. Alternatively, security can give you taxi numbers.
 
Thanks for suggestions.

We are assured by the guys at the marina we can easily get to Walton in a day so are going to go down there.

We are planning our 2 week break around this. First week heading up to Bourne end, then Henley back to Marlow then back to windsor base, then off to Walton. Next week onto Stewarts Marine(?) thames ditton/Kingston for a couple of days, back to Walton then stop off at various places on way back up. Not sure whether to just take a risk we can get moored along the way or to make planned stops at bates wharf and penton hook. All v scary for first trip away. :ambivalence:
 
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I recommend swapping one of your Kingston nights for a day and night at the royal palace moorings at Hampton Court. A walk through the palace grounds will take you to the Kings Arms and there are plenty of good eateries on the other side of the bridge. The palace and bridge are a great backdrop at sunset and the moorings are free for 24 hours and a good height for getting on and off.

Have a good trip:)
 
Thanks. Passed it today. Didn't manage to get any Space. Swimming event on so more limited mooring.
Asked at Molsey lock about overnight mooring as seemed to have signs for overnight mooring but lock keeper seemed to say only overnight was at Hampton court. Now back at Walton marina for a night. Free as part of tingdene marinas. Good to be able to use electricity and showers etc.

Planning v small trip tomorrow to meet friends that live next to shepperton lock. Fingers crossed we can get a mooring. Looked empty when we passed on friday. :-)
 
From a visitors point of view have found it sensible to always make an early start and stop mid afternoon in order to be fairly certain of an overnight mooring in more popular spots,or stopping really late after the locals have returned back to their respective marinas.
 
Yeah. Unfortunately, had our kids join us night before. Delicious breakfast at cote brasserie then little meander round shops. Meant we didn't get away as early as we had hoped. :-( next time maybe.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.

Could I suggest that if none of your cooking devices operate without shore power that you keep a small portable gas hob on the boat to make a cuppa or bacon and eggs in the morning. it seems a shame that you are tied to a boatyard or marina for shorepower. Another couple of suggestions are to fit an invertor or carry a small genny.

hope this helps.

Tiddler.
 
Having spent first 3 years of our boating experience on the Thames we managed quite well without shore power. I bought a couple gas camping stoves from Halfords which worked really well. Cooked many meals on them. Just be sure to use them in well ventilated area. I also bought a little Honda suitcase geny on Ebay so we were quite self sufficient.
Don't forget the joy of a BBQ and glass of wine on a quiet river bank on a summers evening. Bliss.
I do miss not being on the river so maybe I will return next year.
 
Sorry only just read this. We are Shepperton which is also nice although the 'new' toilet block in basin c seems to be taking forever to fit. Hampton Court is splendid, glad you made it that far.
There are meths alternatives to gas stoves, those small gas ones have a bit of a reputation for catching alight albeit rare. We have both still in our garage somewhere and used to use them before we had alternative cooking. I agree with the comments whilst it's nice to be in a marina, and I appreciate the reasons why, being bankside and mooring up with mooring spikes and enjoying the countryside is IMHO the best bit about it. Welcome to boating and welcome to the Thames!
 
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