Canal Boat Holiday Base Information - Base 64

Short Breaks:
There can be no more relaxing, rural, unspoiled cruising than on the Upper Thames.  This base offers the ideal location to start as you mean to go on; relax, recharge your batteries, discover a whole new way of life?and all just 90 minutes or so from much of London and the South East.
 
Just a few hours cruising takes you upstream to the Head of Navigation at Inglesham with opportunities to stop off in the countryside, visit Kelmscott Manor, Buscot House, and historic Lechlade. Take a short taxi ride to the Cotswold Wildlife Park or nearby Burford famed for its antiques and Cotswold gift shops. All ideal for a short break. If you prefer the sights and sounds of a busier river, why not choose to head downstream to Oxford or beyond ? you could reach Abingdon or even Wallingford if you wish ? but remember that Oxford is one of Britain?s most visited cities so don?t try to cram too much in.

One Week:
Head lazily upstream through winding watermeadows and sleepy villages to Lechlade - don?t forget to go the extra mile to visit the old Thames & Severn Canal entrance and Roundhouse at Inglesham, at the head of the Thames. Return downstream and onward to perhaps a pleasant evening mooring in the country, next day in Oxford, and still time to cruise further downstream to the pretty market town of Abingdon with plentiful free moorings. Retrace your steps upstream and you?ll have time to visit the places you missed on the way down, the excellent Trout Inn and ancient Priory at Godstow, Newbridge, or perhaps a last evening in the countryside, truly ?away from it all?, but don?t forget to allow enough time when planning your journey for a slower upstream journey against the current!

Ten Days ...or more:
Set off downstream and you?ll reach Oxford by the end of your first full day?s cruising. Depending on your preferences you can choose to ease off the throttle for more sightseeing and relaxation or you can spend your time cruising and enjoying the myriad sights and pleasures of river crusing. Half way through your ten day holiday could see you as far downstream as Henley or Marlow- but please remember that your return journey would be against the river current so allow more time for this!

Two Weeks ? explore the Thames and Wey, or Kennet & Avon Canals
You could comfortably relax on a two week voyage down the Thames and only reach perhaps as far as Windsor with plenty of time to savour the many quintessential Thames-side scenes such as at Henley. However two weeks would also allow you to reach Guildford on the sylvan Wey navigations (owned by the National Trust and unlike almost any other waterway in Britain), or Newbury or Hungerford on the Kennet & Avon Canal ? probably Britain?s most famous waterway?.

Three Weeks ? all the way to Bath!
Of course not many people can spare three weeks but if you?re one of the lucky ones then you can cruise the length of the Kennet and Avon Canal to Bath ? a waterway adventure par excellence!

The Thames Ring
This is one of Britain?s best known canal rings. We recommend previous experience for this route as you will be negotiating the tidal River Thames between Teddington and Brentford in West London. The route is wonderful. Visit some of the most famous riverside locations in England, chug through the Chilterns, visit the famous Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne and pretty canal villages such as Braunston, Cropredy, and Thrupp, dive through the tunnels of Northamptonshire, and savour the supremely rural Oxford Canal on your return leg to Radcot. This route is achievable in two weeks, but is better managed in three ? whichever way we?ll give you all the information you need to enjoy this supreme crusing holiday!

N.B. For boats starting from Radcot an extra licence is required to cruise on the canals and/or River Wey, payable as you cruise at the relevant first lock onto the canal or Wey Navigations.

Additional Information
Parking is free of charge.