CRUISE THE COTSWOLDS AND RIVER THAMES

The River Thames, England's finest river, flows from its source in the heart of the Cotswolds near Lechlade through a rural idyll above Oxford, characterised by water meadows and cattle grazing, down to meet the Oxford Canal at the 'City of Dreaming Spires' with fabulous views as one approaches. Travelling upstream from Oxford or the Dukes Cut, on the beautifully peaceful Upper Thames the locks are often worked for you by smart and friendly lock-keepers, giving you the ultimate isolated and relaxing boating holiday, interspersed with historic waterside inns and settlements, all linked not only by water but the easy-to-walk Thames Long Distance Path.

 Downstream from Oxford the Royal River Thames links many beautiful and some famous waterside towns and villages - an unforgettable boating experience as you mingle with traditional Thames craft such as skiffs, passenger steamers, and rowing eights. The choice of an entirely rural or cosmopolitan cruise is in your hands! Notable places below Oxford are the pretty waterside towns of Abingdon and Wallingford – both with waterside moorings – and the waterside villages of Clifton, Goring and Pangbourne. For a longer hire (2 weeks) it would be possible to venture as far as Henley on Thames or Marlow, or even Windsor – but that is a lot of boating!

It is just 6hrs boating to reach Dukes Cut Junction from which you can join the River Thames and, with another link at the end of the Oxford Canal in the city centre at Jericho, you can even navigate a small ‘Ring’ or circular route as you travel along the river in one direction and return along the canal in the other!

WEEKEND BREAK - OXFORD / THE OXFORD RING

Easy cruising through the outstanding rural scenery of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds borders from Lower Heyford. Oxford offers excellent shopping and a wide range of pubs, cinemas, restaurants and clubs: a perfect destination for history and night-life lovers. You can even cruise one of the smallest canal 'Rings' by turning onto the Dukes Cut and the River Thames as it flows across Port Meadow, giving you the iconic view of Oxford's Dreaming Spires. Turn into the secretive Sheepwash Channel to re-join the Oxford Canal in the heart of the city ('Jericho') for your homeward journey. Moorings in Jericho on the Oxford Canal lie within just 1/4 mile of Oxford City Centre. Total cruising time 14hrs.

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MIDWEEK BREAK - THE RIVER THAMES

With the extended time a midweek short canal break offers, you could cruise further downstream beyond Oxford onto the River Thames to the pretty waterside town of Abingdon – return journey time 24hrs. You could simply moor in Jericho and spend more time discovering the Oxford - City of Dreaming Spires – return journey time 14hrs. Alternatively turn into the secretive Dukes Cut  before reaching Oxford and head upstream on the Thames towards Lechlade in utterly remote rural tranquility with only the occasional waterside pub interrupting the solitude and beauty of the river – return journey time to Dukes Cut Junction 12 hrs – the rest is up to you 😊

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ONE WEEK - OXFORD CANAL AND RIVER THAMES

The Oxfordshire Cotswolds are never better viewed than from a narrowboat as you cruise upstream to the navigable limit of the River Thames at Lechlade from our base on the Oxford Canal! It's a gentle boat holiday - plenty of time to stop along the way - and it's also supremely rural with not a town in sight until you reach Lechlade. Not only boating but walking is good too, with the Thames Long Distance Path alongside... total return journey time approx. 35hrs (subject to river conditions.)

If you prefer to cruise downstream, reach Goring or Pangbourne before returning, having taken in many of the best sights along the Thames including Oxford, Abingdon, the miniature thatched village of Clifton Hampden, Wallingford, and Goring. You could also visit the waterside Child Beale Wildlife Park at Pangbourne. Don't forget that the upstream journey may take longer owing to cruising against the current! Total minimum return journey time approx. 42 hrs.

Please note that an extra Visitors Licence is payable upon entry to the River Thames i.e at the first Thames lock you pass through.

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