Your cruising area covers the River Wey, the Royal River Thames and - subject to conditions- the Basingstoke Canal, giving approximately 170 miles of navigation to explore. This will give you plenty to do, wheither you choose a short break, week or fotrnight holiday. If you want to venture further on to the Kennet & Avon or Oxford or Grand Union Canals, you will need to take a 3 week holiday.
The River Wey was first established as a commercial waterway in 1653 and is one of the oldest navigable waterways in the country. It was used to transport a variety of goods during its working lifetime, including gunpowder used in the Napoleonic Wars. Mr. Harry Stevens donated the River Wey to the National Trust in 1964 and it is now one of the most beautiful and picturesque waterways in Britain and often referred to as Surrey's best kept secret. It is just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of modern life and yet near enough to still provide the luxuries to make a comfortable holiday.
The 20 miles of navigable river holds untold delights at every bend and the historic locks and cottages punctuate the open fields and meandering wooded stretches of this ancient navigation.
Godalming : A pleasant market town at the head of the Navigation with a great choice of pubs and restaurants and an historic High Street.
Shalford Mill : A National
Trust property sometimes open to the public.
Guildford : The County Town of Surrey with its
castle, theatre, cathedral, cobbled High Street, excellent
shops and restaurants.
Dapdune Wharf : The original boat building centre
for the River Wey and now a National Trust visitors centre with exhibitions,
models and displays showing the history of the waterway and how the bargemen
and their families lived.
Spectrum Centre : An award winning Leisure Centre within walking
distance of the river.
RHS Wisley Gardens : World famous and within reach
of the River.
Weybridge is where the Wey meets the River Thames, is also worth a visit.
There are also numerous pubs, either beside or just a few minutes walk away along the length of the navigations.
The Royal River Thames: is the queen of our English Waterways.
All our craft are licensed to cruise the River Thames from Easter to December each year, but you need at least a four days break to visit this waterway.
Places to see:
Hampton Court Palace,
Thorpe Park, Runnymede, Windsor, Eton, Marlow, Henley and Oxford to
name a few.
The Basingstoke Canal dates back to the 1790's and in 1991, 32 of its 37 miles from the River Wey at Woodham to Greywell near Basingstoke were re-opened for navigation. Experienced crews who would like to visit the Basingstoke Canal must prebook their passage with the Canal Owners and purchase a visitors licence as least 1 month prior to the holiday as visitor numbers are limited by water supply. www.basingstoke-canal.co.uk
Typical Routes:
| Duration | Routes | Things to do |
| 3 or 4 day short breaks | Cruise the length of the River Wey between Godalming and Weybridge. | Guildford Dapdune Wharf: see above. Wisley Gardens: - within walking distance of the River is the garden of the Royal Horticultural Society. A pleasure to visit all year round. Excellent gift shop, restaurant and café. |
| 1 week cruise | River Wey and River Thames to Windsor or Hampton Court and
return. (So much to see that you won't be able to do it all in one week!) |
As above plus: Eton: Visit the High Street and famous Eton College. LegoLand: A great day out for families with younger children. Over 50 fantastic rides and attractions. 2 miles from Windsor Town Centre. Bus services operate from Windsor and Eton Riverside railway stations. Open from Easter to beginning of November. |
| 10 or 11 day cruises | River Wey to Byfleet and onto the Basingstoke Canal. (extra licence
required and subject to water levels) OR River Wey and River Thames to Henley and return |
Basingstoke Canal: Visit the remains of King John's 13th
century castle from where he rode out to sign the Magna Carta in
1215. Carefully restored original canal bridges and the 1,000ft long Ash Embankment, an aqueduct over the new A331, are amongst the architectural features of the canal, along with the Greywell Tunnel (not navigable), home to many species of bats. The route passes through Woking with its theatres, cinemas, shops, to Odiham. |
| 2 week cruise | River Wey and River Thames to Oxford or an energetic cruise to Reading and then along the Kennet and Avon Canal to Newbury and return. (extra licence required for K & A Canal). |
The Thames from Windsor to Oxford passes through many pretty villages and small towns. Bray, Clivedon, Cookham, Marlow, Henley, Reading, Goring and Abingdon are all worth a visit. From Reading you can cruise the River Kennet the short distance to the start of the Kennet and Avon Canal. There are 107 locks from here to Hanham the other side of Bath. The waterway winds through rural Berkshire countryside passing wharves, cottages and old pumping stations. Visit Blakes Museum, Aldermaston Visitor Centre and operate the turf- sided Monkey Marsh Lock before reaching Newbury. |
| 3 week cruise | The Thames Ring - River Wey, River Thames, Oxford Canal, Grand
Union Canal, Thames Tideway and return to River Wey. (Extra licence required, along with considerable experience. At the discretion of Guildford Boat House). OR |
Joining the South Oxford Canal from the Thames at Oxford
and travelling north through the Cherwell Valley town of Banbury, Fenny Compton
and up to Napton where the canal joins the Grand Union Canal. Stop at Stoke
Bruerne to see the Waterways Museum and pass through the longest navigable
tunnel in Britain at Blisworth. The Grand Union passes through London to join
the Thames by Kew Gardens. Travelling up the Thames you pass Hampton Court
before turning back on to the River Wey. |
| An energetic cruise to Devizes on the Kennet and Avon Canal, to view the Caen Hill Flight. (extra Licence required). | Carrying on from Newbury into Wiltshire and through the Bruce Tunnel and the Vale of Pewsey to Devizes and the start of the famous Caen Hill Flight. Take a walk to lock 44 and view all the way down to lock 29!! |