Indigo Dream’s Rough Guide to Moorings!
There’s plenty of information about moorings – our trusty Nicholson’s and Pearson’s guides; local BW offices, Waterscape Boaters Guides and the sometimes informative BW totem poles. However it’s all very dry and doesn’t cover what people felt about a particular mooring spot – was there trouble? was it noisy? Was there dog-walking?
With this in mind, we thought we’d set up an information page dedicated to our experience of different mooring spots going back a year or so. Firstly it will be an aide-memoire for us as this blog is now our boat’s log but we hope it may be of use to others as well. Of course, the usual ‘health warnings’ apply – it’s based on our experiences – yours might be different! If you want to let us know what you though about different mooring spots then please post a comment – I’ll try to incorporate as many of your thoughts as I can into the page as well. As we’re revisiting many of the moorings, I’ve also added the year that we visited so you can get an idea of how up-to-date the information might be.
It’s in alphabetical order by canal and then by location. We’ll see how this works. If it’s too confusing then we’ll try the locations in order – that’ll be a job for a rainy day and a pile of Nicholson’s!
|
Canal |
Location |
Facilities |
Comment |
|
Birmingham and Fazerley |
Cambrian |
Moorings rings; water point; waste disposal |
Moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; Crowd noise from the pub opposite until 11.30pm; quiet overnight; good access to public transport; good access to shops and restaurants. 2009 |
|
Dudley No 1 Canal |
Waterfront Moorings- Merryhill |
Mooring pontoons; water point; shore power; secure pontoon – key code access |
Moored overnight; Nightclubs nearby – LOUD music until 2.30am. 2008 |
|
Dudley No 2 Canal |
Hawne |
Full facilities within the basin; safe towpath moorings (no facilities) just outside the basin. |
Moored overnight – no problems; quiet overnight; excellent dog-walking across the canal. 2009 |
|
Gloucester and |
Gloucester Docks |
48-hour moorings; mooring pontoons; waste disposal; mooring rings on the dock wall; shore power available on the dock wall. Water points on the branch by the BW museum; pump-out and water available on the other side of |
Left boat unattended for several days by arrangement with BW (Tel. 01452 318000 or 310832). Fee payable for additional days. Very quiet mooring. Good access to town centre. Good dog walking on Castle Meads – over the lock at the end of the footbridge over the river. 2008 |
|
Gloucester and |
Sharpness – towpath north of the marina |
14-day moorings; No facilities at the mooring; Water, waste disposal and Elasan point (no pump out) past the marina entrance after the bridge. |
14-day moorings; Left boat unattended for several days – mooring chain snapped, possibly by passing boat – recommend double springs; Stunning views and good dog-walking along towpath. Very very quiet. Hefty walk to civilisation – you’ll need food supplies on board! Bar available at the dockers club on the other side of the marina. 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Aylesbury |
Mooring rings; Water point; Pump-out; Waste disposal |
Quiet; good access to town; moored overnight – no problems 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Berkhamstead Below lock 52 |
None |
Quiet; good access to shops and restaurants; park nearby for dogs; moored overnight – no problems 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Brentford (above the gauging locks) |
14-day moorings; Mooring rings; water; waste disposal; pump-out; BW showers and loos. |
Surprisingly quiet; popular mooring spot so felt secure; moored overnight – no problems. Left boat unattended for a few days – no problems. 2009 |
|
Grand Union |
Catherine De Barnes |
48-hour moorings; mooring rings |
Very quiet; moored overnight – no problems; Cross over the canal bridge for a decent pub (dogs allowed in garden only) and a Spar-type shop. 2009 |
|
Grand Union |
Digbeth Branch – |
Bollards |
Quiet; CCTV and security guard; Moored overnight – no problems. 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Entrance to |
None |
Moored overnight – no problems; good dog-walking nearby; traffic noise from M25. 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Grand Union Mainline Bridge 8 |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; towpath in poor repair. 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Greenford Visitor Moorings (By Black Horse Pub) |
Mooring rings; water point nearby; restricted to 14 days in any calendar year. |
Quite; moored overnight – no problems; Black Horse pub – good food, dog friendly; 10 minutes walk to Greenford station. 2009 |
|
Grand Union |
Kings |
None |
Moored overnight – no problems; quiet overnight; park nearby for dogs. 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Marsworth Junction |
Water point |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems. 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Perivale – opposite Willowtree Cruisers (by Bridge 13)
|
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; very good dog-walking nearby; easy walk to Perivale tube station. 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Radford Semele – below |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; Left boat unattended for a few days – mo problems; Good dog walking along towpath and in adjacent woodland; White Lion pub in the village – not dog friendly, good food but poor service. 2009 |
|
Grand Union |
Soulbury Three Locks (bottom lock) |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; bit close to the road for dogs. 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Stockton Top Lock |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems Only long-term moorings by the lock; visitor moorings further back opposite boatyard. 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Stoke Bruerne – bottom lock |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; great dog walking. 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Tom o’ the Wood moorings |
Mooring rings; 24-hour moorings; water point above the bridge |
Moored overnight – no problems; intrusive traffic noise from nearby motorway and train line; Decent dog walking towpath (away from the road bridge); Tom o the Wood pub across the bridge – dog friendly, very good cheap food, comfortable and welcoming. 2009 |
|
Grand Union |
Tring Reservoir Between lock 39 and 40 |
None |
Quiet; good dog-walking; moored overnight – no problems. 2008 |
|
Grand Union |
Warwick – past bridge 45 |
None |
Moored overnight; Trouble with young drunks overnight. Would not leave boat unattended here. 2008 |
|
Kennet and |
Aldermaston |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; 2007 |
|
Kennet and |
Bath – top lock |
Mooring rings |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems 2007 |
|
Kennet and |
Bathampton – bridge 183 |
None; plank needed as towpath overgrown |
Quiet – some noise from the nearby train line but trains don’t seem to run late. Moored overnight – no problems. The |
|
Kennet and |
Bradford on |
Mooring rings and bollards (48-hour); rough towpath mooring (14 day) |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; excellent dog-walking; interesting town and good train access to |
|
Kennet and |
Great Bedwyn by bridge 95 |
Mooring rings. Water, pump-out and waste disposal at |
Quiet – some noise from the nearby train line but trains don’t seem to run late. Moored overnight – no problems. The Cross Keys pub (across the canal just beyond the station) is dog-friendly, does good food and has a great atmosphere. 2008 |
|
Kennet and |
Crofton Pumping Station (bottom lock) |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems. 2007 |
|
Kennet and |
Hilperton Marina |
Mooring rings; water point; pump-out; fuel; waste disposal |
Mooring by arrangement with the marina; Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems. 2006 |
|
Kennet and |
Honey Street |
Mooring rings (short term moorings); rough towpath mooring (14 day) |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few weeks (by special arrangement with BW!) – no problems; excellent dog-walking. 2006 |
|
Kennet and |
Horton |
Moorings rings and landing platform just before the bridge (by the pub). |
Very quiet; moored overnight – no problems; The Bridge Inn is dog-friendly and does good food. 2008 |
|
Kennet and |
Hungerford – bottom lock by the church |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems. 2007 |
|
Kennet and |
Kintbury – above the lock |
Mooring rings; water point; waste disposal; |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; good access to small train station. 2007 |
|
Kennet and |
Kintbury – by |
None – rough towpath mooring. Plank needed as canal is shallow |
Very quiet overnight; Some noise from the nearby train line but trains don’t seem to run late. Moored overnight – no problems; |
|
Kennet and |
Newbury – past bottom lock by Victoria Park |
Mooring rings |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems. 2007 |
|
Kennet and |
Seend bottom lock – opposite the Barge Inn |
Mooring rings (24 hour only); water point; waste disposal. Mooring bollards on the pub side of the bridge are 24-hour moorings – easy to mistake them for lock moorings! |
Very quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; good pub opposite. 2008 |
|
Kennet and |
Shenfield Lock – between the lock and the swingbridge |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; good dog-walking nearby. 2007 |
|
Kennet and |
Wilcot – by |
None – rough towpath mooring |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems. 2007 |
|
Kennet and |
Woolhampton – below the lock and swing bridge |
None – rough towpath mooring. Plank needed as river edge is shallow. |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; Recommend double springs as river flow is fast and to allow for changes in level. 2008 |
|
Lea and Stort Navigation |
Cheshunt – by sailing club |
Mooring rings |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems. 2007 |
|
Lea and Stort Navigation |
Harlow Mill |
None |
Moored overnight – no problems. 2007 |
|
Lea and Stort Navigation |
Hertford – top lock |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; good dog-walking nearby. 2007 |
|
Lea and Stort Navigation |
Southall |
None; rough towpath mooring – very shallow on this stretch |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems. 2007 |
|
Lea and Stort Navigation |
Waltham Abbey – above top lock |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; Good dog walking; good access to interesting town. 2007 |
|
Oxford Canal |
Banbury – below |
Mooring rings; 14-day moorings; Waste disposal, showers and other BW facilities available just below Banbury Lock. |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; Left boat unattended for a few days – two loose mooring ropes stolen – would not leave boat unattended here again; good dog-walking in water meadows beyond |
|
Oxford Canal |
Lower Heyford – between |
None at mooring; Water and waste disposal available at |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; good dog-walking along towpath (after the bend where the railway line moves away from the canal); very good dog-friendly pub in the village – The Bell. 2009 |
|
Oxford Canal |
Napton – below lock 12 |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; good dog walking along towpath; local pubs are dog friendly; Poor service at the Folly Inn by bridge 113; much better service at the Crown in Napton village. 2009 |
|
Regent’s Canal |
City |
Moorings rings |
Quiet; easy access to Angel; Left boat unattended for several days – no problem. 2009 |
|
Regent’s Canal |
Paddington |
Moorings rings and bollards Water point (towards Little Venice) |
Quiet; excellent access to Edgware Roadand public transport at Paddington; regularly patrolled by security guards; bit of a wind tunnel at the far end! 2009 |
|
Regent’s Canal |
Limehouse |
Pontoon moorings (marina); Wall moorings (14 day); Water point; Pump-out; Shore power (on pontoons); Waste disposal and recycling |
Great moorings; Secure – even on the wall. Good cheap food at the Cruising Association; Small park for dogs just up Limehouse Cut; The Grapes pub nearby does good food and is dog-friendly; lots of good restaurants around. 2009 |
|
River Avon (Bath – Bristol) |
Railings by bus station |
None |
Moored overnight – no problems; some traffic noise. 2007 |
|
River Avon (Bath – |
Bristol Floating Harbour |
Pontoon moorings; shore power; water point; waste disposal |
Moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; Crowd and music noise until 3am. Bustling harbour with all the facilities of a big city. Plenty of interesting things to see and do. 2008 |
|
River Avon (Stratford) |
Robert Aickman Lock Below the lock |
Mooring bollards; 24-hour moorings on lock mooring above and below the lock; |
Moored overnight – no problems; Quiet overnight through dogs spooked by the faint noise of a bird-scarer; Countryside mooring – no pub/shops nearby. 2009 |
|
River Avon (Stratford) |
Stratford on |
Some mooring rings |
Moored overnight – no problems; quiet overnight but sociable passing tourists during the day; good access to |
|
River Avon (Stratford) |
Tewkesbury Quay wall below the lock |
Mooring rings |
Very quiet; Moored overnight – no problems; towpath is level with the boat roof so slightly awkward access. Good dog walking nearby at Severn Ham. 2008 |
|
River Avon (Stratford) |
Tewkesbury Quay wall by the old mill above and downstream of the lock |
Mooring rings; rubbish point |
Quiet; Moored overnight – no problems; Good dog-walking nearby at Severn Ham; Good access to town centre. 2009 |
|
River Severn |
Worcester – above |
Mooring Rings; Waste disposal 48-hour moorings |
Left boat unattended for several days by arrangement with the City Council (Tel. 01905 722233). Small fee payable. No problems. Watch out for narrow overgrown towpath in places. 2008 |
|
River Thames |
Abingdon – downstream of |
Mooring rings; free 5-day mooring |
Only stopped for an afternoon but seemed like a quiet spot; even quieter upstream of |
|
River Thames |
Bablock Hythe – just upstream of the Ferryman pub |
None; free 24-hour moorings |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; good dog-walking in the adjacent meadow; Did not eat at the Ferryman pub – not dog-friendly. 2009 |
|
River Thames |
Boveney Lock – visitor moorings |
Mooring bollards below the weir; waste disposal nearby; moor by arrangement with lock keeper. |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; reasonable mooring fee payable to lock-keeper. 2008 |
|
River Thames |
Chertsey Meads |
Some mooring rings; 24-hour moorings; waste disposal; |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; moorings free of charge; Excellent dog-walking just upstream of the moorings in Dumsey Meadow; Two decent pubs on |
|
River Thames |
Cliveden |
None |
Tiny National Trust islands in the middle of the |
|
River Thames |
Cliveden Reach |
None |
Countryside mooring on the right bank (looking upstream). Very very quiet; moored overnight – no problems; reasonable mooring fee payable; Surrounded by superb dog-walking with no roads or other hazards nearby. 2009 |
|
River |
Cookham – upstream of |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; good dog-walking; reasonable mooring fee payable; good access to Cookham village. 2007 |
|
River |
Henley on Thames – on the right upstream of |
Mooring rings |
Secure mooring but some noise on the towpath until 1am; moored overnight – no problems; good dog-walking in adjacent park; reasonable mooring fee payable – get ticket from pay ‘n display machine in the nearby car park; Dog friendly pub with good food – The Little Angel just over Henley Bridge. 2009 |
|
River Thames |
Hurley Lock – just upstream of the lock |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; very good dog-walking; reasonable fee payable. 2007 |
|
River Thames |
King’s Lock – near the entrance to Duke’s Cut |
Mooring posts; moor by arrangement with the lock keeper |
Very quiet; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; reasonable fee payable; no road access – nearest road is a mile away at |
|
River Thames |
Kingston – upstream of |
Mooring rings |
Moored overnight – no problems; great access to town centre; good dog-walking. 2007 |
|
River Thames |
Lechlade – meadow just below Ha’penny Bridge |
None; free moorings – not signed but assume 24-hour |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; good dog walking in the adjacent meadow; Interesting town – supermarket and range of promising pubs. Good food at the Swan – dog-friendly. 2009 |
|
River Thames |
Marlow – upstream of |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; good access to town. Dog walking along towpath and park nearby. 2008 |
|
River Thames |
Moulsford – “Beetle and Wedge” pub moorings |
Mooring bollards; free overnight mooring for patrons |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; good dog-walking downstream of the pub; superb restaurant in the ‘Beetle and Wedge’ pub – not dog-friendly. 2009 |
|
River Thames |
Sandford – lock moorings |
Mooring rings/bollards; mooring by arrangement with the lock-keeper; reasonable fee payable |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; Good dog walking in the meadow above the lock; Good food at the Kings Arms pub adjacent – not dog-friendly. 2009 |
|
River Thames |
Shepperton – Thames Courtpub |
Mooring rings/bollards; 24-hour moorings |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; bit close to the road for dogs. 2008 |
|
River Thames |
Sonning – upstream of the lock |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems. 2007 |
|
River Thames |
Staines – downstream of |
Pontoon moorings |
Moored overnight – no problems; great access to town centre. 2007 |
|
River Thames |
Teddington Lock |
Mooring bollards in lock cut; mooring by arrangement with the lock keeper |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; Left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; reasonable mooring fee payable. Good dog walking on adjacent common. 2008 |
|
River Thames |
Thames and Kennet Marina |
Everything you can think of! |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; very sociable mooring. 2009 |
|
River Thames |
The Albany Pub opposite |
Mooring pontoons |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; good dog walking; good pub! 2007 |
|
River Thames |
Wallingford – upstream of the bridge |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; reasonable mooring fee payable. 2007 |
|
River Thames (Tidal) |
Royal Docks |
Mooring chains; water point, rubbish and toilet cassette disposal by arrangement with the sailing school. Locking fee from £350. |
Subsidised locking (£5) and mooring (£1.25 per foot per week) available with St Pancras Cruising Club flotilla to coincide with the London Boatshow every January. Good dog-walking nearby at |
|
Shropshire |
Audlem – between Lock 11 and 12 |
Mooring Rings |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; Good pubs nearby; Bridge Inn – good food and dog-friendly. 2009 |
|
Shropshire |
Bridge 11 |
None |
Disastrous mooring spot – towpath too soft for pins and lots of passing traffic – boat pulled adrift more than once; towpath in very bad condition – unsuitable for walking/cycling; good road access from Bridge 11 and useful parking. 2009 |
|
Shropshire |
Gnosall – between Cowley Tunnel and Bridge 34 |
Mooring rings; waterpoint after Bridge 35 |
Very quiet; moored overnight – no problems; good dog-walking in woodland adjacent to towpath; Boat Inn on Bridge 24 – good food and dog-friendly. 2009 |
|
Staffordshire and |
Bird in Hand Pub (by |
None; sheet piling. |
Quiet; Left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; Good dog walking in cemetery over Mitton Chapel Bridge; Bird in Hand pub NOT dog-friendly; The Rising Sun pub – plain pub grub and dog-friendly. 2009 |
|
Staffordshire and |
Caunsall |
None for the boat but useful car parking just off the road by the bridge. |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems. A storm brought down a tree nearby – may be worth mooring a little nearer Bridge 25. 2008 |
|
Staffordshire and |
Dimmingsdale Lock (above the lock) |
None |
Very quiet; moored overnight – no problems; good dog-walking along towpath. 2009 |
|
Staffordshire and |
Lower Lock. |
Mooring rings; rubbish point, pump out and water nearby in the basin below the lock. |
Some pub noise early on but quiet overnight. Moored overnight – no problems. Good access to town and supermarket. Good dog walking nearby at Bridge 7. 2008 |
|
Staffordshire and |
Whittington Lock (above the lock) |
None; sheet piling. |
Quiet; Moored overnight – no problems; Whittington Inn on main road (10 minutes walk) – good food but not dog-friendly. 2009 |
|
Stratford |
Bridge 63 |
Towpath mooring but water and refuse point nearby |
Left boat unattended for a few days – pins pulled by passing boats but also re-tied by passing boaters! 2009 |
|
Stratford |
Lapworth Top Lock – opposite residential moorings just below the Swallow Cruisers winding hole |
None |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems. 2008 |
|
Stratford |
Lapworth Top Lock – just above the lock |
Mooring rings |
Quiet; left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; towpath dog-walking but too close to the road for off-lead rummaging here. 2009 |
|
Stratford |
Wilmcote |
None on 14-day moorings; mooring rings on the 48-hour moorings by the bridge. |
Quiet; moored overnight – no problems; Left boat unattended for a few days – no problems; useful train station nearby; two dog-friendly pubs in the village; Good village shop; Good dog-walking along towpath. 2009 |
|
Stourbridge |
Stewponey – above Stourton top lock |
None |
Very quiet and rural; Moored overnight – no problems; Safe dog-walking up the towpath. 2008 |
|
Walsall |
Walsall |
Mooring rings; mooring pontoons in the basin |
Moored overnight – no problems; Lots of passersby but quiet overnight; comprehensive town centre shopping nearby. 2009 |
Captain Clean Boat said
Nice and usefull post, thanks, this is one for my bookmarks!
indigodream said
Thanks for the positive feedback – that’s the first comment we’ve had about the ‘rough guide’. I guess actions speak louder than words – it IS the most visited bit of the blog!
Gillie said
Thanks for this very informative and now one of my bookmarks too….I see there are no charges for any of the moorings listed…I know most are free but we paid £25 a night in the floating Harbour Bristol last year…and wondered if there might be similar charges in other cities..( London is particular)…that you have not listed.
Thanks again…It would be lovely if boaters could enter their own good moorings somewhere to form a database..so much more personal and informative than a Nicholsons entry!
indigodream said
Hi Gillie
Thanks for the encouraging comment – much appreciated.
I’ve tried to list where a fee is payable but I haven’t listed the actual cost, mainly because I don’t always log what we paid, and partly because the actual fee might change and I don’t want people to be disappointed if the fee’s gone up since they read this page!
We’ve found that charges vary greatly but the London canals seem to have the usual BW ‘free 14 days on the towpath’ provision (with some areas limited to 48-hour or 7 days). The marinas tend to charge (variable) but the nicest surprise is that Paddington Basin is free. We did come across a nice arrangement between BW marinas – if you have a long-term mooring at one BW marina then there may be a reciprocal arangement which allows you to moor for free (short term) in a different BW marina.
The non-tidal Thames is a moveable feast – mooring fees vary from £3 a nigh to £10 a night though we’ve found that many pubs on the river have free 24-hour moorings – what a great excuse to stop for a beer
indigodream said
Hi Gillie
I should have said that we too drew a deep breath when we found out how much it cost to moor at the floating harbour
Worth every penny but sadly too expensive to linger…..