Upper Thames Escapes - An Overview 

How you spend your break on the river is up to you. Relax, explore, fish, sunbathe, cruise – or park up at one of the many riverside pubs and take in the local food and drink. The Upper Thames is incredibly beautiful; whilst en-route you can choose to visit the Oxford and all that a modern City has to offer; visit the many historical towns, villages, nature reserves and points of interest en-route, or simply moor up in the middle of nowhere and enjoy the tranquility and wildlife of the Oxfordshire countryside. We have included guides on suggested routes and points of interest on our boats to help you maximize the enjoyment of your short break.

From our moorings in rural Oxfordshire,  you can make your way downstream to Oxford (2-3 hours cruising time) or Abingdon (4-5 hours) and beyond, or upstream to the beautiful historic town of Lechlade (6-7 hours)

Facilities

Our classic 25ft Swedish motor boats have a secure enclosed Cockpit giving access to both front and rear Cabins, a small Kitchen area with Oven/Grill/Hob, Fridge & Sink and a separate Toilet. Compact automatic Life Jackets are supplied for both adults and children.

The emphasis is Escape and Relaxation; to this end there are a couple of key points to remember – our Boats do not come with..........

    1.    No TV. No PC. (Unless you bring your own and can charge it off of a  12 volt supply!)

    2.    No Hot Tub. No Sauna – our breaks are all about getting away from it all & the simple pleasures in life .

We do like to look after our customers, and to this end all of our Boats do come with..........

    1.    4 Beds (2 x singles that convert to a double + 2 x single beds) in 2 separate cabins plus the cockpit.

           - We also provide a pop-up tent for 2;  if 5 or 6 crew are travelling in your party and you don't want to use the cockpit for 
           sleeping  this provides additional overnight accomodation bankside.

    2.    Kitchen area with Cooker, Fridge & Sink plus crockery, utensils, and tableware.

    3.    Stereo Radio with CD and MP3 compatibility (bring your player) and a selection of books and games.  

    4.    Amazing views, fresh air & the great outdoors.

A note on Showering...
Whilst our 25ft boats have all you need for a comfortable cruising experience; ensuring our customers can easily navigate the twists of the meandering Upper Thames puts an emphasis on compact living, and therefore no room for an on-board shower......you will however be pleased to hear that many of the Locks on the Upper Thames provide well maintained token-operated Shower Cubicles. Should the fussier members of your crew decide that they are too good for the classic 'strip wash' in the cabin, then clean, hot facilities await lockside. Details of the Locks and facilities are provided on board.

 What To Bring...and What Not to Bring...

 Clothing & Footwear

The British weather is changeable; so whatever time of year you are heading out on the river we recommend you bring:

1. Comfortable footwear - ideally trainers are anything with a rubber type sole .

2. Hat, Sunglasses - and sun cream. The water magnifies the effect of the sun, great for an even-tan.

3. Waterproof Jacket - The cockpit canopy can be closed but if it's wet you'll still need to go out to moor etc.

4. Towel & Wash bag - tea towels, hand towel and bedding are provided. Bring your own bath towels.

If possible do not pack your clothes in a suitcase. Soft bodied bags are best, saving space and much easier to stow in the storage areas on board.

Food & Drink

Unless you are planning on eating solely at the Pubs and Restaurants en route, you will be bringing food with you. Whilst our boats have all the facilities to make a full Sunday roast (should the mood take you!) compact boat living means a little thought beforehand can make life much easier for you in the Galley. If you pre-cook the main meals such as Casseroles, Stews or similar prior to your trip, and simply heat up when ready to eat; it gives you more time to enjoy the scenery. 

If you want to give your culinary skills a spin whilst on board, pots, pans, knives, peeler, grater and more are supplied along with essential bits like tea bags, coffee, sugar, vegetable oil, salt & pepper - all on board and ready for you - so no need to bring. 

Aside from the 'big' pre-prepared dishes you might want to bring ready made - or enjoy at one of the riverside pubs, here are some suggestions for dishes we have put together that work well in the confines of the Galley:

    The Fry Up - choose your ingredients, Bacon, Eggs; Sausage and so on...

    Soup & Baguette (the 'bake yourself' ones brown up well in the Galley oven)

    Pasta and....whatever you want.....

    Sandwiches, Wraps and Rolls - keep the ingredients fresh in the fridge

And now a list of a few staples that are worth considering bringing along:

     Bread (self-bake rolls and similar are good in the galley oven), Jam/sandwich fillings

    Milk, Butter, Eggs, Cheese (the on-board fridge will keep these cool)

    Cereal, Fresh fruit & biscuits - all that fresh air will whet your appetite.

    Chips & Dips....and of course depending on your tastes, don't forget the fruit juice, lemonade, beer, wine  etc.

Other Stuff you might want to bring

Camera, MP3 Player (will plug into the on-board stereo), Books and Magazines (there is a small selection of reading materials on board), Binoculars for the nature lovers, fishing gear.

A Note on Fishing: When fishing from the boat you will not need a local fishing permit; you will however need a Rod License. You can buy short term 1 or 8 Day Rod Licenses in advance here:  http://www2.postoffice.co.uk/counter-services/licences-vehicle-tax/rod-fishing-licence/buy-licence