MIDDLE THAMES
Canal Boat|November 2020
In the second part of our guide, we follow the Thames upstream from Reading through the steep sided Goring Gap and quieter countryide to reach Oxford
Martin Ludgate
MIDDLE THAMES

On the face of it, you might not expect there to be much real difference between the Thames below Reading, which was the subject of last month’s cruise guide, and the and this month’s length leading onwards and upwards from there to Oxford. True, the river’s got slightly smaller as a result of us having lost the contribution from the waters of the Kennet, whose somewhat understated arrival between the railway lines and gasholders of an industrial area of eastern Reading doesn’t give much clue to the 100 glorious miles of the Kennet & Avon route through to Bristol. But as the Thames runs through the north side of town, climbing Caversham Lock, dividing in two to pass either side of Fry’s Island - there are visitor moorings near here for a short walk into the town centre and its shops - and passing the modern Environment Agency Thames headquarters and Caversham Bridge, it doesn’t seem significantly narrower. And the locks, while not quite as huge as some down in the lower reaches, are still generously sized by canal boating standards, and power operated by keepers (or by boat crews using pushbutton controls when the keeper is absent and the ‘self service’ signs are on display).

And yet, as we gradually leave Reading behind, with the site of the annual rock festival on our south side and one or two impressively ornate waterside houses - complete with turrets - on the north bank, there does seem to have been a slight change of character from the lower river. Partly it’s the geography: having wound its way across flat terrain between old face each other across a Victorian iron tollbridge; likewise Goring and Streatley are separated by Goring Bridge. In between them the river passes Beale Park, a wildlife park and scene of boat festivals in earlier years (see inset).

Denne historien er fra November 2020-utgaven av Canal Boat.

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Denne historien er fra November 2020-utgaven av Canal Boat.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA CANAL BOATSe alt
HIGH AND MIGHTY
Canal Boat

HIGH AND MIGHTY

Acorns make the perfect store food for jays’ larders

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2020
TAKING THE PLUNGE
Canal Boat

TAKING THE PLUNGE

Why Chris and Sarah Atkin will never forget tying the knot

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2020
LABELLED WITH LOVE
Canal Boat

LABELLED WITH LOVE

Helen Tidy enjoyed one weekend moored next to The Beer Boat ... simply the perfect solution to collecting bottle tops for her next project

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2020
MIDDLE THAMES
Canal Boat

MIDDLE THAMES

In the second part of our guide, we follow the Thames upstream from Reading through the steep sided Goring Gap and quieter countryide to reach Oxford

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2020
THE GOOD OLD DAYS
Canal Boat

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Robert Davies recalls childhood memories of a popular holiday destination and uncovers a reminder of the golden age of canals

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2020
FIT FOR PURPOSE
Canal Boat

FIT FOR PURPOSE

Terry Hibbard from Harworth Heating offers his expert opinion following our feature on onboard stove safety

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2020
BUCKING UP...
Canal Boat

BUCKING UP...

We join Waterway Recovery Group’s first canal restoration working party in six months - as WRG’s volunteers help the Buckingham Canal Society get the project back on track after lockdown

time-read
10 mins  |
November 2020
ART ON THE WATER
Canal Boat

ART ON THE WATER

Graphic artist Katie Ruby lives and works on 32ft narrowboat Poppy

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2 mins  |
November 2020
Canal Boat

GO WITH THE FLOW

What makes a boat truly stand out from the crowd? Sometimes you just need a little finesse and a taste for adventure

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2020
Canal Boat

A GLASS HALF-FULL AT BUCKBY WHARF

Tim Coghlan raised a glass on the Grand Union Canal as The New Inn reopened to the relief of regulars

time-read
10 mins  |
November 2020