The Isles of Thames?

Wednesday, 06 July 2011 08:23

As we "have all the time in the world," we only cruised a short way yesterday. John was up very early and camera in hand took this view of Sonning Bridge

Looking upstream at about 7.30am

By the time I was up and ready it was very hot .....

There are a number of "rough moorings" below Sonning on the west bank against the Thames Path. We noted them for future reference - but most of them were occupied. Del and Al were in one of them on Derwent6.

Del and Al

We pulled over for a chat and then carried on our way. The islands shield some nice rough moorings too, as the River Thames curves and bends around them.

Barge on rough mooring

Opposite this unnamed isle, we spotted this huge bull and his harem - another boat had stopped to take photos too. He (the bull) is really enormous and lumbered away from the river as if to say "leave us alone, we like our privacy" - not unlike boaters on the Thames then!

Bull and cows

At long last I managed to get a decent photo of a kingfisher. Yes, I know this is rather a cheat, but a nice private mooring anyhow.

Narrowboat Bessie and her kingfisher

The Thames Path veers away from the main river channel and around the triangular adjoining islands of Hallsmead Ait and The Lynch. Both are uninhabited, by humans that is. I am sure they must have an abundance of some sort of wildlife. Probably the kind that swims!

On a large right hand bend we encountered the Shiplake College Boat Club, with its cottage-like club house behind a footbridge. There is a slipway in the little "harbour" through the bridge.

Shiplake College hard

Shiplake College Boat Club

Just beyond the club are rough moorings - we managed to get in and tied our ropes around a couple of convenient trees. It was better than maybe it looks, as it was quiet, shady and within walking distance of Shiplake Church and Village. Ideal for an overnight stop.

Moored near Shiplake

Shiplake College

The Tudor style main building was built in 1890 as a family home for the Harrisons. Later Shiplake Court, as it was named, was owned by Lord Wargrave from 1952 and then bought by the BBC in 1941. The founders of the College, the Everetts, bought the house in 1958. Many buildings have been added and it now stands in 45 acres of beautifully kept, award-winning grounds.

The Tithebarn Theatre, part of the college

Shiplake Church of St Peter and St Paul where Alfred Lord Tennyson was married in 1850

There are more photos of Shiplake here - click on camera

River Thames, Sonning Bridge to Shiplake
0.58 minutes, 1.7 miles, 0 locks