A really full day

Wednesday, 13 July 2011 20:48

We left Marlow just before 9am - a really heroic effort from me to get up and going "early".

Marlow Bridge

So why were we cruising at this hour ......

We had explored Marlow a little the day before and done some grocery shopping. It was time to move on to pastures new, or in this case hills new! When I have processed my Marlow photos I will let you know. Warning - this blog is a little long, but I hope it is interesting all the same!

We hung around briefly at Marlow Lock and the Lock Keeper appeared to open the gates.

Waiting above Marlow Lock with the weir behind us

Marlow Lock

We were accompanied by two of the Swan Upping boats. The Swan Upping is next week, so yet again we miss a "show" because we had to plan.

Pommery

The timetable is here if you want to see it for yourself. It begins at Sunbury and goes all the way upstream to Abingdon over a number of days.

Panache

These "slice of cake" houses below the lock replace a watermill, pulled down in 1965. They remind us of some at Mayfield in Newquay, Cornwall.

Slices of cake below the lock

The Bypass Bridge, carrying the A404, passes high overhead and we were soon passing a beautiful section known as Quarry Woods on the Berkshire side of the river.

Quarry Woods

Thames houses nestle on the hillside and below at the riverside. Woottens Boatyard and the old boathouses beside it are as part of the scenery as the archipelago of small islands in this part of the river.

Woottens Boatyard and boat houses

Crotchet castle is a landmark too. It belonged to Ebenezer Mac Crotchet, an ordinary citizen who bought himself a Coat of Arms. It is said he styled his villa as a castle because of the nearby Roman remains of the mounds and trenches of a "Castellum".

Crotchet Castle

Bourne End, further downstream is also an interesting bit - more riverside houses (too many to photograph!) and this floating gym.

There are the Upper Thames Sailing Club, a small Marina and a couple of eateries each side of the river - one named OTT and one named The Bounty. Pirates should be at home in the latter!

Cookham Bridge marks the place where the River Thames divides into four channels. Odney weir (leading to Hedsor Water), the Lock Cut, a weir stream and Lulle Brooke Mill Stream. It seems that care has to be taken - although the lock cut is marked and fairly obviously the channel to take.

Cookham Bridge - why is it blue?

The Lock cut is crossed by a footbridge and the lock itself has double gates. These were added in 1956 when the lock was completely rebuilt. Once below the lock we entered Cliveden Deep or reach. Wow, it was lovely.

Cliveden Reach

The wooded hill to our left belongs to Cliveden, and the river has a string of islands breaking up the wide stream. Now all we had to do was find a mooring (at 10.30 in the morning!) as we wanted to visit Cliveden, once home to Lady Astor and renowned for its beautiful grounds. It is now owned by the National Trust, and the house is leased as a hotel.

River Thames, Marlow to Cliveden
1 hour 58 minutes, 5.57 miles, 2 locks