History for Epiphany and for us

Friday, 15 July 2011 16:21

Arriving in Windsor the boater can really feel part of history. The River Thames has been flowing past this place for time immemorial.

Windsor Castle from the river

The Castle is both ancient and modern, as is the photo if you look carefully .....

Did you spot the plane? No blue skies until later in the afternoon! Windsor, and therefore mooring here, is right under the flight path for Heathrow Airport and unlike the Castle with its thick walls, Epiphany is not well soundproofed.

Further upstream we had passed Windsor Race Course - that would be noisy on Race Day. It is right beside and below Boveney Lock and when we filled up with water there we could just see the Racecourse Marina in the centre of the course.

Racecourse

The grandstand  can be seen over the banks and, if you arrive by trip boat, this is where you get off for the races

Passing under the Windsor and Eton Bypass Bridge (Elizabeth Bridge) the approach to Windsor and its moorings is next. There are moorings outside the Leisure Centre just beyond the bridge on the right bank and like all the moorings in Windsor the charge is £4 - cheap at the price, we thought.

Elizabeth Bridge

We continued down the River, past all the moorings and the riverside path, to turn around below Windsor Bridge. We had spotted a suitable mooring not too far away from the town centre and Castle.

This would give a good view on a good day

There are free moorings below the bridge - but there is a snag. The running of engines and generators is actively discouraged by signage and also there is very limited room.

Free moorings below Windsor Bridge

We settled on our mooring and then after a bite of lunch set out to explore and visit the Castle. It was really interesting and a service at St George's Chapel topped the visit off nicely. An audio tour takes visitors around and it is really worth the visit, especially as tickets can be stamped to enable re-entry another time. We can do this and visit Eton on the other side of the River on our way back upstream later in the year.

I will let you know (as usual) when our album of Windsor photos are up, meanwhile if you are interested in the history of Windsor Castle follow this link.

River Thames, Cliveden to Windsor
3 hours 6 minutes, 8.70 miles, 3 locks