Swift Ditch to Abingdon on the River Thames

Saturday, 19 November 2011 13:31

The cruise from the Swift Ditch outfall upstream to Abingdon is only a short one but it is very picturesque. I think I must have more photos of the area around Abingdon than anywhere else - we have been here or hereabouts a number of times. Abingdon is also a handy mooring for a bus to Oxford, a big shop to stock up the larder and lots of walks. The town itself has a lot of history to explore if you are that way inclined!

On our way back upstream

We left our Swift Ditch mooring in the sunshine .....

From the river you can see that it would be very difficult to enter Swift Ditch, even in a small craft. A canoeist could make it and probably a rowing boat, but small powered craft would be "going bush", literally.

Swift Ditch footbridge and undergrowth

Narrowboat Iona was still moored above the bridge

On the left bank (going up stream) is a small park which divides the River Thames from the gravel pits. One of these is now Abingdon Marina. Peering in from the river it appears to be an excuse for a housing development and a few pontoons with moorings for residents.

Entrance to Abingdon Marina

However, looking at their website there are quite a few moorings hidden around the corner! We know of one narrowboat that is moored there. Perhaps it really is "one of the best kept secrets on the Thames", as it maintains.

Those seagulls were evident again - and now I know why. They know they get fed if they congregate around here - but they don't like boats as they all took to the air as we passed!

Feeding the seagulls

The water birds also like the bridge over the River Ock: another feeding spot, I suspect. The bridge was erected in 1824 by the old Wilts and Berks Canal.

Wilts and Berks Bridge over the Ock

St Helen's Church spire looked magnificent in the sun against the blue sky 

Once again we approached Abingdon Bridge - it must have looked much like this when it was first built 590 years ago, without all the buildings though. The downstream moorings were still nearly full, so we hoped for one above.

Abingdon Bridge from downstream

When we were here in the Spring, we explored Abingdon and so there are a number of blogs about the town and river beginning here. Click on the "future blogs" link at the bottom left of each blog to go to the next one.

Upstream of Abingdon Bridge 

So once again we are moored above the bridge. When the sun shines we are in full sunlight which is great as our solar panels can do their job. So far they are reasonably successful, bearing in mind the short days and that it is only winter sunshine! 

River Thames, Swift Ditch outfall to Abingdon
0 hours 27 minutes, 1.13 miles, 0 locks