British Barge ACTIEF - Hotel barge on the River Thames England Britain UK

- ACTIEF -

Walking Cruise

The Upper Thames, England

Join Actief on a carefully designed walking charter and we don't know which you will enjoy more - the superb cruising or the fantastic walking tours. Our cruise route follows the stunning, non commercial, upper reaches of the Royal River Thames where you will be treated to exquisite scenery, delightful islands, winding backwaters, quaint villages, locks and weir streams as you meander through the tapestry of English history. The tours encompass stunning views of sylvan countryside and medieval villages.

The final highlight is a walk on the finest part of the The Ridgeway, thought to be the oldest existing road in the world. This prehistoric route rich in wild flowers and traces of early man are everywhere, from Iron Age hill forts to ancient mystical figures cut into the turf. Combine all this with fantastic gourmet cuisine and seriously good service to experience a thoroughly unique holiday.

Private transfer from the Goring Hotel in London at 2pm to our mooring at Windsor. A gentle walk along spectacular Long Walk to Windsor Castle is a most pleasing start to your week. This two and a half mile double tree-lined avenue was planted in 1680 by Charles II to connect the great royal hunting ground of Windsor Great Park with the Castle. A short cruise to Boveney Lock is followed by a festive Champagne welcome, dinner and your first night on board.

Today commences with a 4 mile circular walk across Dorney Common, through the picturesque village of Dorney where you can see a glimpse of Tudor Dorney Court, built around 1440 and subsequent home of the same family since 1628. Cruising continues on to the stunning Cliveden Reach, and our private mooring at wonderful boathouse of Cliveden, former home of 3 generations of the Astor family. From here we tour the gardens of this magnificent estate; situated high on a ridge above the river with especially stunning views.

This morning you enjoy a relaxing cruise through unspoilt countryside to the beautiful medieval village of Hurley. A walking tour of this ancient village gives many glimpses of long-ago life, including Ye Olde Bell. This is reputedly England's oldest inn, founded in 1135AD. You will also visit Peter Freebody?s boatyard-Peter?s family has been involved with the river for 800 years! Continuing this tradition he and his team of skilled craftsmen build and restore antique steam launches. After lunch a short cruise brings you to Hambleden Lock. Here you leave Actief for a delightful afternoon walk of around three and a half miles. This takes you through the small, quaint Chiltern villages of Aston and Remenham before re-joining a beautiful stretch of the Thames Path, which follows Actief?s route to her mooring in Henley-On-Thames.

The morning commenced with a short journey to the beautiful medieval village of Fingest. From here you commence a three mile walk with magnificent views of Fingest and Hambleden valley as you go. After passing the Ibstone windmill (famously used in the 1970?s film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), our walk finishes with a well deserved pint at the Bell &Butcher situated in the heart of Turville, the most beautiful Chiltern village of them all and location for the filming of the hilarious comedy Vicar of Dibley. Lunch back on Actief is followed by time to catch up on some shopping in Henley and then a relaxing afternoon cruise past luxurious riverside homes brings you to the next mooring at Sonning.

The day starts with an early morning stroll around Sonning, founded in 909AD. Gentle cruising then takes you through ?Wind in the Willows? country and past Toad Hall to Pangbourne, home of author Kenneth Grahame. After lunch today four and a half mile walk starts in the Berkshire village of Chapel Row and takes in the delightful Pang Valley (the Pang is an enchanting tributary of the Thames) and beautiful Buckelbury Common. Quite different to the villages visited yesterday, this is a none-the-less appealing area comprising of a combination of mixed woodland and open fields with interesting historical connections (20,000 Parliamentarian troops camped on Buckelbury Common prior to the 2nd Battle of Newbury in 1644).

The morning is spent cruising through the steep hills of the Goring Gap, formed during the ice age, and on to our final mooring at Shillingford Bridge. After lunch you travel to Kingston Lyle to commence a wonderful 5 mile walk along The Ridgeway. Within a short time you will come across the first landmark, Whitehorse Hill, capped by extensive ramparts of Iron Age Uffington Castle. The walk also encompasses the White Hose of Uffington carved out of the turf during the Iron Age, flat topped Dragon Hill where St George is reputed to have killed the Dragon and Wayland?s Smithy, a stone age burial chamber dating from around 2800BC. The tour ends in the attractive village of Ashbury, which lies at the foot of the downs. After returning to Actief the day finishes with the Captain?s Dinner.

NOTE: This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternative weeks the cruise operates in reverse direction.