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

- ACTIEF -

Barging & Gentle Walking with Wayfarers

The Upper Thames, England

We enter another world on The Thames. The river reveals its secrets; barge captains and lock keepers share their river lore. One moment our floating country inn, the Actief, glides through quiet waterscapes and the next it bustles through a picturesque lock on its gentle climb upstream. Our walks along the towpath and nearby take in natural treasures, Neolithic sites and medieval villages. On board, options abound for resting, reading,watching the water birds and being pampered.

Dates: August 13-19; August 27-September 2
Trip: 7 days, 6 nights
Price: $2,995 / £1,625 per person based on 2 people sharing a cabin

We rendezvous in London for a private transfer to Windsor and a ramble to the 11C Castle and its famed Long Walk. We tour Eton College, the school of princes and Prime Ministers, before boarding Actief for a Champagne Reception and Welcome Dinner. Mooring: Boveney Lock, Near Windsor.

Today starts with a 4-mile circular walk across Dorney Common, through the picturesque village of Dorney. We cruise to Cliveden, once home to the Astor family, and walk its magnificent gardens with views of the Thames far below. Mooring: Cliveden Boathouse.

After cruising on to the beautiful Saxon village of Hurley, we pause to visit the boatyard of Peter Freebody, whose family and team of skilled river-craftsmen have been involved with the river for 800 years. Our afternoon walk crosses the Hambleden weir and cuts inland, rejoining the Thames at the Royal Regatta course. Mooring: Henley-on- Thames.

Our walking route goes from one of the prettiest Chiltern villages, Turville, recently famed as home to television's 'The Vicar of Dibley'! The chalk hills contain scenic villages, a famous windmill and rare red kites. We visit the old town of Henley before cruising to delightful Sonning. Mooring: Sonning.

A morning walk around Sonning and a cruise through beautiful 'Wind in the Willows' country bring us to visit 500-year-old Mapledurham Mill and Manor, once host to Elizabeth I and scene of religious strife in Tudor times. We moor at Pangbourne, home of author Kenneth Grahame. Mooring: Pangbourne.

We cruise through the Goring Gap, carved during the Ice Age, past the ancient settlements of Goring, Streatley and Wallingford to our final mooring at Shillingford Bridge. After lunch, we walk The Ridgeway to see Neolithic tombs, the Uffington White Horse and the very spot where St George slew the dragon. Back on the Actief we enjoy our Farewell Dinner. Mooring: Shillingford Bridge

After breakfast, we disembark near Oxford at 9.30am and return to hotel or Heathrow Airport.

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