K&A moorings

[colmac]

Am planning to do the K&A as next years' long cruise ( April/September )Any advice on the reported lack of visitor moorings ? Never been on the K&A before so all new. The route from Stourport seems interesting so looking forward to it. Thank you

[pearley]

Once you are above Newbury there's not really a shortage. They all seem to be 48 or 72 hours so if you arrive mid afternoon you should find space. Last year the only place where it was difficult was Bradford on Avon.

[Bettie Boo]

From our "limited" experience of the K&A...we did it the once last year, took it slow going down in September and came back up to the none tidal Thames in late October. Other than Crofton & Hungerford we were not able to get onto any visitor moorings on the trip east as they were all full, but still found places to moor.

 

Coming back in late October we found quite a few VM'ings available. Kintbury, Hungerford, Devizes, Pewsey, Crofton, actually pretty much all of them were available.

 

Again, based on our limited experience, (we won't be doing it again any time soon) I would suggest a very long gang plank if your boat is even slightly deep draughted, a sharp sickle - make sure you eat your spinach, you'll need your mussels for those K&A locks

[David Mack]

Am planning to do the K&A as next years' long cruise ( April/September )Any advice on the reported lack of visitor moorings ? Never been on the K&A before so all new. The route from Stourport seems interesting so looking forward to it. Thank you

 

Why do you need visitor moorings? You can moor against the towpath anywhere except where there are signs that you can't.

[MtB]

 

Why do you need visitor moorings? You can moor against the towpath anywhere except where there are signs that you can't.

 

 

Shhhhh don't tell everyone or all the quiet spots will get populated!!!!!!!!!

[Laurie Booth]

 

Why do you need visitor moorings? You can moor against the towpath anywhere except where there are signs that you can't.

OK if you have a V hulled boat or a long gangplank.

[MtB]

OK if you have a V hulled boat or a long gangplank.

 

Good point. Best never to even try to moor anywhere other than on official signed VMs

 

[Sea Dog]

 

Why do you need visitor moorings? You can moor against the towpath anywhere except where there are signs that you can't.

Well, except for where they've tarmac'd it to a brickwork edge as a cycle route so there's nothing to moor up to and no earth to bang pins into. A disappointing development imho.

[David Schweizer]

 

Why do you need visitor moorings? You can moor against the towpath anywhere except where there are signs that you can't.

 

There speaks a man who has either never done the K&A, or has a very shallow draughted boat. Apart from designated mooring places, it is usually difficult to get any closer than 5ft from the bank.

Edited October 25, 2015 by David Schweizer

[MtB]

I'm moored on the K&A now, in a deep drafted boat, less than a foot from the bank at the fore end and 3ft at the stern. And no, not on a VM!

[David Schweizer]

I'm moored on the K&A now, in a deep drafted boat, less than a foot from the bank at the fore end and 3ft at the stern. And no, not on a VM!

 

Whereabouts on the K&A Mike? 3ft at the back end is good.

[David Mack]

 

Why do you need visitor moorings? You can moor against the towpath anywhere except where there are signs that you can't.

 

 

 

There speaks a man who has either never done the K&A, or has a very shallow draughted boat. Apart from designated mooring places, it is usually difficult to get any closer than 5ft from the bank.

 

Actually, there speaks a man who has done the K&A from end to end in a large Woolwich drawings some 3 ft at the stern. We could get the bows in at most places, but, yes the stern was often some distance out from the bank. That's why we have a plank on board.

[colmac]

Thank you for all your contributions. Sounds like a " suck it and see " situation. I think it will be a full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes. Also, I am well aware you can moor on the towpath as opposed to VM's.

[Plonk]

I have a couple of longish planks (not including me!) as we are on the K&A. Now we have been cruising there for a while, we are getting to know the deeper areas. There are a few if you can find them. We have had fun trying to moor at at VM's between Bradford and Bath in a couple of spots due to the profile of the canal bed and our draft, but mostly no problem.

[KenK]

You haven't said which way you are entering the K&A via the Seven or from the Thames.

 

Either way based on this years trip, visitor moorings are the way to go.

It used to be possible to moor almost anywhere using a plank but given the state of the vegetation this year I would hesitate to jump into it.

Anywhere between four and six feet high at the edges, in some places the overhanging trees met the lower vegetation making the towpath into a tunnel.

It might be better earlier in the year, wasn't as bad at Easter when we left the Thames.

The other problem is the repaired edges using poles and mesh and then backfilling, it doesn't dry so again getting on the bank is not easy.

The trick with the visitor mooring especially below the Caen Hill locks is to be out of step with the hire boats.

We went down the flight on a Sunday and therefore were behind the Foxhangers boats, no problem mooring including Bradford, reached Bath on Thursday afternoon and it was deserted and this was in August. There are plenty of moorings in this section but it is the busiest.

Devizes to the Thames has plenty of mooring and it is quieter again we had no problems.

Definitely worth spending a few days in the Floating Harbour, we were there for the Balloon festival but even without that there is lots to see and do.

 

Have a good trip.

 

Ken

[colmac]

Thank you for that Ken, just what we wanted to find out. Not sure of our route as yet.