Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Limit of navigation

Some things I straightened out by reading the excellent Where Thames Smooth Waters Glide site:
  • The usual limit of navigation is at Lechlade. Powered craft usually turn below Lechlade footbridge.
  • Beyond the footbridge is Inglesham. 'The first section above Inglesham is wide enough and generally deep enough for small launches'.
  • The WTSMG author (in a punt) saw a narrowboat reach Hannington Bridge
  • 'If you can pass [Castle Eaton Bridge] you can probably get to Cricklade'. The author has a fierce battle with the current at the bridge.
  • Cricklade Town Bridge is 'the limit of navigation as far as I am concerned in a punt. Most canoists would probably agree - though there may be sections above this where a canoe could be used at certain times of the year.'

I've got really interested in this now, so herewith a table of distances of places mentioned from the boundary stone at Teddington Lock:

PlaceMiles upstream
Lechlade footbridge124.75
Hannington Bridge128.25
Castle Eaton Bridge130.95
Cricklade Bridge135.18