Le Boat Boating Holiday

Dog Friendly Holidays with Le Boat

Every year, pet owners wonder what they should do with their dog whilst they go on holiday. A Boating holiday with Le Boat is perfect for the whole family, including your dog. It’s the fastest way to slow down and enjoy time with your loved ones.

A staycation on the River Thames provides a number of dog friendly boating holiday itineraries – and what’s more, it’s right on your door step. Cruise from Chertsey and you’ll pass a number of dog friendly pubs along the River Thames. Stop at The Old Crown in Weybridge, located alongside the Thames, and your four-legged friend will receive a warm welcome. If it is a nice summer’s day The Minnow is the perfect option for alfresco dining with a lovely outdoor space for your dog to enjoy.

As you cruise at your own pace further along the River, moor at Hampton Court Palace and let your dog enjoy the water. There is a shallow area not far from the Molesly Lock where your dog will love running in and out of the water, whilst you enjoy water activities like kayaking or stand up paddle boarding.

Whilst you are in the area a visit “The Greatest Palace in Britain” is a must. Hampton Court Palace offers a magical journey through 500 years of Royal History. Whilst our four-legged friends are not allowed in the palace they are permitted in the informal gardens on a short lead. Reward them after with a long walk in Bushy Park, which is the second largest Royal Park of London. 

Or take a look at the nature cruise below.

A boating adventure is the perfect kind of holiday to take your four legged friend on. A maximum of two dogs are welcome on board each boat and a pet supplement of £50 per pet applies.

Prices for a one-week family break this summer (01 July) start from £2,049 for a premier Horizon 1 boat leaving from Benson for five nights sleeping five, £409.80.33 pp to a  Magnifique, sleeping 10 from £1,349 per boat, £134.90 pp for three nights. 

Possible to book July to October www.leboat.co.uk/boating-holidays/england/thames

The company has also announced it is rolling out additional health and safety measures under its ‘Covid Safety Charter’. Le Boat evolved their current operations to make sure that Le Boat has taken every precaution to afford all customers an even safer and healthier holiday experience with them. This includes supplying pre-departure information digitally, giving safety videos in advance, stepping up the cleaning of Le Boat’s bases and boats, Perspex screens at receptions, and providing hand sanitiser while only one person will be required at check-in and customers will be responsible with bagging personal rubbish and stripping beds. Trips can also be rescheduled under its ‘Go Boating with Confidence’ flexible booking policy.

A Nature Cruise with Le Boat: Benson to Oxford stopping off at:

Days Lock | Clifton Bridge | Culham Lock | Abingdon Lock | Sandford Lock | Iffley Lock

Moor up and explore the Thames wilderness:

• Within an hour of the base at Benson you can moor close to Days Lock. Within walking distance of the lock there are a number of reserves and interesting places managed by The Earth Trust. Wittenham Clumps, inhabited since the Bronze Age, its two wooded hills with ancient fortifications and wonderful views of the Thames are the oldest known planted hilltop beeches in England, dating back over 300 years. Little Wittenham Wood is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It has ponds and a bird hide by the Thames where you might be lucky to spot kingfishers or otter. Neptune Wood was created in 2005 as part of a nation-wide project to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Nelson. It is named after HMS Neptune. This was because trees and timber played a crucial part in our maritime past; there’s also a series of maritime-themed willow sculptures which can be found in the open area between the car park and the wood. They represent: HMS Neptune, three cannonballs, a telescope and an anchor. In the arboretum area adjacent to the oaks, every species of tree that was used in a ship of Nelson’s time was planted. Free. https://earthtrust.org.uk/visit-us/ From here you can also walk to the historic village of Dorchester-on-Thames and its medieval Abbey.
• Cruise on to the next lock, Clifton Lock (36 mins) and visit Clifton Meadow or carry on to Culham Lock (34 mins), where you can moor and explore Sutton Pools, a cluster of weir pools between 4 islands linked by a footpath over the weirs. 
• A further 32 minutes cruising takes you to Abingdon Lock, moor here and visit Abingdon, Andersey Island (flood meadows), Barton Fields Nature Reserve, Abbey Fishponds which was once a medieval fish farm and Abingdon Abbey ruins and Community Woodland. 
• Cruise to Sandford Lock (56 mins) and walk along the Thames Path National Trail through Kennington Meadows popular for riverside picnics, fishing and swimming. The last stretch towards Iffley Lock and Oxford takes just 21 minutes. Enjoy a 5 mile circular walk from here to Folly Bridge in Oxford, passing through Iffley Meadows, ancient flood meadows; Long Bridges Nature Park besides a former bathing pool; Christchurch Meadows with views of the Oxford Colleges; Meadow Lane Nature Park, The Kidneys, surrounded by scrub, trees and ditches, ideal for children and picnics and Aston’s Eyot, a wooded island with bird boxes.

All of these are free and open for you to explore. Times in brackets are between locks.