How to get there - Advise for Sundays only (restricted parking) Leave the A34 at the Botley interchange,follow signs for Oxford, continue past the retail parks, quite soon after passing Halfords on the left, take the right turn into Bridge street. Turn immediately left, find a spot to unload. Then find a space on the single yellows, there are plenty.
Get a map with driving directions to
start (enter the postcode of your starting point at A)
Suggested Launch Site - In East Street is The Punters pub (formally The Waterman's) Have a snifter there first if you wish, either way once you put in you will be heading away from the lock, north under the Botley road.
General
Description - This is a nice little afternoons trip to be taken leisurely, I'd say it's about 3 miles at the most, but it's a loop so you don't have to retrace your steps.
Once you are clear of Osney bridge, continue along for about 5 mins and you will come to a 4 way junction. Turn left, there is a chain across the entrance to this passage, don't worry, go under it easily.
You will be in Tumbling bay bathing place, a hidden treasure. Portage through here, go across the footbridge and put in again after a small weir. Continue along, till you reach 'Binsey rapids'! Got through this death defying set of 6 inch rapids and follow the stream.
It will not take you long to reach the main Thames, but this short trip takes you through Hinksey and behind the Botley road park areas. very nice. It is possible to detour off to the left, further into Hinskey and find The Fishes pub.
Either way, as I said you will reach the main Thames and you will see the railway bridge in front of you. Turn left away from this and you will soon reach Osney lock and the pleasures of The Punter's again.
