The Avon along with the Thames
is one of the most attractive rivers to cruise along. A license covering the
river above (UANT) and below (LANT) Evesham is available from Stratford Cruisers
and Tewkesbury lock keeper. It will cost you £42 for 15 days. The river is
easier to navigate going downstream.
There is a short and pretty
section of river above Stratford, which is well worth a detour for an hour or
two. There is a sani station and water point (you will need a really long hose)
at the Old Bathing place. There is good mooring along the river in Stratford. We
haven't tried the current GBG listed pub but found the Pen and Parchment
(guest ales plus a large selection of bottled Belgian ales) good and it is
located very close to the canal
and river.
The stretch to Bidford, like
the rest of the river is most attractive with pretty scenery all the way. The
locks aren’t pretty but are very easy to operate. The exit gates are always
left open which makes life even easier. Bidford has a laundrette, shops and
Budgens supermarket. The Bulls Head next to the post office serves good
value food, Greene King IPA, Pedigree and Tetley.
Another half-day cruising takes
us to Evesham but it is well worth stopping at the Bridge at Offenham.
This superb inn has good mooring, serves good food and four excellent real ales
from independent breweries. There is good mooring at Evesham below the bridge
with plenty of good shops nearby. The Green Dragon is the home of Assum
ales but we were disappointed with the pub and the quality of ale on offer (Assum
ale, Assum Gold). Much better was the Trumpet off the High Street (turn
left at the top) which is owned by Hook Norton. As well as top quality food,
this pleasant pub serves Hook Norton Mild, Best Bitter, Generation, Old Hooky
and Haymaker.
A pretty stretch of river takes
you to Pershore. Just before the town is the Anchor at Wyre Piddle. This
is a smart riverside inn serving Pedigree, Flowers Original and Banks’s Bitter
but no Wyre Piddle beers! Pershore is a popular mooring spot but the mooring is
excellent if you can get in. The Co-op supermarket is very close and there are
good shops in the town. Four real ales of the highest quality are available at
the Brandy Cask on the High Street. Two of the beers, Whistling Joe and
Brandysnapper, are brewed on site. An excellent value Sunday lunch is well worth
booking. There is a long garden (with a pond) leading down to the river. The
Brandy Cask wins our best quality ale on the river award.
The winding river takes you to
Eckington with a pretty bridge. The village is ten minutes walk up hill. The
Bell is an ordinary road pub serving just Tetley and Old Speckled Hen. The
Anchor just across the road is more interesting. A basic bar serving Bass,
Tetley etc plus a guest ale.
At Twyning the plush Fleet has
a wonderful selection of interesting photographs of the old river. The food
looked good and there is a small gift shop. Beers were Bass, Banks’s,
Boddingtons plus a guest (Bombardier when we were there).
Most people moor
either side of the lock on Tewkesbury. There is a £2.50 charge per night. The
Flourmill and scenery isn’t attractive but the spot is excellent in terms of
security and the town with plenty of good shops is right on your doorstop. In an
attempt to make the area look prettier, the bridges are lit at night with
flashing coloured lights but we thought the effect was tarty! There is an
excellent walk to the Severn via the Avon weir if you head for the Ham. The Black
Bear is a multi-roomed and historic inn near the lock with amazing wood
panelling. Directors is served from the cask along with a guest ale. Just down
the road, (out of town) is the White Bear, a basic and bucolic town house
serving excellent Wye Valley Bitter plus guest ale.
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