Winter Moorings on the Rivers Wey & Great Ouse

The Importance of a Winter Mooring

Secure shelter & premium facilities on the Rivers Wey & Great Ouse.

As the crisp winter air descends and frost delicately blankets the waterways, the world of boating comes to a halt.

Winter moorings can offer a safe-haven of convenience and tranquility for those seeking shelter for their boat and often themselves during the colder months. Continuous cruisers will hugely benefit from the convenience of a marina berth vs a last-minute bank-side mooring, where access to utilities, security and onsite management often comes as standard to ensure their boat, and they, are kept warm and safe. And those who reside on land and keep their boat in a marina can sail through winter safe in the knowledge that their vessel is tucked up in a secure, purpose-built solution until temperatures are much kinder.

Finding a winter mooring to suit you and your boat can be crucial to the maintenance and safety aspects of owning a boat during the winter, and therefore a uniformed decision can potentially affect your launch plans the following spring. Read on to explore how our marinas can guide your boat through this winter as safely as possible, on two of our narrowboat marinas on the Rivers Wey and Great Ouse…

Winter Mooring with Tingdene Marinas

This winter, Tingdene Marinas are offering competitive rates on winter moorings across two of our main narrowboat marinas, Hartford Marina based in Huntingdonshire on the River Great Ouse, and Pyrford Marina, based in Surrey on the River Wey.

Both marinas are surrounded by a unique setting of nature and tranquility and are home to some of the best wildlife on their retrospective rivers. With space for anything from a cruiser up to 70 foot widebeams and barges, there is space for all to enjoy all of the amenities that come as standard with a Tingdene mooring.

Premium facilities on all ten of our inland marinas makes getting those life and boat admin tasks done quickly and efficiently, which is particularly necessary in colder climes.

Direct Utilities

Maintaining a comfortable living environment onboard a narrowboat during cold weather in the winter requires a reliable source of drinkable water and electricity. Our moorings offer these essential utilities straight to your boat, allowing you to stay warm and cosy without worrying about unreliable alternatives, or none at all! You don’t even have to leave the site to organise your supply either, simply pop into the marina office, open seven days a week, to top up your utilities any time during office hours.

Premium Facilities

As simple as it sounds, one of the most compelling reasons chose a marina for your winter mooring during the winter is the accessibility to nicely presented toilets and showers. While the self-contained nature of narrowboats is part of their appeal, the luxury of a warm, clean restroom and a hot shower can be a game-changer when the temperature drops. Winter mooring provides these essential amenities within a stones throw of your boat, ensuring comfort and convenience even in the chilliest weather.

Home Comforts & Convenience

All of our marinas come equipped with additional facilities to make life afloat as easy as possible. Both Pyrford and Hartford Marinas have laundry rooms, communal areas, Wi-Fi and even onsite chandleries (Pyrford) and convenience shops (Hartford). Both marinas also have free onsite pump outs for berth holders, fuel pumps, hard-standing, a slipway and Calor Gas sold onsite, alongside a hoist at Hartford Marina too. This means you can do any winter boat maintenance easily and access supplies without navigating icy public paths or waterways.

Complimentary Parking

For berth holders, we have free parking at all of our marinas. You will be given a pass to display at the front of your vehicle to conveniently come and go as you wish. This eliminates the hassle of finding suitable parking spaces in unfamiliar areas during darker times of day and keeps your vehicle safe, accessible and close to your boat.

Delivery!

In the winter months, the idea of hauling groceries and supplies back to your boat through snow or rain can be daunting. Our marinas offer the convenience of direct deliveries to your boat, ensuring that you stay well-stocked without enduring the elements. We have plenty of trolleys onsite too, for those shopping trips on-foot!

Eating Out

One of the pleasures of boating is exploring local cuisine and this can still be a regular thing during winter on Tingdene’s marinas. Our winter mooring locations, and all ten marinas for that matter, have restaurants and pubs mainly onsite or within a two minute walk. Providing a welcome escape and a break from cooking onboard, a short stroll to a hearty meal and your drink of choice is ideal. Pyrford’s neighbouring family eatery ‘The Anchor’ is a classic family pub nestled on the bank of the Wey and Hartford’s onsite family restaurant ‘The Hartford Mill’ owned by Green King are both a pleasure whether dining solo, taking the whole family, or catching up with fellow moorers.

Safety for You & Your Boat

Waterside safety is paramount, especially during the darker winter months where cold weather can become an issue. Our marinas have well-lit pathways and communal areas across the board, enhancing visibility and security no matter the time or weather. This peace of mind is invaluable for boaters uneasy about personal safety and the safety of their vessels. The marina teams are present and patrolling the marinas 7 days a week between office hours, and outside of this time, security gates and CCTV are installed too.

Both Hartford and Pyrford Marinas are both generally unaffected by flooding, with floating pontoons installed at Hartford to work with any river level movements, and Pyrford Marina and the Wey having various flood-management measures implemented over the years, resulting in fairly consistent river levels all year round. Daily surveillance also means there is less chance of any unexpected incidents or risks to your boat while moored up.

Wonderful Wildlife

Although many waterside animals are very much in their own hibernation months, scenes of wildlife are still very much a part of marina life during the winter, where they can be found seeking shelter and food in the untouched surroundings. Various species of birds, aquatic life and small furry creatures are a pleasure to sit, and watch go about their business and make use of the marina in their own convenience! To remain close to nature during the cold months is often not considered within traditional confines, and it’s great for the soul!

Like-Minded Community

Perhaps one of the most significant advantages of winter mooring is the sense of community. Living alongside fellow boaters who share your love of the waterways creates a tight-knit, supportive environment, and finding like-minded people in the ‘same boat’ as you during quieter months can provide an unexpectedly busy social life! The perfect chance to swap stories, share tips and forge lasting friendships that last beyond the winter and even the next. All of our marinas have a warm, welcoming atmosphere, particularly so among the narrowboating community, with many berth holders having been friends for many years from meeting a Tingdene marina.

Get a quote today

While the freedom and allure of continuous cruising may make sense in milder seasons, boating in the winter can be unpredictable and often incredibly uncomfortable if without even basic amenities.

Make your boating life easier, safer and as winter-proof as possible with a Tingdene winter mooring on the Rivers Wey or Great Ouse and enjoy convenience at a time when it’s needed the most, ready to explore again come spring.

Contact Pyrford Marina or Hartford Marina for your winter mooring quote today:

Pyrford Marina: 01932 340739 | [email protected]

Hartford Marina: 01480 454677 | [email protected]