Many continuous cruisers prefer not to have to keep moving their boat during the winter months when bad weather and stoppages can make travel difficult.
Following a positive response to last year’s trial changes to the winter moorings system, allowing continuous cruisers to keep their boat in one place by purchasing a winter mooring permit, the Canal & River Trust (CRT) will continue that pilot scheme with a few additional features.
Between November 2014 and March 2015 boaters will be able to choose cheaper and more flexible General Towpath Permits, allowing mooring anywhere on the towpath for a month or more, with a few exceptions.
Also Selected Visitor Moorings where a selection of the most popular sites will be offered for winter moorings as in previous years.
In Central London there will be Winter Mooring Sites in four locations (West, Central, East 1 & East 2)
CRT is now offering winter mooring permits of one, two, three four or five months’ duration, starting on the first day of the month. There are unlimited numbers of general towpath permits available.
For more information, including prices, is on the C&RT website. Winter mooring permits will be available from Wednesday 1 October on the C&RT website.
For continuous cruisers seeking to book selected visitor moorings or central London winter moorings, four and five month permits will be available then, with two and three month permits on sale on 14 October and one month permits bookable from 1 November. Other boaters will be able to secure winter moorings at selected visitor sites from 1 November.
Alternatively – with the current availability of berths – a number of marinas are offering winter mooring deals.
Thanks to Harry Arnold and Waterway Images for this report and image.
