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The Lee Navigation starts from Limehouse Basin, where the
marina is
operated by the Cruising Association. The London end of the Lee is not good for
mooring. South of Old Ford Locks and as far as Limehouse Basin, via
Limehouse Cut , was
until recently semi-tidal and not recommended for overnight mooring. Now Bow
Locks have been rebuilt and other associated work done, this semi-tidal
condition no longer applies, so the silting will be much less and mooring be
rather less worrying, but the Limehouse Cut and the first section of the Lee is
still not a friendly place for mooring. BW has dredged this section, in the
hope that it will then stay relatively unsilted. If you pass this way, do stop
for a while at Three Mills and have a look at the old Tide
Mills (The older and larger of the two is under restoration, and open to the
public on Sundays). There is also a big Tesco here: the only
reasonable provisioning stop in the area.
Bow Locks (only one of which is now in use) give access to
the tidal Bow Creek and thence to the Thames east of the
Isle of Dogs. Passage is only possible for a limited time either side of High
Water and has to be booked in advance with BW (020) 7987 5661). To see these
times, you will need BW's Lock Availability leaflet, available
from their London Region Office (020) 7286 6101). If you plan to venture on the
tideway, then unless you are used to tidal water you are strongly recommended
to take advice on how to time your trip with the tide, and to go in company
with another boat. John Kennett's excellent Tideway site has all the
information you are likely to want about the London River, and practical
navigational advice is also provided in London IWA's Tideway
Notes which are available on request by e-mailing mewith
your snail-mail address.
The shoals that used to give problems on the towpath side
below Old Ford Lock have now gone. Dredging
had long been promised and took place in August 2000. A
long-promised landing pontoon is also in place but I have heard of problems of
getting on and off it from larger craft.
Immediately above Old Ford Lock (between the lock and
the junction to the Hertford Union) is a reasonable overnight mooring,
but not recommended for leaving a boat unattended. The former lock cottages
were for some years a TV studio where the "Big Breakfast" was
transmitted, but have been out of use since they were damaged by fire.
The Bow Back Rivers (MAP) are a fascinating group of
backwaters. Parts of them are fully tidal and can be reached from Bow
Creek via Bow Locks, but it's trivky timing your trip to get the
necessary draft and headroom simultaneously at some of the bridges. Other parts
are at the same maintained level as the Bow River section of the Lee
Navigation, connecting with it in two places, immediately upstream of Bow
Bridge and immediately downstream of Old Ford Lock
. This
latter section of the Back Rivers was very badly silted and badly clogged with
floating pennywort, so passage had become impossible for narrowboats and very
difficult even for canoes. Dredging has been done on the loop, but not to the
full width in all places. If you want to explore the Bow Back Rivers by boat
you are recommended to get hold of somebody with local knowledge. On the other
hand, if you want to walk their towpaths, a leaflet about them can be obtained
by e-mailing mewith a request and your snail-mail address, or
downloaded from
here.
Above this, I wouldn't recommend any mooring spots (even for
overnight cruising moorings) until Walthamstow Marshes (above Lea
Bridge). There is a pubs on the opposite bank, but access to it
from the waterside is difficult. However a little way downstreams the
Princess of Wales, a Young's pub with good waterside access.
The lower part of the Lee (as far as Enfield lock
) is fairly boring, but after that it gets much more attractive.
The only place ion the area with waterside services is Springfield
Marina, part-way between Lea Bridge and
Tottenham Lock , which has pump-out, elsan & rubbish disposal, water and
diesel. It is one of two marinas run by the Lee Valley Park.
A bit further off, the River Stort is really lovely.
Well worth spending a few days cruising up here while you're in the area.
 Residential moorings in
London
|
 Guided towpath walks
(external link
to London IWA site)
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