READING BOAT TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Follow the Cheese Barges: Seven Days Paddling 136 Miles from Cheese Wharf to Teddington
A 7-day paddling itinerary that covers roughly 136 miles and 44 locks with drop-off at Cheese Wharf and collection at Teddington — this guide lays out the route, logistics and what to expect on the river.
Follow the Cheese Barges: Seven Days Paddling 136 Miles from Cheese Wharf to Teddington.
This is a marathon, on-water route: seven days of paddling that trace the historic cargo run that carried cheese down the Thames. The trip sends you from the National Trust site at Cheese Wharf through changing river scenery, past towns and palaces, and finishes at Teddington — the last lock on the non-tidal Thames.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A historic cargo corridor
Follow the course once used by barges that transported cheese from the late 17th century to the early 19th — a continuous seven-day paddle that links Cheese Wharf to Teddington and the last lock on the non-tidal river.
Castles, palaces and market towns
The route threads past a long list of notable places — from Oxford and Reading to Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace — offering a procession of historic sights from the water.
Distance, locks and endurance
This is a demanding itinerary: around 136 miles and navigating 44 locks over seven days makes the trip a sustained physical and logistical undertaking, not suited to the faint-hearted.
What the day feels like
What a seven-day river marathon feels like
Expect long days on the water, a steady river rhythm broken by lock work and regular changes in scenery. You begin at Cheese Wharf after a safety briefing and kit-up, then spend the week paddling through towns and past landmark palaces until staff meet you to collect boats at Teddington.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits — and who should think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Operator will provide buoyancy aids, paddles and dry bags and will deliver a full safety briefing and fitting before departure; plan personal clothing and provisions for seven days on the river.
Buoyancy aids, paddles and dry bags are supplied and fitted as part of the pre-departure briefing.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the trip?
Seven days.
How far do we paddle and how many locks are there?
Approximately 136 miles with 44 locks to navigate.
Where does the trip start and finish?
The trip starts with a drop-off at Cheese Wharf and finishes at Teddington, where staff will collect the boats.
What equipment is provided?
Staff provide buoyancy aids, paddles and dry bags and deliver a full safety briefing before you start.
Are there age or experience restrictions?
Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over; the trip is described as a challenge and is not for the inexperienced or faint-hearted.
Will staff meet us on arrival and collect the boats at the end?
Yes — staff will meet you at Cheese Wharf to kit you out and will be there to collect the boats when you finish at Teddington.