This guide should only be used in conjunction with the relevant Ordnance Survey maps (Nos. 173,174,175 & 176) and other road maps. The DW Organisation accepts no responsibility for support crews becoming lost whilst following this guide, or for road works and diversions.
If you discover any inaccuracies, errors or omissions - please tell us!

Some Tricks For calculating ETAs

Create a table of viewing points, distances, times, etc. in advance. This is useful if you have a team that you know will keep a steady speed that is predictable in advance.

If you are not sure of your crew's speed, use graph paper. Plot time vertically with 1 minutes per 1mm and distance across with 1/10 mile per 1mm. Mark all the points where you intend to see your crew as vertical lines at the right distance and as you see them, mark the time on that line. Once you have two or more points, you can extrapolate to the next vertical line and be accurate to within a minute or two. Crews do tend to paddle at a constant speed for many miles even if that speed varies from day to day.

If You Lose your Crew

Devizes - Newbury

• DEVIZES CAR PARK
  
• Toilets in car park. (24 hour)
  Exit car Park - turn LEFT
  
• Toilets in car park on right(24 hour)
  Follow main road around three roundabouts and pick up signs to Swindon.
  
• Toilets in park on right. (24 hour)
  Leave Devizes by London Road - still following Swindon signs
  Cross over canal and past Army barracks.
  Turn RIGHT at roundabout-
  Pewsey/Horton/Bishops Cannings
  Canal Bridge, past Bridge Inn Pub
  
• HORTON BRIDGE (2.4 miles)
  Straight through Horton
  
• Over Canal Bridge (3.9 miles)
  Continue on main road - signed to Pewsey
  To T-junction (Alton Barnes),
  turn RIGHT Woodborough / Hillcott
  Follow main road
  
• HONEY STREET BRIDGE (7.9 miles)
  Retrace route to Alton Barnes,
  straight on at T-junction
  Immediately past junction turn RIGHT - Wilcot / Pewsey
  
• WILCOT BRIDGE (10.6 miles)
  Follow main road - signed Pewsey into Pewsey,
  over railway line - follow main road
  To T-junction, turn LEFT - Oare / Marlborough
  Under railway bridge
  
• PEWSEY WHARF, (11.80 miles)
  car park on RIGHT
  On Friday Morning (9am-12 noon), you may park in St Francis School opposite.
  Toilets
  Retrace route to Pewsey
  Past T-junction, at mini roundabout
  take RIGHT fork
  At War Memorial turn LEFT- Burbage
  Follow main Burbage Road
  Ignore 1st sign to Wootton Rivers,
  go to Milton Lilbourne
  Turn LEFT for Wootton Rivers
  Follow main route,
  under railway bridge bear RIGHT
  
• Over Canal (13.7 miles)
  To T-junction turn RIGHT to Wootton Rivers
  SINGLE track road into Wootton Rivers
  T-junction at Royal Oak Pub turn RIGHT-
  Eastern Royal
  
• WOOTTON RIVERS (14.7 miles)
  Parking before or after bridge
  Over railway bridge bear LEFT -Eastern Royal
  Follow main road - VERY NARROW
  T-junction turn RIGHT - Eastern Royal
  T-junction turn LEFT on to B3087- Burbage
  Follow main road to Burbage
  At roundabout, straight over- East Grafton/Hungerford A338
  To East Grafton, At cross-roads
  turn LEFT - Crofton
  SINGLE track road
  
• CENTRE OF CROFTON FLIGHT (18.7 miles)
  T-junction, turn RIGHT over bridge -
  Follow railway line then over railway bridge
  CROFTON - follow maim road
  Sharp left-hand bend, turn RIGHT.
  
• BOTTOM OF CROFTON FLIGHT (19.2 miles)
  Park here, footpath over railway line.Turn right.
  Continue along main road to Gt Bedwyn
  At T-junction bear LEFT into Gt Bedwyn
  Into village, past Church to T-junction
  
• GREAT BEDWYN (20.8 miles)
  Turn RIGHT over railway to canal -
  limited parking at wharf
  Turn LEFT out of car park
  to centre of Gt Bedwyn
  At '3 Tuns' Pub, turn RIGHT -Little Bedwyn
  Follow signs for Little Bedwyn
  Do not park on bridge or in village near canal
  Turn RIGHT over railway and canal -
  signed to Bagshot
  Turn LEFT at next junction
  (Georgian red brick house/ white portico)
  continue along road - canal on left
  
• FROXFIELD FLIGHT (23.0 miles - lock 68)
  ample parking & access to all 3 locks
  bearing round to LEFT over canal
  On over railway bridge to A4,
  turn RIGHT - Hungerford
  (Toilets on right as you enter the town; closed at night).
  To mini roundabout, turn RIGHT - signed Town Centre/ Salisbury
  Over canal into High St. Parking on High St
  
• HUNGERFORD LOCK (25.5 miles)
  Access is upstream of canal bridge
  From Bridge, continue up High St,
  pass under railway bridge
  From High St, turn LEFT into Park St
  On to Hungerford Common- canal on left
  T-Junction, bear LEFT - signed Kintbury
  Next LEFT - Lower Denford,
  Over railway to canal at Dunmill
  
• DUNNMILL LOCK (26.5 miles)
  limited parking
  Out of Portdown Common to A4 turn RIGHT
  Along A4 to right turn for Kintbury,
  turn RIGHT
  Continue along road to level crossing,
  parking in this area:
  
• KINTBURY LOCK (28.8 miles)
  Public Toilets for supporters and CREW.
  Retrace route from Kintbury to A4
  Turn RIGHT onto A4 towards Newbury
  Turn RIGHT signed to Marsh, Benham/Hampstead Marshall
  Over next cross roads,
  Over level crossing:
  
• HAMPSTEAD LOCK (31.2 miles)
  upstream of bridge - limited parking
  Retrace route from Hampstead Marshall to A4
  Turn RIGHT onto A4 and continue to Newbury
  1st roundabout -straight over London/M4
  2nd roundabout -Follow 'All Traffic'
  3rd roundabout -3rd Exit Winchester A34
  4th roundabout -Turn RIGHT-Town Centre
  mini roundabout -
  Turn RIGHT-into Wharf Rd and car parks.
  
• NEWBURY WHARF (34.5 miles)
  Toilets for Supporters and Crew.
  

Newbury to Marlow

• NEWBURY WHARF CAR PARK (34.5 miles)
  Leave car parks,
  turn LEFT at mini roundabout
  1st roundabout -
  Turn LEFT-'London/ Reading onto A4'
  2nd roundabout -Turn RIGHT-'Reading A4'
  Follow A4 out of Newbury
  Follow A4 thru' Thatcham
  (ignore mini roundabout)
  Take 2nd exit off next roundabout-
  into Pipers Lane (NOT Pipers Way)
  To next roundabout 1st exit- Thatcham Stn
  
• OLD MONKEY MARSH LOCK 90 (37.8 miles)
  Park on LEFT in Station Car Park.
  Access to lock by foot is across level crossing,
  turn right along canalside.
  Return to roundabout
  Turn RIGHT - Pipers Lane-
  signed Reading/ A4
  Next roundabout-Turn RIGHT on to A4
  
• (COLTHROPE LOCK (38.7 miles)
  turn RIGHT
  Restricted access back to A4
  due to experimental 'No right turn'.
  Turn left towards Newbury and
  use roundabout to
  turn back towards Reading.)
  
• (MIDGHAM LOCK, (39.5 miles)
  turn RIGHT at Coach and Horses - limited parking)
  Follow A4 to Woolhampton
  In Woolhampton, turn RIGHT at Angel Inn
  Continue over level crossing and canal - Rowbarge Inn
  
• OLD WOOLHAMPTON LOCK (40.8 miles)
  Retrace route to A4, turn RIGHT
  Follow A4
  Turn RIGHT -signed Aldermaston Stn
  Turn Left and carry on -
  
• ALDERMASTON LOCK (42.9 miles)
  parking and toilets
  at Kennet and Avon Visitors Centre.
  Retrace path back to A4
  Turn RIGHT on to A4
  
• (UFTON NERVET LOCK (44.6 miles)
  turn RIGHT at end of dual carriageway
  at Winning Hand for - poor parking)
  Continue Along A4
  Turn RIGHT at Pub/restaurant (Mulligans)
  Over railway bridge
  
• TYLE MILL LOCK (45.2 miles)
  over river to Canal at Tyle Mill - good parking
  Retrace route from Padworth to A4
  Turn RIGHT for A4
  Follow A4 to next roundabout,
  take 2nd exit- Theale
  Straight into Theale past Church
  to mini roundabout, turn RIGHT (3rd Exit)
  Straight over next 2 small roundabouts,
  follow road over railway (straight ahead)
  Past Station (on left),
  over canal swing bridge
  
• SHEFFIELD LOCK Theale (46.9 miles)
  Parking and access to lock 50 yards on
  Turn LEFT into ARC entry,
  bear LEFT and follow track to canal
  Retrace route to roundabouts near station
  Straight over both back into Theale.
  At High St roundabout, turn RIGHT
  At next roundabout, take 2nd exit (RIGHT)
  At next roundabout, take 1st exit on to A4
  Straight over M4 (Junction 12) roundabout
  Follow A4 towards Reading
  Continue on A4 -
  straight over the next 3 roundabouts
  Over next set of traffic lights
  to mini-roundabout- straight over
  At next set of lights turn RIGHT to Burghfield
  Follow road over river and railway bridges
  
• BURGHFIELD LOCK (48.6 miles)
  Over canal bridge, park on the left.
  Lock is upstream of bridge 450 metres
  Retrace steps from Burghfield
  to A4, turn RIGHT
  Straight across next 5 mini roundabouts-
  sign posted A4 /Town Centre
  Straight over next set of traffic lights
  Down to main roundabout, turn RIGHT- signed 'All Other Routes'
  Down onto the Inner Distribution Road
  Straight over next set of lights
  Queens St Car Park has public Toilets.
  Follow signs All other routes/A4Maidenhead
  Leave Reading (passing MARSPORT)
  Follow A4/Maidenhead
  NO ACCESS TO BLAKES LOCK
  1st roundabout take 1st exit (A329M)
  To next roundabout - 1st exit25m on left,
  turn left into car park or on road
  
• DREADNOUGHT REACH (54.0 miles)
  Compulsory portage sited 150m upstream
  Leave car park turn left along dual carriageway.
  To the next roundabout take the 3nd exit.
  This will return you the way you came
  Back to roundabout at end of A329M
  Take 1st exit.
  Take slip road back on to roundabout on A4
  Take 1st exit - A4
  Next roundabout - 3rd exit A4
  Next roundabout - 1st exit A4
  Over railway bridge to crossroads -
  turn LEFT - B446 Sonning
  Follow road thru' village to T-junction,
  turn LEFT B478 'Thames St'
  Follow Road over Thames
  
• SONNING LOCK (55.4 miles)
  Very restricted parking; stop only if necessary
  To next roundabout- straight over
  To next roundabout-
  3rd exit (RIGHT) to Henley A4155
  Continue on A4155 to outskirts of Henley
  Gulf Garage.
  Turn RIGHT Mill Lane Over railway bridge
  
• MARSH LOCK (61.1 miles)
  1st opening on LEFT to car park.
  Exit car park, turn RIGHT
  Retrace route from Marsh Lock to A4155,
  turn RIGHT.
  Straight through Henley Town Centre
  follow signs for Marlow A4155.
  To mini-roundabout,
  turn RIGHT A4155/ Marlow
  Continue on A4155 to Hambledon.
  In village MILLEND
  turn LEFT, signposted car park
  Continue down road - car park on LEFT
  hand side. Max height 6'8
  
• HAMBLEDON LOCK (64.3 miles)
  Access by walking back to A4155,
  turn RIGHT and cross road.
  Follow footpath signs and
  cross gantry over weir to Lock
  Retrace route from car park to A4155,
  turn LEFT- signed 'Marlow'
  Straight into Marlow to War Memorial,
  Turn RIGHT- signed 'Bisham'
  At end of High St, mini-roundabout
  turn LEFT (Prince of Wales Pub)
  Take 3rd RIGHT(Fish & Chip shop on Corner) Down to end- parking LIMITED
  (If you go to HURLEY LOCK, accept the instructions of parking marshals. There is another canoeing event on at Hurley).
  
• MARLOW LOCK (70.2 miles)
  Access via foot path at end of Gardens
  On return, continue past entrance to lock,
  take first LEFT- 'Lock Rd'
  To cross roads,
  turn LEFT (Marlow Donkey Pub on corner)
  Return to Marlow High St -
  mini roundabout turn LEFT
  Over Marlow Bridge,
  1st LEFT to Cookham Dean / Longridge Scout Camp
  Entrance to Longridge (70.7 miles)
  on LEFT after Bridge
  

Marlow to Teddington

• LONGRIDGE SCOUT CAMP (70.7 miles)
  Exit Longridge, turn LEFT
  Follow signs to 'Cookham'
  Straight through Cookham,
  over level crossing B4447
  Across village green to T-junction,
  
• (RIVERSIDE Access (74.3 miles)
  turn LEFT for support at Cookham Bridge-
  (A4094) Limited Parking. This Bridge is CLOSED to vehicles. Back to T-junction and straight on to 'Maidenhead')
  Past car park with toilets on RIGHT
  Continue towards Maidenhead.
  At point were river runs parallel to road-
  car park on RIGHT
  
• BOULTERS WEIR (76.8 miles)
  Access is by foot,
  leave car park turn RIGHT .110 yards to
  bridge over lock, past Hotel and into Park. Go to far end of Park- Portage by weir.
  Toilets for Support and CREW, open 24 hours.
  Important: before leaving this car park you must decide whether time permits support at BRAY - only suitable for slower crews or with 2 support vehicles
  Amereden Caravan Park opposite Old Marsh Lane accept booking over Easter and have good showers and toilets.
  Exit car park turn RIGHT
  To T-junction/ roundabout, turn LEFT A4
  Follow signs to 'Slough'
  Over River. Take 1st RIGHT after railway bridge- signed 'Dorney reach'
  (For BRAY lock turn RIGHT into 'Old Marsh Lane'
  Take next RIGHT into very narrow lane past houses, immediately after sharp RIGHT
  hand bend take LEFT turn into private car park.
  
• BRAY LOCK (78.7 miles)
  Access from rear of car park
  Back to end of 'Old Marsh Lane')
  Turn RIGHT over M4 motorway
  through Dorney Reach to T-junction
  Turn RIGHT onto B3026 to 'Windsor'
  
• (Turning to BOVENEY Lock on right
  lock is 10 mins walk:-
  exit car park at rear -car park closes 5pm,
  turn right along bridle path
  left at St Mary Magdelen Chapel)
  Continue to Eton, past School
  to Traffic Lights,
  turn LEFT B3022 -Windsor & Slough
  Follows signs for Windsor, B3022
  Go to roundabout,
  take first exit- 'Windsor'
  A332 over Thames
  Take slip road to LEFT
  down to roundabout
  Take first exit signed 'Town Centre'
  Straight over 3 sets of Traffic Lights
  to roundabout
  Take first exit - Datchet
  Under old railway bridge to river front
  bear RIGHT
  
• (In high water conditions, COMPULSORY PORTAGE for competitors round bridge into lock cut)
  Over next set of lights, turn LEFT after BR station into car park behind playing fields.
  
• ROMNEY LOCK (84.6 miles)
  Access over footbridge at the left corner of the Pay and Display Car Park,
  turn RIGHT to end of road,
  through gate on LEFT,
  crossing lock, by upstream gate at far end
  turn LEFT and follow path along to portage, near weir
  Retrace route from ROMNEY Lock
  to main road,
  turn LEFT Over Thames B3021 into Datchet.
  Follow signs for 'Staines & Old Windsor'
  Cross Thames once more
  following signs - 'Staines & Egham' A308
  Turn LEFT after Wheatsheaf Pub-
  Church Road for OLD WINDSOR Lock
  Follow Church Road to St George's Farm
  (Ornamental Railings)
  Turn LEFT into Ham Lane.
  Go to End of Ham Lane
  Parking before footbridge on RIGHT only
  (NO VEHICLES ON TOW PATH)
  
• OLD WINDSOR LOCK, (87.8 miles)
  walk RIGHT along River 300 metres.Retrace route from Lock to main road
  Turn LEFT to mini roundabout
  1st exit- 'Staines & Egham' A308
  
• RIVERSIDE ACCESS (89.4 miles)
  (By day after 1/2 mile turn LEFT into car park meet crew on bankside.
  Toilets at Rear of National Trust Tea Rooms)
  (At night, Car Park is shut)
  Back onto Road through Park,
  or carry on through Park if not stopping
  To roundabout, take 2nd exit (straight over)
  signed 'Staines town centre'
  Straight over mini roundabout
  To next roundabout-
  1st exit- Staines Town centre / Wraysbury B376
  Through Runnymede Park and over Thames
  Bear RIGHT into 1-way system , keep right-
  signed 'Shepperton' B376
  To T-junction
  (with Thames Lodge Hotel straight ahead)
  turn LEFT -'Shepperton'B376
  Continue on B376 to Laleham,
  250 yards past Lucan Arms
  turn RIGHT into 'Riverway'
  Proceed to end where Riverway meets Ryde Rd.
  
• PENTON HOOK LOCK-(93.1 miles)
  Access via footpath,
  through entry to river front, turn RIGHT
  Retrace route from PENTON HOOK
  to main road, turn RIGHT
  On to next roundabout,
  turn RIGHT- 'Shepperton' B376
  Take 3rd turning on RIGHT at 'Three Horseshoes'- Ferry Lane
  Along river bank past Laleham Caravan Park
  Toilets in Council Car Park
  continue under M3
  
• CHERTSEY LOCK (95.0 miles)
  park along roadside
  Continue to T-junction,
  turn LEFT to roundabout Take 2nd exit - Shepperton B376
  after 3-400 yards turn RIGHT
  into concealed road 'Dockett Eddy Lane'
  (just after Lee Motors)
  Long straight road to river
  
• SHEPPERTON LOCK (97.0 miles)
  Follow LEFT bend along one way road
  Parking on roadside as available
  Toilets for supporters or crew - NEED 10P.
  Proceed straight on (downstream direction),
  turning sharp LEFT and
  follow road up Ferry Lane
  to B376 turn RIGHT
  Car Park with toilets on the right.
  To roundabout,
  take 3rd exit- Sunbury B375
  To roundabout,
  take 3rd exit-'Walton' A244
  Over Thames, LEFT-hand lane,
  Turn LEFT at lights-
  signed 'Hampton Court' A3050
  Straight over next set of lights
  Toilets on left
  Carry on to next roundabout
  take 1st exit (LEFT)-
  signed to Leisure Centre
  Down straight road to mini roundabout
  Take 2nd exit (RIGHT)
  down rough lane to pub 'The Weir'.
  Park car opposite pub
  
• SUNBURY LOCK (100.0 miles)
  Access by walking RIGHT
  along river bank crossing Footbridge and
  continue 100 metres to Rollers
  Retrace route from SUNBURY Lock,
  turning LEFT back onto A3050
  Water Works on both sides of road
  
• MOLESLEY LOCK (103.1 miles)
  on LEFT.
  EXTREMELY restricted Parking
  Access to Lock back along river bank
  Continue to Hampton Court Bridge
  Turn LEFT over river
  To roundabout, 2nd exit (Straight over).
  2nd exit over Kingston Bridge for Ham
  Follow Kingston 0ne-Way
  Turn LEFT onto A307 (Richmond Road)
  After 1 mile turn LEFT at traffic lights
  by Texaco garage into Dukes Avenue
  (becomes Riverside Drive)
  
• Senior Doubles:
  
• TEDDINGTON LOCK (108.0 miles)
  Continue to end of housing on the left
  Park in roadway.
  5 minutes walk
  along cycleway signposted Teddington
  walk over foot bridge to Lock Island.
  Tideway Begins
  
• Juniors, Singles, Veteran/Junior:
  
• THAMES YOUNG MARINERS
  (108.4 miles)
  Signed on LEFT
  

Teddington (Ham) to Westminster

• For Tideway, use an A-Z or other London map. There are plenty of bridges to see your crew.
• Boat speeds are MUCH greater (Assume about 3mph greater on average).
  
• Westminster.
  Particularly on the Monday, supporters should use public toilets, (the numbers we can supply are insufficient and the public one won't have been drenched with river water by canoeists)
  
• Excellent public toilets exist on north side of the river either near the Embankment Tube Station or on Westminster Pier (across Westminster Bridge from County Hall) These are open 7:15am to 11pm You may also use Festival Hall, if it is open.
  
• There are public car parks nearby, but no car parking on site
  
• When your crew has landed, make sure they receive their medals and a finish chit
  
• Canoes must be taken out at the steps immediately before Festival Pier, not at County Hall steps.