Royal Wootton Bassett Events

Boat Trips in narrow-boat 'Nonsuch'

In Spring 2024, the Trust purchased a former day-hire boat which is known as 'Nonsuch' after the late Vic Miller's boat.

Over the winter, we have given Nonsuch a fresh coat of paint, and we have a team of skippers and on-board crew to run trips every Saturday starting on 3rd May until late September. We would be delighted to train new crew members.

See Facebook pages a few days before for updates. Weather and water depth are important - we do need some rain during the week but not on Saturdays!

The first trip leaves the landing-stage on the north side near the Templar's Firs slipway at 10am, and trips continue hourly until the last departure at 4pm, Trips take around 45 minutes.

'Nonsuch' is licensed to carry up to 8 passengers and 2 crew. Because the boat is shorter than its cousin 'Dragonfly' (which operates from Wichelstowe), there’s no room for a lift, but if those with a mobility problem can manage three steps with a handrail for support, then they can access the boat from the landing stage.

There is car parking just off Marlborough Road at SN4 7SE, then a walk along the farm track. Please remember that we require a minimum ratio of 1 adult to 3 children. You can just turn up on the day, but if you want to be certain, please book using this telephone number:  07586 667118. Those with a wheelchair can bring their car closer to the canal if they phone the dedicated phone number, 07586 667118.

Trips last approximately 45 mins. Fares are £6 for 14+ years, £3 for children and under 2s are FREE (max 3 children per adult). Well-behaved dogs welcome.

We have now held our first 'charter', where we carried Royal Wootton Bassett Scouts and their leaders on Monday evening, 22nd July. If you would like to plan a charter, please call us on the Nonsuch Bookings phone, 07586 667118, and we shall see if we have the crew available to do so.

 

Christmas Lights and Shopping Events

Once again, we have booked a stall for the Christmas Lights switch-on, which in 2024 is on Friday 29th November. Please come and join us on this fantastic evening of family fun !

 

Other Events

In a normal year, the Branch would have a series of public talks in the winter months and Trip-boat weekends in the summer, plus socials for members and a stall at the Christmas Lights event. Our monthly branch meetings are held at the Angel Hotel in the High Street at 7:30pm, usually on the first Monday of the month, but if that Monday is a Bank Holiday, we meet on the second Monday instead.

  

Fishing

The RWB Angling Club has the fishing rights for the Templar's Firs section from the slipway for about half a mile. There is no fishing at the east end of this stretch, nor at Chaddington or Studley Grange, The Secretary is Terry Strange, tel: 01793 201276 (more details in Community magazine), and can issue annual memberships and day passes. In addition, day passes can be bought at Jubilee Lake or at the Cobbler's shop in the arcade in the High Street (21, Apsley House, 50 High Street; half-day closing on Thursday afternoons).