Thistle, Thames Sailing Barge

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About

Sailing Barges ‘Thistle’ built in 1895 and ‘Hydrogen’ built 1906 were once part of the East Coast's traditional fleet of cargo vessels; two of over 2,000 barges then. Today only a handful survive. A gentle cruise on one of these vessels allows you to enjoy the beautiful and peaceful rivers of the East Coast in a memorable and interesting way. Join us for one of our public cruises or be part of a group booking, catering for up to 50 people.

We also offer weekend breaks for groups of up to 12 people. Escape your world and relax in ours! Or enjoy a banquet on a river onboard our fleet of historic Thames Barges for individuals and groups, including two-hour cruises, day sails, weekends away and static parties.

Two Island River Cruise - Join at Maldon Quay for a two hour cruise, past Northey Island to Osea Island before returning.

Orwell River Cruise - A three or four hour cruise from Ipswich to the mouth of the river and back.

Suffolk Rivers Cruise - A relaxing day sail exploring the Rivers Orwell and Stour

Sorry disabled access restricted - please contact us for further guidance.

Guide Prices

Private Hire - depends on location, duration etc - please ring office.
Public trips - full programme with prices on our website.

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Disabled access

Booking & Payment Details

  • Credit cards accepted (with charge)

Catering

  • On-site catering
  • On-site light refreshments

Groups

  • Facilities for groups

Meeting, Conference & Wedding Facilities

  • Facilities for conferencing
  • Facilities for corporate hospitality
  • Wedding receptions

Parking

  • Parking with charge

Property Facilities

  • Dogs not accepted (except guidedogs)
  • Public toilets

Target Markets

  • Accepts groups
  • Coach parties accepted

Map & Directions

Topsail Charters

Type:Boat Trips

Cooks Barge Yard, The Hythe, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HN

Tel: 01621 857567

Awards

  • Visit EnglandVistEngland VAQAS Gold VistEngland VAQAS Gold 2018

Opening Times

* Available any day, any time.

What's Nearby

  1. For well over a thousand years, Hythe Quay has been the home to Maldon's maritime…

    0.06 miles away
  2. St. Mary's Church is known locally as the Fisherman's Church as its tower guides sailors…

    0.06 miles away
  3. Maldon Masjid – the Maldon District Islamic Cultural Association is set in a building…

    0.1 miles away
  1. The Promenade Park maze was built in the 1990s and is a simple hedge maze that children…

    0.11 miles away
  2. Maldon Mosaic, which can be found close the sandy play area at the western end of the…

    0.12 miles away
  3. The trademark Penny Farthing bicycle entices visitors to explore the treasures of this…

    0.14 miles away
  4. An area of grassland and trees which slopes gently down to saltmarsh at the edge of the…

    0.17 miles away
  5. The World War One Avenue of Remembrance at Promenade Park begins by the coach park and…

    0.21 miles away
  6. The Assumption of Our Lady Roman Catholic Church in Maldon was opened in 1925, replacing…

    0.22 miles away
  7. Maldon Methodist Church has a varied programme of worship and activities. The main Sunday…

    0.23 miles away
  8. Maldon's Elim Pentecostal Church is the home of the Maldon Food Pantry food bank as well…

    0.23 miles away
  9. The building in Wantz Road has been used by the Salvation Army for many years as our…

    0.26 miles away
  10. The Quaker Hall

    0.28 miles away
  11. The Twinning Link sculpture was placed in Promenade Park in 1991 to celebrate the 22nd…

    0.28 miles away
  12. We are a friendly bunch of people who take seriously our responsibility to seek first the…

    0.29 miles away
  13. Maldon’s Quaker Meeting House was built in 1821. It comprises two separate rooms;…

    0.29 miles away
Previous Next

Number of results:

Number of results: 460

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  1. Address

    Chigborough Road, Heybridge, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4RD

    Telephone

    01621 862960

    Maldon

    An area of worked-out flooded gravel pits to the north of the River Blackwater. It has a variety of habitats including Willow Carr, open water, small ponds and marshy areas, rough grassland, and willow and hawthorn scrub.

  2. Address

    New Moor Farm, Tillingham Road, Southminster, Essex, CM0 7DS

    Telephone

    07703 577523

    Southminster

    Thorogood's asparagus has a reputation for being some of the most delicious in the country, and each year there's a short season when you can buy the freshest possible asparagus straight from the farm.

  3. Address

    57 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5PF

    Telephone

    01621 731110

    Maldon

    Kate Lifestyle is a Maldon based beauty salon specialising in beauty, skincare, hair and nails. We offer a vast range of treatments including nail art, waxing, eyelash extensions and more. We provide top notch hair, beauty, nail art & gentlemen…

  4. Address

    Off Woodrolfe Road, Tollesbury, Essex, CM9 8SE

    Telephone

    01621868113

    Tollesbury

    Walkers along the sea wall at Tollesbury will be fascinated by the large red ship moored on the saltmarshes. This is the Trinity Lightvessel, which was built in 1954 for Trinity House - the organisation which looks after shipping navigation marks…

  5. Address

    Maldon, Essex, CM9 5FW

    Telephone

    01621 855902

    Essex

    It is an old garden site and suffered a period of neglect but is now being cared for by volunteers from Maldon & Heybridge Horticultural Society. The garden is very small and normally open to the public for a short time once a month.

  6. Address

    Blue House Farm Chase, North Fambridge, Essex, CM3 6GU

    Telephone

    +44 (0)1621 862960

    North Fambridge

    Blue House Farm was bought by the Essex Wildlife Trust in 1998 with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and many other donors.

  7. Address

    The Lock House, Heybridge Basin, CM9 4RY

    Telephone

    +44 (0)7712 079764

    Heybridge Basin

    This waterway runs through a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex and connects the county town of Chelmsford with the tidal estuary of the River Blackwater at Heybridge Basin. It is 13.8 miles (22.1 km) long and has 13 locks.

  8. Address

    Maldon, Essex, CM9 6GG

    Telephone

    01621 862960

    Maldon

    This 15 acre reserve consists of 1.5 miles of the former Maldon-Woodham Ferrers railway line, most of it on embankment. The area includes as small nature reserve with large pond

  9. Address

    Butt Lane Car Park, Butt Lane, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HD

    Maldon

    SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 7.25 miles. This most enjoyable waterside walk provides the perfect introduction to Maldon’s countryside and riverside, including the scenic Beeleigh Falls and the seawall beside the Blackwater Estuary.

  10. Address

    Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon, CM9 5JQ

    Maldon

    One of the highlights of a walk around Promenade Park is to walk along the extension, which stretches out into the water (or the mud) and leads to a seating area at the end. There you can also see at close hand the statue of famous Saxon…

  11. Address

    Burnham Library, 103 Station Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8HQ

    Telephone

    0345 603 7628

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    Come along to our Block Builders Construction Club and use your imagination to get creative.
    All work will be on display until the following session. Free event no need to book.

  12. Address

    Maldon Road, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, CM0 7HU

    Telephone

    -

    Bradwell-on-Sea

    Information: Founded in 1993 by Fiona Oakes, Tower Hill Animal Sanctuary is a forever home to over 450 rescued animals, both domestic and ex-farm.

  13. Address

    Park Drive, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5JQ

    Telephone

    01621 854477

    Maldon

    This 100 year old Edwardian park encompasses an ornamental lake, a large water Splash Park, beach huts for hire, sandpits, a galleon play ship & aerial zip-wire & several picnic areas.

  14. Address

    Muslim Hall, Church St, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HP

    Telephone

    +447904659177

    Maldon

    Maldon Masjid – the Maldon District Islamic Cultural Association is set in a building that was once the Labour Hall. The mosque opened in 2005 and has been restored and transformed into a tranquil place for Muslim prayers. There is a separate…

  15. Address

    High Street, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8AA

    Burnham-on-Crouch

  16. Address

    The Street, Woodham Walter, Essex, CM9 6SA

    Woodham Walter

    This walk starts and finishes in the ancient and attractive village of Woodham Walter. The views across rural Essex are lovely. The terrain is varied, with arable fields, horse paddocks, a nature reserve and woodland.

  17. Address

    30 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5PJ

    Telephone

    01621 927200

    Maldon

    Independent boutique selling women's fashion, lifestyle items and accessories, along with gifts, childrenswear and menswear.

  18. Address

    Hockley Meadows, Hockley Lane, Bradwell-on-Sea, CM0 7PZ

    Telephone

    01621 776074

    Bradwell-on-Sea

    A new craft gin distillery in Bradwell-on-Sea is creating fine gins with a selection of the best botanicals, including juniper berries from Italy and angelica root, lemon, orange and rose petals. On The Wall Distillery is home to the N653 gin with…

  19. Address

    School Road, Wickham Bishops, Essex, CM8 3NU

    Telephone

    0345 6037628

    Wickham Bishops

    Mondays. Free your child’s imagination with songs and stories, give their early communication skills a boost and have fun together! Come along and join in with Baby and Toddler Rhymetime at Wickham Bishops Library

  20. Address

    2 East Street, Tollesbury, CM9 8QD

    Tollesbury

    WhimbrelArt in Tollesbury is a gallery specialising in the work of local artists and craftspeople, along with special occasion gifts and jewellery. Work is exhibited by artists including local watercolour painters Mike Lang and Jonathan Smith, mixed…

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