Home Page	Holidays & Short Breaks	Boat Fleet	Holiday Prices	Frequent Questions	River Trips	Cruise & Dine	Rowing Boats	Riparian Services	Find Us	Contact Us

Educational River Trips for School Groups from Guildford Boat House

We also run trips for General Public Visitors and Groups

Please note: Trips will start again at Easter 2010

A visit to the River Wey – owned and cared for by the National Trust – can contribute to many areas of the curriculum. From geography and science, to technology and mathematics, history and art, a visit can stimulate activities in most subjects.

Guildford Boat House operates river trips covering the stretch of navigation between Guildford and Godalming, and also downstream to the National Trust’s Dapdune Wharf. Our trips offer the ideal way for Key Stage 1 & 2 children to study the river at first hand.

The trips normally take place aboard the Harry Stevens, named after the last proprietor of the Wey Navigation, who donated the river to the National Trust in 1964. This is an open-sided launch seating up to 69 passengers (including children: 60 adults max), and for all-weather protection the craft is fitted with roll-down curtains. There is a public address system on board, used by the skipper for commentaries while cruising, and sometimes by staff if the trip is to cover aspects of river life you are seeking to highlight.

The Season
From Easter to the end of October, trips can be booked (subject to availability, of course) on the following days:
Easter – 27 May: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
8 June – 22 July: Tuesday, Thursday
2 Sept – 23 Oct: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

The Cruises
Trip 1: A 45 minute return cruise from Guildford Boat House upstream, turning in front of St Catherine’s Lock, passing water meadows, St Catherine’s Ferry, Priory and Sands.
Fares: Staff £4.50 (1 free per 10 pupils) Pupils £2.25
There is a minimum charge of £67.50 for this cruise

Trip 2: A one and a half hour cruise from Guildford Boat House upstream through St Catherine’s Lock and under the lowest bridge on the Navigation at Shalford, past the old gunpowder store, turning at the entrance to the old Wey & Arun Canal (presently under renovation) and returning to Guildford.
Fares: Staff £6.50 (1 free per 10 pupils) Pupils £3.25
There is a minimum charge of £97.50 for this cruise

Trip 3: A 45 minute single journey from Guildford Boat House downstream to Dapdune Wharf, passing through Millmead Lock, past the treadmill crane and old town warehouses before arriving at the wharf*.
Fares: Staff £5.00 (1 free per 10 pupils) Pupils £2.50
There is a minimum charge of £75.00 for this cruise

Trip 4: A one and three quarter hour single journey from Guildford Boat House upstream to St Catherine’s Lock, turning to come downstream through Millmead Lock and the town, to Dapdune Wharf*.
Fares: Staff £7.00 (1 free per 10 pupils) Pupils £3.50
There is a minimum charge of £105.00 for this cruise

Trip 5: A one and three quarter hour single journey from Guildford Boat House to Farncombe Boat House*, near the top of the River Wey & Godalming Navigations, passing the water meadows, St Catherine’s Sands and Chapel, St Catherine’s Lock, the old gunpowder store and wharf, Unstead Lock and other features including WWII “pill boxes”.
Fares: Staff £8.00 (1 free per 10 pupils) Pupils £4.00
There is a minimum charge of £120.00 for this cruise

*Trips 3, 4 & 5 can be taken “in reverse”. Many schools cater for a large
number of pupils by splitting the group in two, with half travelling in one
direction and the other half in the other.

Dapdune Wharf
Trips 3 and 4  can be combined with a visit to Dapdune Wharf, situated downstream from Guildford Boat House.
The Wharf was once the barge-building site for the river’s main operator. It was
opened as a National Trust Visitors’ Centre in 1996 and gives a fascinating insight into the history of this 20-mile waterway. The Education Department at the Wharf have put together some excellent facilities as well as a good education pack for teachers. The Education Officer will tailor your visit to your needs if you so wish. There is a classroom and activities can include dressing up, roleplay, science and IT. There is coach parking at the Wharf.

Combining a trip passing through a lock with a visit to the Wharf makes the very best use of a day centred on the river.
Please remember that you must book your visit to Dapdune Wharf directly with the National Trust (01483 561389/534092); there is a separate charge to enter for groups, unless your school has National Trust education group membership.
Dapdune Wharf is open from Thursday to Monday inclusive.

Click here to download a leaflet with all the details of our River Trips for Schools.

The Alfred Leroy is available for catered, Dining Cruises for groups of between 25 and 49 people. You can choose from a simple 1½ hour lunchtime cruise to a 2½ hour cruise with a luxury menu. This can sometimes be extended sometimes if you are celebrating a special occasion. For more information about this, please click here.


*Trips are subject to demand, weather and river conditions and can occasionally be cancelled, or have restricted ticket availability in the event that a party booking has been received. To check availability for the trip please call a few days in advance. To book definite seats, please call on the morning of the trip on: 01483 504494. We very much regret that owing to the design of our craft, they are not suitable for wheelchair bound passengers. This is due to space constraints and for reasons of safety and access.

All trips start from Guildford Boat House, please pay at Reception.

Home Page	Holidays & Short Breaks	Boat Fleet	Holiday Prices	Frequent Questions	River Trips	Cruise & Dine	Rowing Boats	Riparian Services	Find Us	Contact Us