Parking, spectators, weather, photos etc.
Parking
We kindly ask you approach access for parking from the A4074/A4130 round-about through Crowmarsh Gifford (along The Street) rather than driving through Wallingford town centre. This is particularly important for trailers as there is no left-hand turn into access road to trailer park.
Trailer parking
Address for trailer parking: Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8EB (this is for the campsite but the postcode should get you close enough with SAT NAV)
Boating is from the East bank of the River Thames next to the Riverside CarPark, which serves as the trailer park and offers toilets and refreshments.
- Trailers should access the trailer park from the A4074/A4130 roundabout through Crowmarsh Gifford along The Street on to Stephen’s Field. Access is not possible coming from Wallingford town centre
- The trailer park will open at 07.00 and close at 18.00. There is no access the day before.
- The trailer park is only for use by trailers as space is restricted
- Boat rigging is done in the field through the other side of the road bridge
- The car park is not suitable for longer boat trailers
Competitor and spectator parking
- There will be a free car park available for competitors and spectators to use on the day.
- These will open at 07.00 and close at 18.00 promptly.
- There will be limited provision for blue badge holders in the trailer park.
- Accessibility: the footpaths from the car parks to the river are flat, gravel, grass and wood-chip or the alternative is to use the road.
Car Park 1 – Howbery Business Park – approx. 1.2km / 10-12 mins walk to river
Postcode/Sat Nav Ref: OX10 8BA, Howbery Park, Benson Lane, Wallingford, Oxon.
Please only park on the gravel car park area as directed by car park marshals.
As a courtesy to local residents and other town users, competitors and spectators are requested NOT to park in
- residential areas and side roads in Crowmarsh Gifford
- in town car parks or on grass verges
- on the bypass bridge or the grass verges along the bypass verge
Spectators
Please bring suitable footwear and clothing. The ground may be muddy and slippery and the weather may be cold, windy and wet.
Hot drinks and food are available under the Wallingford Bridge arches (Crowmarsh side), by the trailer park and marked as Crew Registration on the course map.
Use the course map to identify appropriate vantage points.
On the Wallingford side of the river, the river side path starts at the finish (OUBC) and continues south to Cholsey Ferry. (Approx 4000m to go). A good vantage point is on the New Bypass Road Bridge. (Approx 1000m to go)
You can also watch the finish from the Crowmarsh (east) side of the river. Note that there is no riverside path south from the finish towards the New Bypass Road Bridge.
Best access to see the long start is from the east, joining the river path from North or South Stoke, or the little road between the two villages which goes fairly close to the river (look for Littlestoke Manor).
You have access to the river from the west at Moulsford (Beetle and Wedge) but this is south of the start and you will only see crews waiting.