Trusty, Kathleen and Maria Constable operate on the eight mile stretch above and below Dedham Lock. Trusty and Maria operate below Dedham Lock whilst Kathleen operates above Dedham Lock.
For more information about our Dedham Vale boats – click here (opens new window).
| Passenger Type | Count towards Boat Capacity |
|---|---|
| Adult (12 years+) | Yes |
| Child (5-11 years) | Yes |
| Infant (1-4 years) | Yes |
| Baby (under 12 months) | No |
| Dog | No |
We also offer boat trips on the three mile stretch at Sudbury aboard our boats Rosette, Francis J Batten, Edwardian Lady and the John Constable Lighter. Click here for more information.
Visit River Stour Trust – Day Tours on Trip Advisor to read the reviews and/or leave your own comments.
SCHEDULED TRIPS
| DAYS | TRIP | DURATION | DEPART TIME | TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays | Flatford Half Hour | 30 mins | 11am-4pm | Walk on |
| Other advertised days | Flatford Half Hour | 30 mins | 11am-4pm | Walk on |
| Sundays | Talbooth Half Hour | 30 mins | 2pm-4pm | Talbooth customers |
FLATFORD BOAT TRIPS (11.00am-4.00pm)
Trip details: Half hour non-landing return trips to Fen Bridge. Depart regularly from 11am, no advance booking, last trip at 4pm.
All trips are subject to weather and stream conditions as well as availability of volunteer crew. Trips shoud be runing on those days highlighted in green on the timetable below.
Boarding Location:
- Landing stage opposite Bridge Cottage, CO7 6UL
- What3Words: ///cats.massaging.cones
- Click here for link to Google maps
Fares (no pre-booking, purchase on the day, cash or card)
- Adult (12 years+) £6.00
- Child (5-11 years) £3.00
- Infant (1-4 years) No charge
- Baby (under 12 months) No charge
- Dog £1.00
SUNDAYS
KATHLEEN BOAT TRIPS (2pm-4.30pm)
Trip details: Diners at Le Talbooth can enjoy a cruise after lunch aboard Kathleen. Enjoy either a half hour non-landing return trip either upstream to Stratford St Mary Mill Pond or downstream to Dedham Mill Pond.
Boarding Location:
- Landing stage at Le Talbooth, CO7 6HP
- What3Words: ///wheels.shipyards.decking
- Click here for link to Google maps
Fares:
- Per person (1 year+) £6.00
- Infant (1-4 years) No charge
- Baby (under 12 months) No charge
- Dog £1
PRIVATE CHARTERS
Charter Enquiries: 0844 800 5017*
Please note: The 0844 numbers are often connected to personal home telephones of a River Stour Trust volunteer. 0844/45 numbers cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge. Example: BT standard call charge 23p pence per minute. Mobile charges can be considerably more.
SERVICE UPDATE: Dedham lock is currently impassable so we cannot book charters requiring passage through the lock. We are continuing with our plans and negotiations to restore this lock at the earliest opportunity.
Charter Charges
- 1 hour – £100.00
- 2 hours – £140.00
- 3 hours – £180.00
- 3+ hours – to be arranged
Our charters offer breathtaking journeys through Constable Country and the Dedham Vale. The charter charge is dependent on your requirements and the distance to travel between locations. There are various options for refreshments or meals in Dedham and Flatford/East Bergholt.
Trusty is an electric boat that can potentially accommodate up to 9 passengers along with a Skipper. She is one of the only powered craft permitted to operate between Stratford St Mary, Dedham, Flatford and Brantham. Our electric boat, Maria Constable, currently operates alongside Trusty. Whilst Dedham Lock is currently unusable, the boats operate below the lock on the stretch between Dedham Boathouse Restaurant (her mooring), Fen Bridge, Flatford, Flatford Lock, and Cattawade/Brantham.
Trips above Dedham Lock are possible aboard our electric boat, Kathleen, that can also potentially accommodate up to 9 passengers with a Skipper. She operates above Dedham Lock on the stretch between Dedham (her mooring is at Le Talbooth), Dedham Mill Pond, Stratford St Mary Mill Pond and the Roger Brown Lock (also known as Stratford St Mary Lock).
MAKE YOUR VISIT EVEN MORE MEMORABLE BY VISITING OUR RECOMMENDED PLACES TO VISIT…
Flatford is great walking countryside so you can take the family out, walk the dog or simply step back in time and absorb the places Constable knew and loved. There is also plenty of parking in the National Trust car park at Flatford (fee payable, free for NT members).
A visit to the National Trust’s Bridge Cottage shouldn’t be missed. Take a look at an exhibition about Constable and enjoy the riverside Tearoom. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/flatford-bridge-cottage/visitor-information
The RSPB Garden is one third of a hectare, so there are no long walks. There are several benches in the garden and visitors are welcome to use for picnics – https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/flatford-wildlife-garden/facilities
The Kitchen at Dedham (formerly known as Dedham Boathouse Restaurant) From boatyard to brasserie and beyond – https://thekitchenatgroup.co.uk/locations/kitchen-dedham
Talbooth Restaurant is another riverside restaurant that has been run by the Milsom family since 1952. It is available for private functions including weddings – www.milsomhotels.com/letalbooth