Essex Waterways
Try the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Walk
Things To Do
Step on board one of our trip boats and enjoy a cruise along the glorious Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation in Essex with Chelmer Cruises. The Navigation offers nearly 14 miles of waterway to explore. We have a base at Paper Mill Lock approximately midway along the Navigation allowing trips in either direction, and another at Heybridge Basin.
Much of our wonderful waterway runs through tranquil Essex countryside, and is the perfect place for an afternoon or evening cruise. Charter a boat for your outing or celebration or turn up and buy a ticket for your leisurely cruise.
Charter trips can be arranged for any day of the week with timings to suit hirers. The minimum period is 2 hours. All vessels are wheelchair and push-chair friendly, and we can provide food and drinks on board.
Find out more about hiring our boats for group outings and celebrations.
Ticket boat trips run from two locations along the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation. Hop on a boat at Paper Mill Lock or Heybridge Basin, most days between Good Friday and the end of October. Trips depart every hour, on the hour, from 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Trips do not run in poor weather conditions, unless pre-booked.
Trips from Heybridge Basin head towards Beeleigh, then turn and return to the kiosk. Trips from Paper Mill Lock usually depart from just below the lock, and head downstream towards Rushes Lock, turn and return to Paper Mill – but sometimes boat can head upstream and turn to return before Baddow Mill Lock.
We also offer two-hour ticket trips from available Paper Mill on board Victoria, usually with onboard bar and catering, on certain days – see the panel below.
You can book tickets for Albert and Blackwater Dawn on line.
We do not provide parking facilities at either location.
Find out more about our ticket boat trips.
Hop on our trip boat Victoria from Paper Mill Lock, Little Baddow and enjoy the tranquillity of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. There is easy access from the towpath to the boat, a short walk from the Willow Sett car park (open Wednesday to Sunday, or roadside parking Monday-Tuesday), across the small white foot bridge. Tickets can be bought online (see the link below) in advance, or call the staff at the Navigation Office on 01245 226245. All these trips last for two hours.
Passengers can choose between a cream tea, sausage roll and a drink, a slice of Victoria sponge with a glass of Prosecco or strawberries and cream with a drink of their choice (single measures only and must be over 18). Victoria Cream Tea Cruises – £37.50 per person – usually depart at 3.00 pm or at 2.00 pm
Book online: dates, times and booking info. (then scroll down)
