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River Stour Trust Boat Trips

River Stour Trust Boat Trips

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River Stour Trust Boat Trips
4.5
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About
River Stour Trust is a volunteer-led registered charity dedicated to restoring & conserving the River Stour Navigation for all. The river has a long history with scenes of the working river immortalised in John Constable’s famous paintings. Our silent, eco-friendly electric boats include a restored Stour Lighter & are the ideal way to ‘Discover Constable's River’ at Sudbury, Flatford & Dedham.
Sudbury, Suffolk, England
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River Stour Trust Boat Trips
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles70 reviews
Excellent
53
Very good
11
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
4
Donna W
Sudbury, UK5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Great time on the water
Sept 2022 • Friends
We went as a group of 5 and we meet the walk leaders and we’re made to feel very welcome. We then walked to herny where we got the boat.
We stopped at the visitor Center and had tea and our lunch. Then went on to the granary at great time had by all
Written 24 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LoveTravel724155
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Would do it again!
May 2024 • Friends
We shared a blissful and engaging return visit down the Stour with the River Stour Trust Boat Trips last weekend and definitely want to return and do it again! Gorgeous trip, tranquil and perfectly timed for lunch at The Swan, Henney. V relaxing.
Written 8 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dixonriverside
Beccles, UK13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Lovely afternoon spent near the river
Aug 2020 • Couples
Walked the Riverside Gainsborough trail. Beautiful views of the river Stour. Finished 5 mile circular walk at the Mill Hotel. Will return to hire canoe for a closer river view
Written 26 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phil v
Essex, UK757 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Little gem
May 2022 • Couples
This was a surprise trip and what a trip I've lived near by for 60 years and never knew this existed.
The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable.
We had a very pleasant trip and I would certainly recommend this boat trip.
Its a shame yet again that most of the workers are volunteers
Written 4 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JenAnnie
Nottingham, UK2,003 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Morning river cruise
Sept 2021 • Couples
What a fantastic river boat trip down the scenic river Stour. Fabulous as its all run by volunteers.Steven was our Crew, he was in charge of himself & David was our Skipper, both men were very in formative & took.us on a terrific trip down to the Cornard Lock.What a scenic trip.this is, we were the only couple on the little boat & we had a great time.
Written 27 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KeepITthrill
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Disgraceful, appalling, wouldn't wish it on my enemy. zero rating. Not a place for non white British
Aug 2016 • Couples
I decided to book a night away for my partner because he'd had a few stressful weeks and I wanted to treat him and get away from the London smoke, busy lifestyle as one would. I found a deal on groupon (non related to the river trip although I encountered similar sniggering and being starred at in hotel) for the mill hotel which is located a short 7 minutes walk away. I decided that we should have a lovely boat trip so off we go walking around town looking for a winery. We picked up beers and wine and headed for the boat trip which would be the half hour boat ride. Everything seemed fine until the boat arrived, I was then struck by what I can only describe as human lightening. We boarded the boat with two other older couples in their late 60s and this is the point of when my nightmare began. The second couple appeared to be very rude and anxious, they sat in front of my partner and I (partner is white, european and I am Indian). As I said we'd purchased wine and beers all visible which we kept in a keep for life shopping bag from asda. To my astonishment the gentleman (if I may call him that) decided to make remarks about terrorism to which his wife then told him shut up because he mentioned police. I felt uncomfortable as he glanced at me. Then he started to direct these unacceptable comments to me, basically saying that "we don't want these terrorists here, they have bags that blow up". The boat crew ( John I think his name is) also agreed that terrorists should not board the boat and both proceed to say " got to get rid of them don't we. We definitely don't want them here, call the police haha". So I kept my self together and tried to take in the beautiful and breath taking views until I was asked where I was from which is London. I was told that east London isn't a very nice place because John the crew member was raised in Whitechapel (im not from east london anyway and have never been) he said that it's full of curry now and THEIR kinds of shops so he will never go back. I kept calm and conducted until the john and man on boat started making racist references towards Africans, something along the lines of them chopping the trees to make cricket bats to beat the Africans, John then laughs and says "ohhhhh I'm being racist hahaha". I was livid but kept cool and composed. It's a real shame as the town is beautiful but racism is strife. I was also frowned and stared at the hotel as I was the only brown skin female. I'd of loved to have visited again but I do feel that the ONLY people welcome would be white British people. This trip has completely put me off..funny thing was that I saw a few indian restaurants and everyone else trying to catch a brown tan!
Written 8 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RST1968
Further to our earlier response, we have now had time to investigate further and would like to add The Trust was dismayed to learn that what should have been a lovely experience on the river, proved to be so unpleasant. Nothing should have been nicer than a quiet drink, as the boat cruised gently downstream on a pleasant afternoon. As a Trust we do not condone racist behaviour or remarks in any form, and regret that any member of our crews should have contributed to the situation. We have investigated the complaint, as a result of which a revised training scheme is being implemented to remind crews what is expected of them when representing the Trust. Regrettably we have very little control over the behaviour of other passengers, or indeed members of the public in and around our Town.
Written 13 September 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah W
Sudbury, UK4 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dissapointed birthday girl
Jul 2015 • Family
My daughter had asked if she could have a birthday party on the river. We decided to book the Boat trip that include lunch at the Henny Swan. We tried to organise this 2 1/2 weeks prior to her birthday. Both my husband and I left numerous messages on the answer phone of the number provided on the website, but nobody returned our calls. We made numerous attempts to visit the granary where the trips leave from, on one ocassion I met with a very nice man who was responsible for the boats but not the bookings. He provided me with a flyer informing to call the number to arrange a booking, this being the same number on the website and to no surprise we still had no returned calls. My husband also went to the granary on another day to be met by a young man who took our phone number and details and said that somebody would contact us. Needless to say, my daughters birthday is 3 days and we are no longer planning a boat trip :(
Written 2 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnGM48
Manningtree, United Kingdom49 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
A quiet trip on a river
May 2014 • Couples
The River Stour Trust can provide a memorable trip along the River Stour in one of their electrically powered, and so silent, elegant craft. The river is part of the navigation that saw many craft operated by the Constable family, featured in many of John Constable's paintings. If you take a trip from Sudbury (public trips on Sundays and Bank Holidays), make sure you sample one of the home made cakes from the Trust's tearoom. There are similar trips available from Dedham and Flatford.
Written 9 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RST1968
Dear John, Thank you for sharing your kind comments about your visit to our Sudbury location. We are delighted to have received our first review and let's hope this is an indication of what is yet to come! Our boat crew and tea room volunteers will also be pleased that their efforts are promoting such a positive response. After all, we want visitors to enjoy themselves as much as we are! I hope that you'll be visiting us again soon. Best regards Catherine - RST Administrator
Written 23 June 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
bosuser
Sudbury, UK12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sunday lunch along the Stour
Jun 2016 • Friends
Wife and I invited friends over to Sudbury for Sunday lunch with a difference. What time shall we get to you they asked? 10a:m I said. What? Why so early? You'll see when you get here.

A quick walk from our place in Ballingdon to Quay Lane where we arrived before 10:30 and had coffee in the River Trust tea-room. At 11am our boat departed and we travelled along the Stour, through Cornard Lock and up to the Henny Swan, arriving about midday.

Our lunch was pre-booked to coordinate with the return boat and I was quite surprised at the quality of the lunch. Excellent Sunday roast in very nice surroundings.

We returned to Quay Lane having had a great day out and all of us would most definitely recommend this trip. To finish the day off we ended up in the Black Boy in Sudbury for drinks.
Written 13 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PaulJarrett
Long Melford, UK24 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Didnt go on the boat, but complete rudeness out of the blue.
Aug 2015 • Couples
Kayaked up the Stour today with my wife and in laws, whom are getting on somewhat, but like the occasional paddle, travelling from the Quay Theatre to the Henny Swan.

We arrive at the Swan at about 2pm and floated towards the moorings, in our 3 kayaks. Three Stour Trust staff (John Constable boat I think) were stood on the landings & said 'Are you getting out?', to which my wife said 'yes, we are having lunch here, to which the man replied 'Hurry up hurry up we have priority moorings here you know....we are going to dock here in a minute', really snappy and in a tone that resembled he was speaking to children.

No boat was insight, so my wife said 'That's ok, we will float around for a bit'. The man replied 'get out get out', so we began to get out of our canoes. All three of the Stour trust staff watched my in laws struggle out, all standing on the landing just a foot away from them, staring at us, and did not even put a hand out to help or steady them (I know they didn't have to but it would have been nice).

We stacked up the Kayaks in the beer garden, and before we had found a table, another quite portly man from the Stour Trust walked up to my wife (who was now looking pretty angry and said abruptly 'You do know we have priority boarding here!' I replied that I had been informed of that, and we offered to wait, before I told him that his team of staff were highly rude, unhelpful and obnoxious. The man walked off toward his boat, saying 'sorry', although he did not appear to me to be very sorry at all.

Sitting having lunch, not once did I see any of the boat staff smile at the customers getting on their 'priority' boat.

Wont be taking a trip on the Constable any time soon.
Written 8 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RST1968
We have investigated this incident as we promised the person who posted the comments. Our investigations show that any impoliteness on this occasion was not from our volunteer crews but from members of the public - our clients on that day were very happy with their trip and were laughing and joking with our crew on both legs of their voyage.
Written 20 August 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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RIVER STOUR TRUST BOAT TRIPS (Sudbury) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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