Che Bella Vita logoChe Bella VitaCBV

The journey

From an Oxford meadow to the lights of the Bosphorus.

First, a full circuit of the UK and Ireland: the Thames, the south coast, the Bristol Channel, Wales, the Irish Sea, the North West and Scotland's canals. We have already come a long way: the logbook tells the real story so far. Then down the east coast to London for New Year, before pointing east across the Channel and on toward Istanbul. We travel regardless of bookings; tell us which stretch appeals and we will be in touch when the boat is heading your way, weather permitting.

Oxford to Istanbul

Round the UK first, then the chart forks at Calais.

NORTH SEAATLANTICMEDITERRANEAN SEAADRIATICAEGEANBLACK SEACalaisChampagneLyonMarseilleElbaAmalfiCorfuCycladesDardanellesIstanbulRotterdamCologneRhine GorgeMain-DanubeViennaBudapestBelgradeIron GatesDanube DeltaIstanbulOxfordDoverPlymouthBristolMilford HavenAngleseyBangorCrinanCaledonianAberdeenLondonParisBerlinN

Round the UK

Oxford → Thames → South coast → Irish Sea → Crinan → Caledonian → East coast → London

The shakedown adventure: river locks, tidal gates, sea lochs and Highland canals, finishing back in London for New Year.

Roughly 2,000 nautical miles

  • Oxford
  • Dover
  • Plymouth
  • Bristol
  • Milford Haven
  • Anglesey
  • Bangor
  • Crinan
  • Caledonian
  • London

The Southern Seas

Calais → Rhône → Riviera → Italy → Greece → Istanbul

Sun, salt water and slow days. Long lunches, island anchorages, aperitivo on deck.

Roughly 3,000 nautical miles

  • Calais
  • Lyon
  • Marseille
  • Amalfi
  • Cyclades
  • Istanbul

The Great Rivers

Calais → Rhine → Main-Danube Canal → Danube → Black Sea → Istanbul

Castles, gorges and locks. Ten countries by inland water, then one open sea run at the end.

Roughly 2,400 nautical miles

  • Cologne
  • Rhine Gorge
  • Vienna
  • Budapest
  • Iron Gates
  • Istanbul

Both roads end on the Bosphorus. Which one we take depends on the season, the water levels and the weather. Tell us which appeals and we will let you know when Che Bella Vita is heading that way.

  1. 01The Upper Thames

    2024

    Oxford → Marlow

    Where it all began. Before any of the big water came a season of exploration on the Upper Thames: down from Oxford past Abingdon, Wallingford, Reading and Henley as far as Marlow, then all the way back again. Locks, swivels, low bridges and the first real feel of how Che Bella Vita handles.

    Che Bella Vita moored on the Thames at Marlow, with the suspension bridge and All Saints Church behind her
    Moored at Marlow on the Upper Thames.
    Kate smiling in the galley of Che Bella Vita, knife in hand among the day's provisions
    Kate provisioning in the galley at Wallingford, July 2024.
    A young girl in a gold party hat at Che Bella Vita's rail, with swans on the river and a stone bridge behind
    A children's party on deck at Wallingford, July 2024.
    Swans and cygnets swimming in the river alongside Che Bella Vita while a child watches from the deck
    Cygnets joined the party at Wallingford, July 2024.
    Two young girls hugging at Che Bella Vita's steering wheel, with balloons and a party table behind them
    Two young guests at the wheel at Wallingford, July 2024.
    Teaching a child to drive the tender at Wallingford, July 2024, with Che Bella Vita moored alongside.

  2. 02Oxford to Portishead

    2024

    Oxford → Portishead

    Then the big one. Left Oxford in July 2024, down the Thames through London and Chiswick, out to Chatham, Dover, Eastbourne, Portsmouth, Weymouth, Torquay, Plymouth, the Lizard, Penzance and Padstow, then across to Portishead at the head of the Bristol Channel. The logbook has the day-by-day notes.

    Che Bella Vita moored at night in St Katharine Docks, London, her name lit on the blue bow with the illuminated warehouse buildings behind
    A quiet September night at St Katharine Docks, London.
    Che Bella Vita moored bow-on in sunshine at St Katharine Docks, London, with a tall ship behind her
    Morning sunshine at St Katharine Docks, 28 September 2024.
    The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Dartford under a heavy grey sky, seen from Che Bella Vita's deck with her wake below
    Under the Dartford Crossing, 12 October 2024.
    White chalk cliffs near Dover above the sea, with Che Bella Vita's wake in the foreground
    The white cliffs on our approach to Dover, 13 October 2024.
    An Irish Ferries ship passing off Dover under a cloudy sky
    Sharing the water with an Irish Ferries ship off Dover, 13 October 2024.
    Out of London under Tower Bridge, 12 October 2024, filmed from the wheelhouse.
    Passing KISMET, a Lürssen superyacht moored off Butler's Wharf, minutes after Tower Bridge, 12 October 2024.
    Crossing the Greenwich meridian off the Isle of Dogs: the chartplotter ticks from west to east longitude, 12 October 2024.
    Approaching the Dartford Crossing, the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, heading downriver, 12 October 2024.
    Arriving at Dover, an Irish Ferries ship passing nearby, 13 October 2024. Original sound from aboard Che Bella Vita.

  3. 03The Bristol Estuary, the Severn & Cardiff

    2025

    Portishead → Cardiff

    A whole year on home water, exploring the Bristol Estuary, the River Severn and the Cardiff area. Learning the tides, the mudflats and the local harbours, and getting to know the boat properly.

    Che Bella Vita under way on the River Severn with Gloucester Cathedral's tower rising behind the trees

  4. 04Bristol to Whitehaven

    2026

    Bristol → Whitehaven

    Off up the Welsh coast: Cardiff, Oxwich Bay, Milford Haven, New Quay, Porth Dinllaen and Conwy, then across to Preston and Fleetwood and on to Whitehaven. Weather and tide will decide exactly where we linger.

  5. 05Irish Sea & North Wales

    Late 2026

    Whitehaven → North Welsh coast

    The next few months are spent in the Irish Sea: Bangor near Belfast, Fleetwood, Preston, Liverpool and the North Welsh coast. Weather and tide will decide exactly where we linger.

  6. 06Crinan & Caledonian Canals

    Spring and summer 2027

    Crinan → Loch Ness

    A slow summer in Scotland's western and central canals: Crinan, the Caledonian Canal and the highland locks between.

  7. 07English East Coast

    Autumn and winter 2027

    Scotland → London

    Down the English east coast from Scotland back to London, arriving in time for New Year's Eve celebrations.

  8. 08Tideway & Channel

    2027/2028

    Dover → Calais

    The white cliffs astern, the busy shipping lanes and the first open-sea day. A proper crossing with the coast of France drawing nearer.

  9. 09Canals of France

    Midsummer

    Calais → Lyon

    Slow water through Champagne and Burgundy. Market mornings, long lunches, vineyards drifting past the rail.

  10. 10Rhône to the Med

    Late summer

    Lyon → Marseille

    The river opens out and the light changes. Provençal villages, lavender air, and the first proper sight of the open Mediterranean.

  11. 11Italian Coast

    Early autumn

    Marseille → Amalfi

    Ligurian headlands, Elba anchorages and the long blue run south. Aperitivo on deck as the coast turns gold.

  12. 12Adriatic & Ionian

    Autumn

    Amalfi → Corfu

    Hidden coves, clear water and quiet harbours. Days built around long lunches, a walk ashore and doing very little at speed.

  13. 13Aegean Passage

    Late autumn

    Corfu → Istanbul

    Island hopping through the Cyclades and Dodecanese, then the Dardanelles and a final approach to the Bosphorus.

Where we've been

The real journey, written as it happened.

From the first nervous departure on the Thames to the Irish Sea, the logbook is a running record of weather, wildlife, breakdowns, early starts and the quiet moments that make a voyage.

Read the logbook

Somewhere in particular in mind?

Burgundy in July, Elba in September, the Cyclades before the season closes. Put it on your registration and we will invite you to join when the boat is heading that way, weather permitting.

Tell us your dates and places