Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Canoe Guide - River Severn
Canoe Tours in England: River Severn
I have not paddled this canoe tour.
The River Severn rises in the mountains of Wales and reaches the Atlantic Ocean at the Bristol Channel. It is a
natural waterway, wild and unspoilt in its upper reaches. This tour goes from Pool Quay to Gloucester in pleasant
rural countryside and ends at Gloucester when the river becomes tidal.
Start: The “free navigation” starts at Abbey Weir about 4 km NE of Welshpool. The easiest access is at Pool
Quay (SJ 259115) about 1 km further down the Severn. There is a layby on the A483, south of Pool Quay and your
canoe could be launched from there.
Finish: Gloucester Lock
Transport: You can get from Gloucester to Welshpool by train
Distance: 128 miles (205 km)
Maps and guidebooks: There are good maps and a canoe guidebook available for this route.
Difficulty: Easy. Below Bewdley Bridge the river becomes deeper and you will encounter powered craft. Below
Stourport the river is controlled by locks. These will need to be portaged. Do not paddle when the river is in flood.
Route extension: It is possible to continue along the Severn below Gloucester, but it is tidal and not to be
recommended. An alternative is the Gloucester and Sharpness Ship Canal which rejoins the Severn after 15 miles
at Sharpness. There are no locks on this canal except at Gloucester and Sharpness, but small craft are not
encouraged on this section of canal.
Permits: You need a licence from British Waterways to canoe the section from Bewdley Bridge to Gloucester.
The route:
Distances are in miles from Abbey Weir.
1 Pool Quay
3 Stoney Rapid. This should not be a serious problem, but proceed with caution in low water conditions.
12 River Vyrnwy enters the Severn.
22 Montford Bridge
36 Shrewsbury Weir: Portage on the left.
58 Ironbridge. After passing under the historic Iron bridge (1779) the Severn enters Ironbridge Gorge and the
flow increases. Normal passage in low water is to the left of the islands.
58 Jackfield Rapid: Inspect from the left hand bank.
67 Bridgenorth
79 Eyemore Rapid: Take channel to left of the island.
81 Bewdley Bridge: Bewdley Bridge marks the end of the “free navigation”. You are now required to have a
British Waterways Licence.
85 Stourport
87 Weir Lock
91 Holt Lock
94 Bevere Lock
98 Worcester: Diglis Lock
109 Upton on Severn
115 Tewkesbury: Beyond Tewkesbury the Severn is tidal
116 Upper Lode Lock
129 Gloucester Lock and Docks.
Information:
British Canoe Union
18 Market Place
Bingham
Nottingham NG13 8AP
Tel: 0845-370-9500
http://www.bcu.org.uk
BCU guidebooks: Canoe Touring: 100 Paddles in England
British Waterways:
British Waterways Customer Service Centre
Willow Grange
Church Road
Watford, WD17 4QA
01923-201120
Enquiries.hq@britishwaterways.co.uk
Environment Agency
Sapphire East
550 Streesbrook Road
Solihull
West Midlands B91 1QT
Tel: 0121-711-2324
The Environment Agency publish a canoeists guide to the Severn.
The information is also available on their website:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
The area is covered by OS maps 126,127,138,150,162
The section from Bewdley to Gloucester and the extension to Sharpness is detailed in
Guide to the Waterways Vol 2 Severn, Avon and Birmingham. Published by Nicholson
I have not paddled this canoe tour.
The River Severn rises in the mountains of Wales and reaches the Atlantic Ocean at the Bristol Channel. It is a
natural waterway, wild and unspoilt in its upper reaches. This tour goes from Pool Quay to Gloucester in pleasant
rural countryside and ends at Gloucester when the river becomes tidal.
Start: The “free navigation” starts at Abbey Weir about 4 km NE of Welshpool. The easiest access is at Pool
Quay (SJ 259115) about 1 km further down the Severn. There is a layby on the A483, south of Pool Quay and your
canoe could be launched from there.
Finish: Gloucester Lock
Transport: You can get from Gloucester to Welshpool by train
Distance: 128 miles (205 km)
Maps and guidebooks: There are good maps and a canoe guidebook available for this route.
Difficulty: Easy. Below Bewdley Bridge the river becomes deeper and you will encounter powered craft. Below
Stourport the river is controlled by locks. These will need to be portaged. Do not paddle when the river is in flood.
Route extension: It is possible to continue along the Severn below Gloucester, but it is tidal and not to be
recommended. An alternative is the Gloucester and Sharpness Ship Canal which rejoins the Severn after 15 miles
at Sharpness. There are no locks on this canal except at Gloucester and Sharpness, but small craft are not
encouraged on this section of canal.
Permits: You need a licence from British Waterways to canoe the section from Bewdley Bridge to Gloucester.
The route:
Distances are in miles from Abbey Weir.
1 Pool Quay
3 Stoney Rapid. This should not be a serious problem, but proceed with caution in low water conditions.
12 River Vyrnwy enters the Severn.
22 Montford Bridge
36 Shrewsbury Weir: Portage on the left.
58 Ironbridge. After passing under the historic Iron bridge (1779) the Severn enters Ironbridge Gorge and the
flow increases. Normal passage in low water is to the left of the islands.
58 Jackfield Rapid: Inspect from the left hand bank.
67 Bridgenorth
79 Eyemore Rapid: Take channel to left of the island.
81 Bewdley Bridge: Bewdley Bridge marks the end of the “free navigation”. You are now required to have a
British Waterways Licence.
85 Stourport
87 Weir Lock
91 Holt Lock
94 Bevere Lock
98 Worcester: Diglis Lock
109 Upton on Severn
115 Tewkesbury: Beyond Tewkesbury the Severn is tidal
116 Upper Lode Lock
129 Gloucester Lock and Docks.
Information:
British Canoe Union
18 Market Place
Bingham
Nottingham NG13 8AP
Tel: 0845-370-9500
http://www.bcu.org.uk
BCU guidebooks: Canoe Touring: 100 Paddles in England
British Waterways:
British Waterways Customer Service Centre
Willow Grange
Church Road
Watford, WD17 4QA
01923-201120
Enquiries.hq@britishwaterways.co.uk
Environment Agency
Sapphire East
550 Streesbrook Road
Solihull
West Midlands B91 1QT
Tel: 0121-711-2324
The Environment Agency publish a canoeists guide to the Severn.
The information is also available on their website:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
The area is covered by OS maps 126,127,138,150,162
The section from Bewdley to Gloucester and the extension to Sharpness is detailed in
Guide to the Waterways Vol 2 Severn, Avon and Birmingham. Published by Nicholson
 |  |  |  |