TOURING RIVERS
Whether you want to spend a few hours or a few days on the river, Wales has amazing touring rivers to explore, including the Dee, the Lugg, the Severn and the Wye.
However, it's important to be aware that there are differences of opinion on the legal right to paddle some parts of these rivers. We've provided as much information as we can to help you make an informed decision about where and when to paddle.
DISCLAIMER: We do our best to keep this information up-to-date, but we cannot promise that it is still true on the day you read it, You are advised to check locally before paddling. Paddle Cymru takes no responsibility for the information provided - and your decision to paddle is always your own.
We include on this page information relating to touring rivers in Wales that we believe will be useful to help paddlers make an informed decision on whether to paddle, but this information should not be taken as advice to trespass nor does the existence of information on this website confer any rights.
River Dee
There is no confirmed Public Right of Navigation on the non-tidal River Dee. Downstream of Overton Bridge to the tidal limit in Chester is a lovely touring section. The section above, from Trevor to Overton has some easy rapids and two weirs that may require portaging.
Natural Resources Wales has informed us of a temporary fish trap that they operate between March and June at Worthenbury. Its operation (between dusk and dawn) is notified by warning signs and lights and when not in use it should not pose a hazard to paddlers. For details click here .
River Lugg
There is a Public Right of Navigation downstream from Presteigne town bridge.
River Severn
The Environment Agency has published a helpful guide with details of the river, amenities and access arrangements – although this is now rather old, so local advice should be sought regarding the latest information.
There is a Public Right of Navigation downstream from Pool Quay. Downstream from Stourport (England) a licence is required, which is included in Paddle Cymru or Paddle UK membership .
River Wye
Downstream of Glasbury, the River Wye is a popular touring river all the way to its tidal reaches. The Environment Agency publishes a helpful paddlers guide with details of the river, amenities and access arrangements. This is due to be reviewed when stocks of the (2011) hard-copy booklet run out. The Environment Agency has worked in partnership with Paddle UK to create a new improved Wye Guide that helps the paddler know more about the River Wye navigation. This guide contains practical information to help plan your journey.
From Glasbury to Hay-on-Wye there is no confirmed Public Right of Navigation, but launching is permitted by Powys County Council at Glas-y-Bont common between 10am and 4pm and paddlers should plan their journey so that they are off this stretch of the river no later than 5pm. The Council’s permission is given on the condition that those launching abide by the Code of Conduct published on this sign (which also shows the only ‘approved’ landing sites on-route), while commercial providers must sign up to a formal Code of Conduct . For more information about how to do this or to seek permission for other activities, please contact Powys County Council’s Countryside Services team, during office hours, on 01597 827500 or by email at cefngwlad@powys.gov.uk .
Many birds – including Little Ringed Plover – nest on shingle banks along this stretch of the river and can be very sensitive to disturbance during the breeding season. One particularly important site at the oxbow lake is marked on a map on the sign. Birds may be nesting at any time between the middle of March and mid-August, so it is important not to go onto the large shingle areas at these times.
From Hay-on-Wye to Bigsweir (mostly in England) there is a statutory Public Right of Navigation, managed by the Environment Agency. Downstream of Bigsweir the river is tidal. The Environment Agency states that “below Bigsweir Bridge the Wye can be very dangerous, especially below Tintern. If you wish to paddle this stretch, leave Tintern no later than one hour after high water and travel down without stopping. Inexperienced paddlers are advised to avoid this stretch and should on no account travel below Chepstow, as currents in the Severn Estuary are extremely dangerous.
THE LEGAL SITUATION
With the exception of a few rivers where there is a Statutory Public Right of Navigation (the Lugg downstream of Presteigne, the Severn downstream of Pool Quay and the Wye downstream of Hay-on-Wye), there is no confirmed Public Right of Navigation on other physically-navigable, non-tidal rivers in Wales.
It has long been assumed by some that rights of navigation on these rivers are private (and generally controlled by riparian owners – i.e. the owners of the river banks). However, some published research now challenges this assumption. Paddle Cymru therefore acknowledges that there are different opinions on the legal position on rivers where public rights have not been confirmed and cannot advise paddlers whether they have a right to paddle on such rivers.
In addition, any public or private rights of navigation on rivers do not in themselves grant paddlers any rights to cross land to access those rivers, so paddlers should seek permission to paddle or cross land wherever or whenever it is clear and unambiguous in law that you do not have the right to do so.
