From Wikipaddle

The River Severn is the longest British river, at 354 kilometres (219 miles) long; it rises at an altitude of 610 metres on Plynlimon near Llanidloes, in the Cambrian Mountains, Mid Wales, and it passes through a number of English counties, with the county towns of Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Gloucester located on its banks. The Severn becomes the Bristol Channel at its estuary, eventually discharging into the Celtic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. With an average discharge of 107 m³/s at Hawbridge (Gloucestershire), the Severn is the Britain's largest river in terms of water flow and length and such is one of the ten major rivers in the United Kingdom. The Severn's drainage basin area is 11,420 km².

Contents 1 Source 2 Drenewydd (Newtown) 2.1 Penarth Weir 3 Abermule 4 Welshpool 5 Shrewsbury 6 Iron Bridge 6.1 Jackfield Rapid 7 Severn Valley 7.1 Bridgnorth 7.2 Arley 7.2.1 Trimpley 7.3 Bewdley 8 Stourport 9 Worcester 10 Mouth 11 External Links

Source

The river has its source on Plynlimon, the highest point in the Cambrian Mountains, in Mid Wales.

Drenewydd (Newtown)

Parking (pay) at the Dolerw Park, right next to the river. There is a small weir and Grade II rapid just upstream of the park footbridge, and this can either be run or passed depending on where you get on. At higher levels the rapid includes a nice 10m wide play-wave near the end on river-right, and some bouncy standing waves to the left.

Get-ons are everywhere here. Just down stream of the bridge on ether side you can get in quite easily. If you want to run the rapid then you walk up the path on the car-park side (river right) to by the rugby pitch and either seal launch off the bank or pass boats down one by one.

The river is best run when the Severn is high. It's mostly flat Grade I punctuated with Grade II features (in really high water some of these can reach low Grade III). At lower levels the features tend to ebb away and unless you're touring in Opens you may want to look elsewhere.

Penarth Weir

• This weir is dangerous and should be portaged at all levels.

The main face of the weir is a steep 2m drop, and at the bottom there is a natural rock ledge leaning back into the weir creating a "V" shape and a large stopper with a long hefty tow-back.

The weir is about 3km from Newtown and should be easily heard from a way off. Watch for a disappearing horizon line and a disused white "Excel" container on the left bank.

There is a reasonably sized eddy on river-right (enough for 3 open canoes or 6 kayaks), larger groups should split up and wait upstream until space is available. To get back in, follow the path down the river a short way until you find a suitable spot to pass boats down the bank and get on (anywhere between the weir and where the canal overflows should do).

There is a chicken run fish-ladder around the side of the weir on left, suitable for kayakers. This should be inspected for threes/debris first and is not suitable for novices as it features a right-angle turn and at higher levels the may form stoppers.

Abermule

There is a lay-by on the A483 near the turning to Abermule with room for 4-5 cars, but be sure not to obstruct the gates.

The end of the paddle is marked by a small natural weir followed closely by the old iron road bridge near Abermule. Get out on river-left when you come in sight of the bridge bridge. There is a path running along the side of the river up to the bridge, but the undergrowth in summer is heavy and dense, so walking out may be difficult.

Welshpool

Shrewsbury

Iron Bridge

Jackfield Rapid

Severn Valley

The Severn Valley is a rural area of mid-western England, through which the River Severn runs and the Severn Valley Railway steam heritage line operates, starting at its northernmost point in Bridgnorth (Shropshire) and running south for 25km (15 miles) to Bewdley (Worcestershire) and the Wyre Forest.

There is the possibility of using the Severn Valley Railway for returning car drivers between Bewdley and intermediate stations to Bridgnorth (as noted below). This is a preserved steam railway, and the guards really enjoy the opportunity to take boats in the guards van!.

Bridgnorth

Access to the river is easiest at the large park upstream river left of Bridgnorth town centre just off the Telford road.

• Severn Valley Station: Situated on the West side of the river, signed from the Birmingham-Stourbridge-Shrewsbury road (A442) and the Telford-Kidderminster road (A442). Plenty of parking (pay).

Arley

Access at Arley is on both sides of the river. "Upper Arley" is a small village, just off the A442 on the East side of the river (river left), and has a water-level landing/launching area.

• Severn Valley Station: On the West side (river right) near the top of the hill. The station can be driven to from Bewdley on the B4194, following signs for Button Oak and turning right when signed for Arley. Or from Bridgnorth, leaving on the B4555 and turning left at Button Oak. Parking (pay) is at the bottom of the hill.

There are car parks (pay) next to both banks, plus a small amount of public parking. And there is a small footbridge, should you want to cross without getting your boat wet.

Trimpley

Between Aryey and Bewdley is Trimpley reservoir, which pumps in and out of the Severn. As the river passes the reservoir's high banks there is an island, with a small low Grade II rapid on the left channel (the right is shallow and gravely). This may present a problem to novices, however it is not dangerous and there are large eddys below for regrouping and rescues.

Shortly after there is a small, natural weir. Normally this presents itself as a wave to the right, and a small rock ledge across most of the river. This wave is a nice beginners play-spot for introduction to surfing, and along the length of the wall are smaller waves that can be used as introductions for side surfing. In medium levels the entire length of the weir forms a wave right across the river, and in high levels it will be completely washed out.

Bewdley

Take out can either be done on river right in the town, before the bridge, using the stairs on the wall or others found lower down on river right just bellow the bridge. Alternatively (with permission) Bewdley High school has a landing stage approximately 200m downstream of the bridge on river left.

Whilst you're still on the river, have a look under the middle arch of the bridge to see some carvings form when the river froze over in 1855.

• Severn Valley Station: The station is well signed, just off the Stourport Road (A456). There is parking (free) at the station, and also parking dotted around town.

Bewdley marks the end of the Severn Valley section.

Stourport

Worcester

Mouth

The Severn's estuary becomes the Bristol Channel.

External Links

• SevernWay.com - A walkers guide to the River Severn.
• Severn Valley Railway - Station maps, timetables and lots of historical info on the railway.