Kayaking on the upper reaches of Solent rivers

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My wife and I got almost as far as The Causeway on the Yar in an inflatable kayak. We had hoped to get all the way up and onto dry land to eat the picnic we had brought, but ended up eating it afloat with oars stuck into the mud as "anchors". About 200 metres from the Causeway we started to ground and although there was water all the way to the causeway it was just not deep enough. It looked like we would have been trudging through mud to get to the banks. Obviously it would depend on the tide but from memory I think we left Yarmouth around high water.

It's a really nice stretch of river thought, I would recommend it.

My above comments assumed suitable allowances for tides.

 

[Ehecatl]

Paddled from Pulborough to Littlehampton. Fantastic countryside. Saw a number of Kingfishers. Difficult going South on a hot day as the setup creates a strong (F4/5) wind up the river as the surrounding countryside heats up and thermal rise. This also creates a great onshore windsurfing breeze at Clymping.

A circumnavigation of Portsmouth is very doable; the important bit is to get the tide right at the canal (at the top: tide not too high, not too strong. Try around neaps). Portchester SC used to have an annual circumnavigation event where they also took their Toppers, Lasers, Wayfarers, etc. At the bridges they needed to paddle, otherwise I believe it was all good. I expect a Portchester person is around here to advise...

Fareham creek: we've only got as far north as the A27 when in the tender but in a canoe you should be able to get well up the river.

Don't bother if it has been raining recently on on a spring tide as the water level will be too high under the bridges.

Not quiet the Solent, I've always fancied paddling down the river Arun from Pulborough to Littlehampton. I won't be the first to do it but the river passes through some nice looking countryside.

Totally unrelated, I always fancied paddling from Beeston Weir to Trent Lock on the Trent, but have since seen a TV programme where one chap rowed the entire length of the Trent with almost no need to portage the boat. So there is another challenge for you...

 

[lenten]

done littlehampton to pulborough and back with a 14 foot dory ---the arun is one of the fastest running rivers in britain so you go up with the tide as it rises and back on the ebb-----not many places to stop----pub above arundel and tea room at amberley??----littlehamton harbour website gives details of launchsite and timing of tides to go upstream

 

[Andibs]

Just discovered from the British Canoeing website that you aren't allowed to paddle upstream of Beaulieu. I assume that is because it belongs to the Beaulieu estate.

Access on rivers is highly debated. While everyone acknowledges that the banks and river beds are owned by someone, the ability to paddle depends on who you speak to, especially if there was ever right of navigation.
Majority of leisure paddlers don't have a lot of time for BCU, although many are members for insurance reasons.

As only 6% of rivers in England and Wales have recognised access, and then only in parts possibly, most paddlers just get on and paddled despite being told that they can't.

Andy

 

[Angele]

Paddled from Pulborough to Littlehampton. Fantastic countryside. Saw a number of Kingfishers. Difficult going South on a hot day as the setup creates a strong (F4/5) wind up the river as the surrounding countryside heats up and thermal rise. This also creates a great onshore windsurfing breeze at Clymping.

done littlehampton to pulborough and back with a 14 foot dory ---the arun is one of the fastest running rivers in britain so you go up with the tide as it rises and back on the ebb-----not many places to stop----pub above arundel and tea room at amberley??----littlehamton harbour website gives details of launchsite and timing of tides to go upstream

Thanks both.

Unfortunately, the plan is to do the kayaking using the mothership as a launching point, and I'm pretty sure there is nowhere in Littlehampton that you can berth a 2.1m draft yacht over a full tide (which is what I would need if going off for a few hours in the kayak). Maybe something to do in the future using a car.

 

[Angele]

Have a look at the following paddling websites.

Paddle Points - access points and some info
UKRGB - kayaking including river guides
Song of the Paddle - open canoes with lots of trip reports. If you post where you are looking to paddle, somebody local will probably get back to you.

All free to sign up to

Andy

Access on rivers is highly debated. While everyone acknowledges that the banks and river beds are owned by someone, the ability to paddle depends on who you speak to, especially if there was ever right of navigation.
Majority of leisure paddlers don't have a lot of time for BCU, although many are members for insurance reasons.

As only 6% of rivers in England and Wales have recognised access, and then only in parts possibly, most paddlers just get on and paddled despite being told that they can't.

Andy

Welcome to the forum. :encouragement:

Thanks for the website tips. I'll take a look.

Not sure how familiar you are with the Beaulieu River, but it is a bit of a special case as the riverbed definitely belongs to the Montagu Estate. I know lots of people paddle up to Beaulieu village, but it is very unlikely that a right of navigation above that point ever existed. But I doubt it is policed 24/7...

 

[lenten]

if you wanted to do the arun with car there is a slipway with a car park at littlehampton and a very steep slipway with nearby car park at pulborough bridge

 

[reginaldon]

Meon above Titchfield Haven is SSSI and National Nature Reserve - strictly no access. Fareham Creek is navigable up to A27 then there is weir and 2 road bridges. Might be possible up to Wallington but it looks very shallow and I've never seen anything bigger than a duck floating on it.
There is an annual dinghy & canoe trip from our club at Hill Head up the Hamble to Fairthorn Manor at Botley.
River Test looks Navigable a long way above Totton but it is one of the most expensive trout fisheries in the country and I seem to remember talk of major rows between fly fishermen and canoeists over right of navigation. Don't know who won.

I remember - many years ago - fishermen remonstrating about 'left wing militant canoeists'

 

[Angele]

if you wanted to do the arun with car there is a slipway with a car park at littlehampton and a very steep slipway with nearby car park at pulborough bridge

Would you mind having a word with my wife and telling her that she really doesn't need the car when I'm away sailing for the weekend?.....

..... I'll be there to pick up the pieces afterwards.

 

[Roger52]

I made enquiries about Chichester Canal last year but didn't get round to doing it. Chi to Hunston is doable. Need to get a licence at the Chi basin end. I think it was about £6 for the day. Hunston to the B2201 is not recommended, at least not in an inflatable, too many obstacles in the water, tree trunks etc

 

[Angele]

I made enquiries about Chichester Canal last year but didn't get round to doing it. Chi to Hunston is doable. Need to get a licence at the Chi basin end. I think it was about £6 for the day. Hunston to the B2201 is not recommended, at least not in an inflatable, too many obstacles in the water, tree trunks etc

Yes, I recall seeing your thread on it last year (hence why it made it onto my initial list). This one: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?455417-Chichester-Canal/

I may have misread some of the info in those posts, but I thought the Canal Authority was saying it was fine all the way from Chichester to the B2201 and that it was only the stretch from there to Chichester harbour that was a problem.

Of all of the canal restoration projects around the country, this one seems so easy to achieve. But, I guess that its total isolation from the rest of the canal network means there is little impetus to do so. Such a shame.

 

[Jungle Jim]

It might be worth calling or visiting these guys on the Itchen:

http://activenation.org.uk/outdoor_venue/woodmill/

They are serious kayakers so I assume they will know about access and local navigation

 

[prv]

I'm pretty sure there is nowhere in Littlehampton that you can berth a 2.1m draft yacht over a full tide

I don't remember having any concerns over depth when we moored at the harbourmaster's visitors pontoon there a couple of years ago.

(It is possible that I've just forgotten it, of course, so do check )

Pete

 

[Angele]

I don't remember having any concerns over depth when we moored at the harbourmaster's visitors pontoon there a couple of years ago.

(It is possible that I've just forgotten it, of course, so do check )

Pete

Pete

That is a useful lead, thanks. I'll look into it. Their website makes no mention of depth at the Town Quay, and nor does Reeds.

Arun Yacht Club berthing is definitely only for bilge or swing keelers. Info on the respective website of two other possibilities is a little scant (Littlehampton YC and Littlehampton Marina) but I'm surmising they can't take deep fin keel vessels. Does anyone know differently?

I've just spotted "Shipyard Littlehampton" and that appears to have a few deep water moorings - conveniently, for kayaking on the Arun, a little further up the harbour. I'll check those out too.

 

[DJE]

Last time we were there we were rafted outside a Dutch Najad about 42 feet long. Must have been getting on for your draft but I never asked him. (Our boat at the time drew 1.2m so we didn't worry too much.) With your draft you need to pick your moment to cross the bar though.

 

[Angele]

Last time we were there we were rafted outside a Dutch Najad about 42 feet long. Must have been getting on for your draft but I never asked him. (Our boat at the time drew 1.2m so we didn't worry too much.) With your draft you need to pick your moment to cross the bar though.

Out of interest, where were you in the harbour? On the Town Quay that Pete referred to?

 

[DJE]

Out of interest, where were you in the harbour? On the Town Quay that Pete referred to?

On the pontoon outside the harbour office on the east side.

 

[wombat88]

With the mothership anchored at East Head or on a mooring near Langstone circumnavigation of Hayling is fun. Also investigation of Langstone Harbour and maybe even round the top of Pompey. You could even investigate Medmerry but I understand you are not allowed to land. Don't know about Pagham.

Move the mothership further up Chichester Harbour and a kayak will make it into the reeds at the top of Fishbourne with a bit of junglework allowing access to the pub. Indeed there are plenty of places to stop, eat and drink in the harbour for someone who can run up onto the shore.

Of course it all gets more interesting at low tide.

I have walked it a few times and Chichester Canal, though quiet away from roads, is not particularly interesting (for me at least).

 

[prv]

That is a useful lead, thanks. I'll look into it. Their website makes no mention of depth at the Town Quay, and nor does Reeds.

Navionics (whose accuracy is not infallible, as we know) shows the 2m contour running up to the quay wall at one point. This is the outside of a river bend, and it's fast flowing on the ebb, so it seems perfectly plausible that this would be scoured clear. Bear in mind that the two sections of pontoon shown on Navionics are now combined, so you can moor in the deeper bit. Space permitting, of course - we were there somewhat out of season. According to the harbour website low water at neaps is 1.7m, so depending when you visit you don't need to be slap in the deepest part.

I suppose a call to the harbourmaster might be best if you're in doubt.

Arun Yacht Club berthing is definitely only for bilge or swing keelers. Info on the respective website of two other possibilities is a little scant (Littlehampton YC and Littlehampton Marina) but I'm surmising they can't take deep fin keel vessels. Does anyone know differently?

I think both the clubs are muddy hollows on the western bank of the river, drying or nearly so. The marina I believe is above the bridge, so motor boats only unless you arrange an opening (which I remember as being moderately complicated).

Pete

 

[prv]

On the pontoon outside the harbour office on the east side.

Same place, then.

Pete