River Dee Chester on a Tender

[stevd]

Has anyone been up the River Dee on their tender from Chester before.

I am tempted to for a day out. Not the most comfortable I know, but something different. I only have a 2.5hp outboard.

Anyone done this before? Do you need a permit?

 

[jon711]

When I was in Chester Sea Cadets (many years back) we occasionally went downriver from the HQ....

Not sure if it has changed much, but it was a pretty boring piece of river below the weir, and no permit was needed (That may have changed over 30 years)..

I gather that now the Sea Cadets do not even boat on the lower river now...

Jon

 

[JumbleDuck]

Has anyone been up the River Dee on their tender from Chester before.

I am tempted to for a day out. Not the most comfortable I know, but something different. I only have a 2.5hp outboard.

Anyone done this before? Do you need a permit?

I'm pretty sure there was an article about doing this in YM (maybe ST) a few years back, and that it looked quite good fun.

 

[stevd]

Brilliant. I dont suppose anyone has that article still that they could maybe scan in for me.

My main concern is if a permit is required.

Cheers

S

 

[Topcat47]

I visited Chester earlier in the year. Up-river from Chester is, by definition, inland, starting from above the weir. A 2.4hp on a rubber dinghy should cope with the stream as it was looking quite sluggish from the iron bridge. There was quite a tidal range below the weir but the banks are quite shallow so keeping out of the stream, closer to the banks might be fine if you want to go downstream. There's access to the inland waterways at Chester, too. Mind you there's plenty to do there even if you ignore the river. Lunch at Carluccios is always good.

 

[JumbleDuck]

This looks pretty positive:

http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/england/north-west/river-dee-farndon-to-chester-weir

ACCESS HASSLES: Tidal and an historic navigation, so you have full right of passage. Access points are all public roads or car parks. Most of the rest of the banks are Duke of Westminster's, but we have never had any problem stopping for lunch.

By the way, I think the magazine article I remember was about the Conwy, not the Dee. Sorry.

 

[stevd]

Just spoke to Cheshire West council and they want £20! for a day pass, for an inflatble tender with a motor....seems over the top. Free if I was feeling energetic and could be bothered rowing, but I am too lazy for that.

 

[dylanwinter]

Brilliant. I dont suppose anyone has that article still that they could maybe scan in for me.

My main concern is if a permit is required.

Cheers

S

don't worry abut permits

no-one cares unless you go through a lock

and even they seldom care

and if you go through and they ask for money then you just give the money for a day ticket

great idea - take a brolly so you can sail

 

[landlockedpirate]

don't worry abut permits

no-one cares unless you go through a lock

and even they seldom care

and if you go through and they ask for money then you just give the money for a day ticket

great idea - take a brolly so you can sail

No locks on this bit of river but there is a River patrol boat. They usually moor at the pontoon by Sandy Lane slipway,or patrol up river a bit. If its a nice day or weekend you will probably get checked for the licence.

Its not the most exciting trip up river, lots of fields and 1 pub restaurant. You can go about a mile down river from Sandy lane to the wier, another couple of pubs with little shore access. We have done it a couple of times in the tender and its OK on a nice summers evening.

 

[TSB240]

I have traveled the route from the weir at Chester as far as the Boat Inn at Erbistock. It was in a pram dinghy with a seagull engine on the back. It was a very long time ago and I still have said pram dinghy and Seagull.
Watch out for angry fisherman! An inflatable might not take the incoming as well!

Worth looking on this archive from Ahoy Boats he has some experience of sailing the lower reaches of the Dee.

http://www.ahoy-boats.info/archives/sailing/cat_magnum_21.html

 

[stevd]

Thanks for that.....The boat at Erbistock is stunning, that would make a superb turning point after a pint and some food of course

 

[landlockedpirate]

Not sure you would get anywhere near Erbistock these days, furthest we went was Farndon and it was starting to get shallow. We hit bottom a couple of times and went through a couple of split pins, kids thought it was a big adventure.

Its still partly tidal above the weir on very high tides, you might get further on a big flood.

 

[Searush]

Not sure you would get anywhere near Erbistock these days, furthest we went was Farndon and it was starting to get shallow. We hit bottom a couple of times and went through a couple of split pins, kids thought it was a big adventure.

Its still partly tidal above the weir on very high tides, you might get further on a big flood.

It will also depend on what is released at Bala & Llyn Celyn (via the River Trweryn white water course). If th elake levels are low little will be released & the river will have reduced flow. After a period of heavy rain &/or a major canoeing event there could well be a noticeable increase in water levels.

 

[[3889]]

There is an historic right of navigation on the Dee as far as the NTL at Farndon. The £20 permit is for launching; if you cross the weir at HW (covers >9.1m Liverpool) then you are legally entitled to motor up the river. I have crossed in a RHIB, much to the chagrin of the river patrol who resorted to threatening to prosecute for polluting due to 2 stroke oil in my exhaust.
Alternatively, launch at Eccleston ferry where no-one will bother you. The Grosvenor at Aldford or White Horse at Churton are decent pubs within 1/2 mile of river via footpaths.