The Wye Valley, Symonds Yat, weirs and wonderful...?

[Sandgrounder]

I can dimly remember my mother (a Monmouth Resident) about the barge. It was apparently taken up river by an ex-army type with the intention of opening a floating restaurant similar the the few that were in Bristol at the time. Maybe he hadn't realised why Bristol had been a major port and Hereford hadn't; either that or slightly crazy.

 

[Bru]

I can dimly remember my mother (a Monmouth Resident) about the barge. It was apparently taken up river by an ex-army type with the intention of opening a floating restaurant similar the the few that were in Bristol at the time. Maybe he hadn't realised why Bristol had been a major port and Hereford hadn't; either that or slightly crazy.

Jives with my recollection. I think mostly he just got so annoyed at the opposition to his plans that he was determined to get the barge up there come what may and was stubborn enough and resourceful enough to pull it off

It was a bit of a cause celebre at the time in inland waterways political circles coming as it did not long after the boating fraternity had lost a drawn out and very costly legal battle attempting to resurect the ancient right of navigation on the Yorkshire Derwent

It's worth bearing in mind though that in days of old when men were bold and trows made it all the way to Hay on Wye there were navigational weirs which could be closed off to hold back the water over many of the shallow stretches which were mostly removed many many years ago (the Symonds Yat rapids are actually man made in part from the remains of one such demolished weir)

 

[Sandgrounder]

Jives with my recollection. I think mostly he just got so annoyed at the opposition to his plans that he was determined to get the barge up there come what may and was stubborn enough and resourceful enough to pull it off

It was a bit of a cause celebre at the time in inland waterways political circles coming as it did not long after the boating fraternity had lost a drawn out and very costly legal battle attempting to resurect the ancient right of navigation on the Yorkshire Derwent

It's worth bearing in mind though that in days of old when men were bold and trows made it all the way to Hay on Wye there were navigational weirs which could be closed off to hold back the water over many of the shallow stretches which were mostly removed many many years ago (the Symonds Yat rapids are actually man made in part from the remains of one such demolished weir)

Thanks for that; something I never knew and which makes absolute sense. Still it doesn't help the OP get a dinghy up to Hay. I think any boat used would have to be capable of being rowed and of of being carried by the crew but it would be a lovely trip.

 

[Greenheart]

Okay, now I'm thinking perhaps a Sevylor inflatable kayak, in the boot of the Micra, and the tent!

Not so ambitious, but I'd feel stupid if the enormous burden of pushing 200kg of dinghy and kit against current, obstructions, weirs and swans, was to draw focus from the wonderful surroundings. I'd forgotten Goodrich Castle is close by...

 

[sam_uk]

A work colleague races a hovercraft most weekends - how about one of those?

Pete

Funny you should mention that, year before last I saw a couple of guys in hovercrafts just above Tintern, heading upstream!

I did a double take at the time but it looked like a lot of fun