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The Erme rises on Dartmoor, and is very small until a mile above Harford Bridge. From here on the river is pool-drop in nature, with the drops mostly narrow and twisting chutes through rock ledges. The grade is typically technical 3 - 4 (opinions vary on this, at most levels it may be better to consider this a 4+ when assessing whether to paddle), but the river rises very quickly with heavy rain and can be grade 4-5, with a couple of drops becoming inadvisable if not impossible. Below Ivybridge the river is pretty much flat with weirs, and more importantly, salmon spawning gravels, so the access agreement applies only to the Harford Bridge to Ivybridge section. The get out is at South Hams Leisure Centre in Ivybridge where there is a pay and display car park.
Put in at HARFORD BRIDGE (SX 637596) Park in the lay-by on the river left side of the bridge (one car only please). Go through the metal gate and put in downstream of the bridge on the river left bank. The first few rapids are straightforward but fun, and there is then quite a long flat section. After this the river enters a progressively steeper valley, with the drops becoming more complex and exciting. About half way down this valley the river narrows to about 2m over a vertical drop, landing in a sheer sided mini-gorge. In low water this is great fun. In high water it isn't; if the drop is small and the pool folded and bubbling furiously, then walk it.
After this the rapids are excellent, grade 3-4 with safe pools in between, until Bell weir; a two-tier weir on the right which is very shallow in low/medium water, or a very narrow sloping chute on the left. Beware fish steps which cause widely varying water conditions at different levels. In the last 12 months there have been a number of vertical pins in the 'fish ladder'. There is a concrete wall within the chute about 2.5m from the first fall. It is not obvious from inspection! As a result, paddlers with short boats (2.5m or less) may experience a serious test of their footrest depending on level. Paddler of longer boats should NOT attempt this drop, as a vertical pin is highly likely.
If you don't want to paddle the gorge into the town, which is very technical and in places rather committing, you should get out here and walk up to the road. Under the viaduct (you can't miss it) the river becomes very narrow, and in high water this section is very continuous. It is worth inspecting the whole section first. There are several blind rapids with difficult drops into undercut cauldrons, and there are big stoppers in high water. Beware of fallen trees; you can't always find a break-out. The last drop is a couple of small weirs, followed by a huge sloping drop right under the bridge. In high water the stopper is enormous with high walls each side making rescue difficult.
Get out on the river left bank into the Leisure Centre car park. Next to the small footbridge is a good place. Under no circumstances continue beyond the Leisure Centre as you could harm both salmon spawning gravels and our agreement. If you are confronted during your trip please be polite and ask for the name and address of the enquirer, then pass these details on to the LAO or RAO.
Distance: 4.2kms (2.6mls) Vertical drop: 140 metres.