River Fowey

Map: O.S. 200 and 201
High Water: Dover minus 5 hours 55 minutes

The river is small, grade 2/3 tidal from Lostwithiel to the sea with 2 estuary tributaries the Lerryn River and Penpoll Creek.

The season runs from 1st January to 31st March with a minimum water level of 3 ft from 1st January to the 15th February and 2.5.ft from 16th February to the 31st March.

Paddlers should be level 2 or level 3 standard. There are some small rapids and a number of rock built weirs from 0.5metres to 1.5 metres in height.

PERMISSION TO PADDLE MUST BE OBTAINED IN ADVANCE (a stamped self addressed envelope with your application please)

WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE CARRIED ON ALL PADDLES

Directions to Access Points:

HALFWAY HOUSE (GR 160 654) 5km east of the B.R. station. 2.5km west of Trago Mills. Park in the pub car park to the right of the Inn. The access point is on the right hand bank.

NEWBRIDGE (GR 129 651) 2 km east of the B.R. station. Turn sharp left off the A.30. by a white house, sign posted to Cardinham. From the east take the 2nd right after the Halfway House Inn. The bridge is some 300m from the road junction. The access point is by the bridge on the left hand bank, The car park is 100m away on the right. Please do not block the track gateway. Room for 4/5 cars. Please check the flow gauge on the right hand bank below the bridge. (see above).

BODMIN PARKWAY(GR 110 640) no ingress or egress at the moment. At the main road bridge the water flows from the left to the right with a small drop and weir under the bridge. The danger here is from trees on the right hand bank in high water levels. After the 3rd bridge for about 500/600m the river bends are very sharp with a danger of being swept under the trees.

RESPRYN BRIDGE (0990 635) National Trust land and can be very congested at weekends. There is no ingress or egress here at the moment. The river below the old stone bridge is shallow in mid stream. The next weir is 200/300m below a wooden bridge. To shoot the weir follow the left hand bank and shoot the weir in the centre. This weir is undercut and will hold canoeists side on even in low water levels!. To miss the weir follow the river flow down the right hand bank 500m on to the main weir on the river.

WATER INTAKE WEIR (9097625) The main danger on the river. As you approach the weir you will come to some sluice gates on the right. Keep to the left hand side. Land on the left hand side above the weir and get in downstream by a yellow post. This is B.R. land so look out for trains! Keep to the river bank. It is best to shoot the weir on the left hand side where you can use a rope. The stopper is very powerful at high water levels. 4km on to the end (see above) the main danger is from the trees over the river.

PLEASE CONTACT THE L.A.O. PRIOR TO YOUR TRIP TO CHECK THE RIVER LEVEL AND TO OBTAIN PERMISSION TO PADDLE.

Conditions of Permission for Access:

  1. Access Dates: 1st January to 31st March
  2. Access time: Hours of light
  3. Canoeable stretch: Below Halfway House.
  4. Min Height: 1st Jan to13th Feb: 3ft THE TOP RED LINE 14th Feb to 31st Mar 2.5ft: THE LOWER RED LINE. You must keep to this or it could end the access agreement!!!
  5. Ingress and Egress points: Halfway House, Newbridge left hand bank and Lostwithiel.
  6. The riparian owners have excluded their occupiers liability and you must accept that you have access at your own risk.
  7. You must hold insurance cover and you must notify the L.A.O. of any damage caused by you.
  8. You acknowledge that the river Fowey in its Non-tidal strectch is not a public navigation.
  9. All groups must be led by a competent B.C.U. Level 3 Coach who must ensure that the party can cope with the conditions on the day of the trip. You must carry the lower part of the permission to paddle form with you on the water.
  10. The number of canoes on the water in any one day must not exceed 12

Access to the Fowey Estuary

LOSTWITHIEL
For the main car park (GR 104 592 ) turn down Fore Street at the traffic lights. Take the second right at the garage, park in the lay-by. Access points are by the lay-by over the wall and down some steps, or use the slipway 100m down the road, by a low rail bridge. If you can get under the rail bridge you can go to the end of the park and use the lay-by on the right of the railway.

THE ESTUARY
Lostwithiel, St Winnow and Lerryn can be reached 1 hour and 1.5 hours before and after high water and Golant at all stages of the tide with a short carry at low water springs.

INGRESS/EGRESS POINTS

ST WINNOW (GR 116 570) A good stopping point but with no car parking, narrow road access.

LERRYN (GR 141 5720) Car parking, with pub, narrow road access. Mud flats at mid to low tide.

GOLANT (GR 128 545) Narrow road access, limited car parking and is congested in the summer and at weekends. Home of the Fowey River Canoe Club.

FOWEY (GR 125 516) Access to the town is very narrow. Just passable with a transit van and no trailer. It can be very congested in the summer season. The best car park to use is at Bodinnick (GR 126 522) on the B3269. about 1km east of the town with a slipway, shops, cafe and toilets. You must keep clear of the ferry slip at all times, this is upstream of the car park. You must also keep clear of the port area also upstream on the west bank and give way to ships in passage!. The main beach is at Readymoney (GR 118 511) with toilets, very narrow road access and the car park is back up the hill about 800m.

Campsites

Two west of Fowey on the A3082

O.S.Maps

200 Newquay/Bodmin
201 Plymouth/Launceston.

Tidal Constant. Dover 5 hours 55 minutes standard port Devonport 10 mins.

Admiralty Charts. 1267. 148. 31.

Weather.
Weathercall Tel: 01891 505 304.
Marine call: Tel: 01891 505 358.

Fowey Harbour Commissioners Tel: 01726 832 471.

Maritime Rescue Centre Brixham Tel: 01803 882 704.

B.C.U. Local Access Officer
Richard Hobba
30 Park View
Penhaligan Way
St. Austell
PL25 3AR