Backwaters

Adventure Equipment Ltd

 Whether you want to enjoy a peaceful day on the river with a waterside picnic, or spend a weekend or holiday exporing an area 'off the beaten track' moving between campsites or B&B's; canoe or kayak touring offers a peaceful and environmentally-friendly way to travel.

Canoe Hire and Outfitting

River Wye
The River Wye offers 100 miles of canoe touring, mostly on grade I water, with some short sections of grade II. Touring on the Wye offers spectacular scenery along with a number of places of interest en route.

Backwaters hire canoes and kayaks for day trips or extended tours on the river.

Open Canoe Camping. If you want to undertake an extended canoe camping tour, we can supply your canoe with tent, stove/fuel, sleeping mat and bag, and waterproof containers to pack it all in.

The following information may help you plan your itinerary. All distances are given by river from our base near Hay on Wye. We recommend that you check with camp site owners before setting off on your trip. Unless you are an experienced canoeist, we recommend that you do not attempt more than 10-15 miles per day.

NB - the information on this page has been collected to aid our clients in planning a tour on the Wye. Information has been drawn from the operators and from various published sources. We cannot accept responsibility for any errors and omissions, and recommend that you check details in advance. Note that many of the campsites are very basic, and some need advance booking.

O.S. Maps covering the River Wye: 1:50,000

Glasbury to Hay on Wye. Sheet 161

Hay on Wye to Bredwardine. Sheet 148/149 (final 1km to Bredwardine is on sheet 149).

Bredwardine to Hoarwithy. Sheet 149

Hoarwithy to Chepstow Sheet 162 (except bend around Foy which is on sheet 149)

Key to Table:

Pick-up / Drop-off point. - this is a point at which you may finish your journey. We will collect canoes from these points. Starting at these points may be available by prior arrangement. A fee is payablefor starting anywhere on the Wye other than our base. Launching/landing point - canoes may be launched or landed here. Unless stated, these are not pick-up/drop-off points.

Landing point - canoes may be landed here for access to facilities etc

Camping - camp-site beside or within reach of the river (unless otherwise stated).

Inn/Pub etc. Where these are listed, it is normally possible to land to visit the Inn./pub

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CANOEISTS

The river changes constantly and may rise rapidly in wet weather. Where rapids or weirs are marked, these are the particularly significant ones. There are numerous small rapids, weirs and other hazards along the route; you are advised to be sure of your ability before hiring canoes and/or kayaks, and to proceed on the river with due caution. Much of the river is remote and hire is completely unsupervised. You are responsible for your own safety on the river. If you are unsure of your ability, a River Awareness Day may be of interest to you. Other, larger, craft will be operating on some sections along the river. Canoeists should be aware of the Waterways Code. River levels can be obtained by telephoning the Environment Agency River Line 09066 197755.

Distances given are from the highest point from which we set-off canoes, by river.
TO BOOK:

05600 751426

07815 542775

e-mail:backwatershire@btconnect.com
Facilities / accommodation etc.
 

Glasbury on Wye

Drop-off point.

Hollybush Inn. Caravan and camp site. Food.

Tel. 01497 847371

------------------------------

Aberllynfi B&B - beside the river - 01497 847102

Harp Inn Riverside pub with B&B, 01497 847373.
Hay on Wye.

2.5 miles.

Pick-up / Drop-off point.

Hay Bridge.

Historic Town. Castle. Hotels/B&B/Pubs. TIC. Shops - Hay is noted for its bookshops: the 'second-hand book capital of the world'.

Camp Site (March to October - no river access): Mr & Mrs Davies. Tel 01497 820780
Whitney Toll Bridge

7.25 miles.

Pick-up / Drop-off point.

(Landing £1 per canoe at Toll Bridge).

Toll Bridge. Car parking and camping. Mr Huxtable. Tel 01497 831669

 

 
Whitney Boat Inn

7.75 miles.

Pick-up / Drop-off point.

(Landing).

Boat Inn tel. 01497 831223, downstream of tollbridge. B&B. Food. Landing. Shop nearby.

 

The Pound B&B + Camping (breakfasts for campers) tel. 01497 831391 www.thepoundbandb.co.uk
 

Locksters Pool.

9 miles.

Camping (no facilities except tap) Mrs S. Mason. Tel 01497 831373
Turners Boat.

13 miles.

Camping (NO facilities). All year by prior arr. Mr D. Price. The Weston, Bredwardine. Tel 01981 500396
Bredwardine.

16.5 miles.

Pick-up / Drop-off point, by arr. Mrs Cartwright, tel 01981 500229

Launching/landing point. By arr. tel 01981 500229 for permission.

Bredwardine Bridge

B&B Brobury House (at Bridge) 01981 500229

 

B&B The Red Lion Inn (1 mile from riverside).
Byecross

19.5 miles.

Pick-up / Drop-off point (by permission of canp-site owner).

Brobury Scar, 18 miles from Glasbury

Byecross Farm Camp site. All year. Sharon & Tony Fenn Tel 01981 500284. WC/shower. Camp fires allowed.

Pub within a mile of campsite (on foot).
Preston

20.75 miles.

Camp site. Mr J. Price, New Court Farm. Tel 01981 500349. Pub.
Hereford.

30.75 miles.

Pick-up / Drop-off point.

Hereford Cathedral from the river.

Camping (informal) by arrangement with Hereford Rowing Club Tel 01432 273915.

Historic City. Hotels/B&B shops etc. Cathedral.

 

NB - rowing crews may be racing or training on this section.

Larger craft may be encountered on the river from this point.
Holme Lacy Bridge.

39.05 miles.

Camp site. (Showers/shop etc). Easter to October. Tel 01432 870213
Hoarwithy.

48 miles.

Pick-up / Drop-off point (by permission of canp-site owner).

Tresseck camp site. Easter-October. Tel 01432 840235.

The New Harp Inn. Take out by the Tresseck campsite right behind the pub! Tel. 01432 840900 or visit website

B&B :

Aspen House - guesthouse B&B 01432 840 353

The Old Mill - guesthouse & self catering cottage
Ross on Wye.

58.75 miles.

Pick-up / Drop-off point.

Benhall Farm Camp site. April to October. Tel 01989 563900.

Historic Town. Hotels/B&B Pubs. W.C. TIC. shops etc.

 

NB - rowing crews may be racing or training on this section.
 

Kerne Bridge.

64.5 miles.

Pick-up / Drop-off point.

Launching/landing fee to be put into honesty box.
W.C. Pub
Lower Lydbrook.

66.5 miles.

W.C. Pub
Welsh Bicknor.

67 miles.

Camp site/Youth Hostel. March to October. Tel 01594 86030
Symonds Yat West.

72.5 miles.

Pick-up / Drop-off point (by permission of pub owner).

The Olde Ferrie Inne Landing from Upstream.
Olde Ferrie Inne.

Food/Accommodation. Tel 01600 890232

Camp / Caravan Site. March to October. Tel 01600 890883

 

NB - large trip boats operate on this section.

 
 

Symonds Yat East

73 miles.

Symonds Yat Rapids
Landing (fee)

W.C.

Pubs, Hotels, B&B's.
 

Monmouth.

79 miles.

Pick-up / Drop-off point.

Approach to Monmouth
Historic Town. Pubs, Hotels, B&B's. TIC

Monnow Bridge Camp Site. 01600 714004.

 

NB - rowing crews may be racing or training on this section.

We do not normally hire below Monmouth.
Brockweir Bridge.

88.5 miles.

NB - beyond here the river is tidal, and not recommended for inexperienced canoeists. We do not normally hire below Monmouth.
Shop. Pub

Camp site Mr & Mrs Ward, Oak Cottage, St Briavels. Tel 01594 530440
Chepstow.

97 miles.

Landing point.

Historic Town. Castle. B&B's Hotels. Car park (fee) Pubs. Shops

Camp site 2 miles from river: Mrs M. Cracknell, Beeches Farm, Tel 01291 689257

Fees:

Open Canoe: Half-day £25.00, Full-day £35.00.

Kayak: Half-day £20, Full-day £27.50.

Canoe/kayak hire fees include paddles and buoyancy aids. Helmets available at no extra cost if required.

Water-resistant Barrel for kit: £5 per barrel per hire. *The containers will keep out water for a SHORT time. To protect your gear in the event of immersion, we recommend that it is first packed in polythene bags/bin liners etc.

Tent (2-person): £5 per day.

Stove with fuel/crockery/cooking pots etc for 2 people: £3.50 per day.

Sleeping bag with mat: £5 per day.

Other items, please ask for a quote.

NB - while kayaks may be hired on an extended basis, the camping equipment for one person will not fit easily into a kayak, and it is recommended that you include at least one open canoe in your party.

Canoe and Kayak Hire Gift Vouchers

Terms and Conditions of Hire

Types of Craft Available on the River Wye

Open Canoe. The open canoe is also ideal for those who want to stay dry, but it is a more versatile craft in many ways, and can be taken onto open and white-water with the correct training. With its large carrying capacity this is the craft for exploring well off the beaten track, or for family picnics.

Open Cockpit Kayak. This type of kayak is used for touring and is suitable for those who want to cover distances without going onto rough water. No capsize drill is needed, as in the event of a capsize you will fall safely out of the kayak. These are ideal for those who want to be ON the water, not in it.

Closed-Cockpit Kayak. These kayaks have relatively tight-fitting cockpits sealed with spraydecks to keep out the water, and are ideal for white-water or sea touring. To use one of these it is necessary to have practised the capsize drill, to exit the kayak safely underwater.

 

Canoe-hire and outfitting on the River Wye

Canoe-hire on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

Canoe-hire and outfitting on the River Severn

Canoe-hire and outfitting on the River Avon

Guided Touring by Canoe or Kayak

 Guided Canoe Camping Tour - River Wye

COURSES IN CANOEING AND KAYAKING

Guided Outdoor Activities:

Climbing/Abseiling; Gorge-walking; Caving; Wayfaring; Multi-activity.

Accommodation 

Our Environmental Policy

Backwaters

Adventure Equipment Ltd

Bookings - 07815 542775 - Enquiries

Booking Form

  

E-mail*:backwatershire@btconnect.com

*When communicating with us by email, please include daytime and evening telephone numbers wherever possible.

Admin Office (existing bookings only) 05600 751426  

The waterways on which we hire canoes and kayaks have an established public right of navigation. However, due to the unclear legal situation, on many rivers in England and Wales the right of canoeists and kayakers to navigate are challenged. Backwaters supports the Campaign for Land Reform in Wales - More information and petition to the Welsh Assembly Government

   

Backwaters is associated with Mountain & Water: Wales-wide Adventure Ltd.