Changes to access arrangements on the River Wye

WUF has announced that from July 2020 paddlers are welcome to use the section all year round provided that:

• Water is higher than 0.67 at Glasbury or 0.3m at Hay to prevent environmental damage during low water periods
• You do not pass downstream of a point 150m below Glasbury Bridge before 10.30am or after 1.30pm
• They are off this section by 3.30pm

Paddlers can launch from the Bont above Glasbury Bridge before 10.30am but are asked not to set off from below the bridge until after 10.30am.

The full wording of the new arrangements with links to the relevant gauges to check levels can be found here.

 

Nothing below Hay is affected by this arrangement, where there is a recognised public right of navigation.

Canoe Wales is concerned about this new arrangement as we feel it disadvantages many recreational paddlers, especially those that live, work and take part locally. We have raised these concerns with WUF and await their reply.

However, we would also like to thank WUF for their work over the years in getting landowner permission for some of the access and egress points along the Wye and the provision of webcams in relevant locations. This is a very popular section of river used by many different water users and it is an enormous challenge to develop arrangements which manage the section fairly for all water users. 

If you require more information, please contact our Places to Paddle Manager Phil Stone (phil.stone@canoewales.com).