Guidance

Information to help boaters on the River Wye

Details of access points, events and facilities on the River Wye.

From:
Environment Agency
Published
12 May 2014
Last updated
6 February 2025 — See all updates

The River Wye is 251 kilometres long. It drains a catchment containing a rich and varied landscape spanning the Welsh and English borders. It rises in the uplands of mid Wales, flowing past the towns of Rhayader, Builth Wells, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth, entering the Severn Estuary at Chepstow.

The Environment Agency is the navigation authority for the River Wye, from Hay to Bigsweir Bridge. Navigation on the tidal Wye, below Bigsweir, is the responsibility of Gloucester Harbour Trustees.

The Wye Navigation Advisory Committee meets in spring and autumn, helping to maintain sustainable recreation and navigation on the River Wye.

For details of the committee and a copy of approved minutes, please email wye-navigation@environment-agency.gov.uk.

River access for boaters

Boaters have confirmed legal access on the River Wye between Hay-on-Wye and Chepstow (where the River Wye enters the Severn Estuary). Upstream of Hay-on-Wye there are a number of negotiated access points.

Access upstream of Hay Bridge

  • there is no confirmed legal right of navigation upstream of Hay Bridge
  • access to navigate the upper Wye is disputed
  • there are 2 arrangements to help facilitate shared access and river use between anglers and paddlers; please refer to the Wye & Usk Foundation website and the Canoe Wye website for further details
  • much of the upper Wye is not recommended for beginners, or boaters who do not have considerable experience of white water - you should read the available guides before paddling
  • it is recommended that you check and if necessary obtain permission from the owner(s) of the riverbed along your route before you access the river

Access downstream of Hay Bridge

  • the public right of navigation does not give an absolute right of access to the river bank downstream of Hay Bridge, except in an emergency or to prevent one
  • other than at accepted public sites or where there is public access to the river bank, you should get permission from the owner of the riverbank/surrounding land before you launch or land your boat
  • any use of the banks must be not only incidental to your navigation, but also reasonable and considerate to the needs of landowners and other users
  • permission is needed to camp or picnic on the banks or neighbouring fields

River Wye calendar of events for 2025

There may be river restrictions around each event.

If you are participating in an event make sure you are aware of the Paddlers Code. This is a guide to using the river without reducing the enjoyment of others or damaging the environment.

Date Event Organiser
Sunday 5 January Winter League – Belmont, Tennis courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 19 January Winter League – Belmont, Tennis courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 9 February River Wye Feeder Championships – all club waters Hereford and District Angling Association
Wednesday 12 February Spring 2 day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Thursday 13 February Spring 2 day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 23 February Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Saturday 15 March UK Slalom - Symonds Yat Rapids Wyedean Canoe Club
Sunday 16 March UK Slalom - Symonds Yat Rapids Wyedean Canoe Club
Sunday 11 May Walk the Wye - Monmouth Show Ground Rotary Club of Monmouth
Friday 23 May Various locations on Wye – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Saturday 24 May Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Saturday 24 May Monmouth Regatta - Monmouth Rowing Club Monmouth Rowing Club
Saturday 24 May Big Paddle Clean Up – various locations Paddle UK
Sunday 25 May Monmouth Sprint – Monmouth Rowing Club Monmouth Rowing Club
Sunday 25 May Big Paddle Clean Up – various locations Paddle UK
Sunday 25 May Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Monday 26 May Big Paddle Clean Up – various locations Paddle UK
Monday 26 May Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Tuesday 27 May Big Paddle Clean Up – various locations Paddle UK
Tuesday 27 May Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Wednesday 28 May Big Paddle Clean Up – various locations Paddle UK
Wednesday 28 May Canoe trips between Glasbury and Monmouth – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Thursday 29 May Canoe trips between Glasbury and Monmouth – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Thursday 29 May Big Paddle Clean Up – various locations Paddle UK
Friday 30 May Big Paddle Clean Up – various locations Paddle UK
Friday 30 May Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Saturday 31 May Big Paddle Clean Up – various locations Paddle UK
Saturday 31 May Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Sunday 1 June Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Sunday 1 - 8 June Big Paddle Clean Up – various locations Paddle UK
Saturday 7 June Haberdashers Monmouth Rowing Regatta – Monmouth Haberdashers Monmouth
Sunday 15 June Wild Wye SwimRun – Livox Quarry area, Tintern SARA
Saturday 9 August Wye Float River and Music Festival – Hereford rowing club to Greenway cycle bridge Wye Float Committee
Sunday 7 September 58th Annual Raft Race - Monmouth to Whitebrook Rotary Club of Monmouth
Sunday 28 September Joe Burrows Charity Match – all club waters Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 28 September Monmouth Autumn Head - Monmouth Rowing Club Monmouth Rowing Club
Sunday 5 October Wye Team Championship – all club waters Hereford and District Angling Association
Saturday 11 October Symonds Yat Slalom – Symonds Yat Rapids Cheltenham Canoe Club
Sunday 12 October Symonds Yat Slalom – Symonds Yat Rapids Cheltenham Canoe Club
Sunday 12 October Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 26 October Wye Championship – all club waters Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 2 November Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Wednesday 5 November Bonfire and Fireworks – Monmouth Rowing Club Monmouth Rotary Club
Wednesday 5 November Hereford 3 Day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Thursday 6 November Hereford 3 Day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Friday 7 November Hereford 3 Day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Wednesday 12 November Running Line Championships – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Saturday 22 November Pairs Match – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 23 November Pairs Match – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 7 December Monmouth Winter Head - Monmouth Monmouth Rowing Club
Sunday 7 December Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 21 December Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association

If you are planning an event or know of an event which is not on the Environment Agency calendar, please email wye-navigation@environment-agency.gov.uk.

If you would like more information about an event please contact the event organiser:

Organisation Contact Email and website
Paddle UK 01158968837 chantelle.grundy@britishcanoeing.org.uk; British Canoeing
Canoe Camping Club (section of the Camping & Caravaning Club) Chris Cleaver - 07906 653444 chrishcleaver@gmail.com; Canoe Camping Club
Cheltenham Canoe Club Alison Longhurst – 07789 624 552 yatslalom@cheltenhamcanoeclub.com; Cheltenham Canoe Club
Haberdashers Monmouth Samuel J Wells Wells.Samuel@habsmonmouth.org
Monmouth Rotary Club Norman Williams, 07748 853328 monmouthrotaryclub@gmail.com; Walk the Wye; Rotary Monmouth; Monmouth Raft Race
Monmouth Rowing Club Events Secretary events@monmouthrc.org.uk; Monmouth Rowing Club
Severn Area Rescue Association Richard Newhouse, 07584 287 887 richard.newhouse@sara-rescue.org.uk; Wild Wye Swim
Wyedean Canoe Club Rob Knight – 07443 936 313; Mike Mitchell - 07977 205 693 slalom@wyedeancanoeclub.co.uk; Wyedean Canoe Club
Wye Float Matt Taylor – 07784 281524 wyefloat@gmail.com; Wye Float

New Paddle Trail Guide for the River Wye

The Environment Agency has worked in partnership with British Canoeing to create a new improved Wye Guide that helps the paddler know more about the River Wye navigation. This guide contains practical information to help plan your journey.

The-River-Wye-Paddle-Guide-March-2023.pdf (gopaddling.info)

Updates to this page

Published 12 May 2014
Last updated 6 February 2025 + show all updates

  1. Updated details of events for 2025 with contacts of organisations holding the events

  2. New events for 2024 added.

  3. Additional events added

  4. The Paddlers Guide has been added to the page.

  5. Additional events have been added.

  6. A new event has been added.

  7. A new event has been added.

  8. The dates for the Hereford Sea Cadets boating weekend have changed.

  9. Change to one date: Sunday 18 June | Marathon Hasler Race – Hereford |Hereford Kayak Club

  10. 2 new events added - 16 July and 3 September 2023.

  11. 2023 events added.

  12. Additional events added - 27-29 August and 4 September 2022.

  13. 3 new events added.

  14. Event on 19 June added.

  15. New events added for July and August 2022.

  16. Updated with 2022 events and event contacts

  17. Updated with 2021 events

  18. Calendar of events updated for 2020

  19. Additional events added to the calendar

  20. Updated calendar of events for 2019 and contact list

  21. Update to both upstream and downstream access information

  22. New event and contact details added

  23. New events added to calendar. Old dates removed

  24. New dates added to the event calendar and contact details added

  25. Event table and contact details updated for 2018

  26. New event date and associated contact details added.

  27. New event dates added to calendar and associated contact details.

  28. New event dates added to calendar and contact details updated.

  29. Change to information in 'Access downstream of Hay Bridge' section

  30. Event calendar updated with 2017 details.

  31. Notes about access restrictions downstream of Hay Bridge

  32. Old dates from event calendar removed

  33. Old event dates removed from calendar

  34. Events calendar updated

  35. organisation contact details changed and new dates for October added.

  36. January to June event dates removed.

  37. New event date added to calendar and Monmouth Triathalon Club details added

  38. New event dates and contact details added.

  39. Update information about how to get copies of approved minutes.

  40. New events and contact details added.

  41. New event added

  42. New date added to event calendar and new entry added to contact list.

  43. New dates added to events calendar

  44. Event calendar updated.

  45. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Contents

Related content