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
21 December 2023 — 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 isn’t recommended for beginners, or boaters who don’t have considerable experience of white water; please 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 doesn’t 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 event calendar 2024

There may be river restrictions around each event.

If you are participating in an event make sure you’re 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 7 January Winter League – Belmont, Tennis courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 14 January Winter League – Belmont, Tennis courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 28 January Winter League – Belmont, Tennis courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 11 February River Wye Feeder Championships – all club waters Hereford and District Angling Association
Wednesday 14 February Spring 2 day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Thursday 15 February Spring 2 day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 25 February Wye Team Championships – all club waters Hereford and District Angling Association
Saturday 9 March Division 2/3 Slalom - Symonds Yat Rapids Wyedean Canoe Club
Sunday 10 March Division 2/3 Slalom - Symonds Yat Rapids Wyedean Canoe Club
Sunday 12 May Walk the Wye - Monmouth Show Ground Rotary Club of Monmouth
Friday 24 May Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Saturday 25 May Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Sunday 26 May Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Monday 27 May Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Tuesday 28 May Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Wednesday 29 May Canoe trips between Glasbury and Monmouth – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Thursday 30 May Canoe trips between Glasbury and Monmouth – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Friday 31 May Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Saturday 1 June Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Saturday 1 June Hereford City Regatta - Hereford Rowing Club Hereford Rowing Club
Sunday 2 June Various locations – based at Hereford Rowing Club Canoe Camping Club
Sunday 2 June Hereford City Regatta - Hereford Rowing Club Hereford Rowing Club
Saturday 25 May Monmouth Regatta - Monmouth Rowing Club Monmouth Rowing Club
Sunday 26 May Monmouth Regatta and Sprint – Monmouth Rowing Club Monmouth Rowing Club
Saturday 10 August Wye Float River and Music Festival – Hereford rowing club Wye Float Committee
Saturday 24 August Annual Wye Camp – Hoarwithy to Ross PaddlePlus Canoe Club
Sunday 25 August Annual Wye Camp – Lower Lydbrook to Monmouth PaddlePlus Canoe Club
Monday 26 August Annual Wye Camp – Holme Lacy Bridge to Hoarwithy PaddlePlus Canoe Club
Sunday 1 September 57th Annual Raft Race - Monmouth to Whitebrook Rotary Club of Monmouth
Sunday 29 September Monmouth Autumn Head - Monmouth Rowing Club Monmouth Rowing Club
Sunday 22 September Joe Burrows Charity Match – all club waters Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 6 October Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 13 October Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Saturday 19 October Symonds Yat Slalom – Symonds Yat Rapids Cheltenham Canoe Club
Sunday 20 October Symonds Yat Slalom – Symonds Yat Rapids Cheltenham Canoe Club
Sunday 27 October Wye Championship – all club waters Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 3 November Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 5 November Bonfire and Fireworks – Monmouth Rowing Club Monmouth Rotary Club
Wednesday 6 November Hereford 3 Day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Thursday 7 November Hereford 3 Day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Friday 8 November Hereford 3 Day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Wednesday 13 November Running Line Championships – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Saturday 16 November Pairs Match – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 17 November Pairs Match – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 1 December Monmouth Winter Head - Monmouth Monmouth Rowing Club
Sunday 1 December Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 15 December Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association

If you are planning an event or know of an event which isn’t 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
British Canoeing 01158968837 chantelle.grundy@britishcanoeing.org.uk; British Canoeing
Canoe Camping Club (section of the Camping & Caravaning Club) Andrew Roddham - 07771 646591 holidaymeet@canoecampingclub.co.uk; Canoe Camping Club
Cheltenham Canoe Club Alison Longhurst – 07789 624 552 yatslalom@cheltenhamcanoeclub.com; Cheltenham Canoe Club
Freedom Church Hereford Jim Dyson, 07547 534676  
Hereford and District angling Association John Pembridge, 01432 359701 johnpembridge@talktalk.net; Hereford and District Angling Association
Hereford Kayak Club Andrew Wibmer, 07914 410161 andrewwibmer@hotmail.com; Hereford Kayak Club
Hereford Sea Cadets Ivor Kilby, 07482 7212874 0462kilb@cadetmail.mod.uk; Hereford Sea Cadets
Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre Steve Vincent (DoE contact), 0116 2681426 dofe@lopc.co.uk; Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre
MadSat Raft Team Nick Wood, 07935 204176 nick.wood@bt.com
Monmouth Rotary Club (walk and fireworks contact) Norman Williams, 01600 713666 monmouthrotaryclub@gmail.com; Walk the Wye
Monmouth Rotary Club (raft race contact) David Forbes, 01600 712665 monmouthraftrace@sky.com; Monmouth raft race
Monmouth Rowing Club Dan Cowton, 07966 390349 regatta@monmouthrc.org.uk; Monmouth Rowing Club
PaddlePlus Canoe Club Andy Oughton, 07929 196569 andy@soarpaddler.co.uk; PaddlePlus
Ross Rowing Club Tim Davies, 07785 246721 Chair@rossrowingclub.co.uk; www.rossrowingclub.co.uk
Severn Area Rescue Association Richard Newhouse, 07584 287 887 richard.newhouse@sara-rescue.org.uk; Wild Wye Swim
Wyedean Canoe Club 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 21 December 2023 + show all updates

  1. New events for 2024 added.

  2. Additional events added

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

  4. Additional events have been added.

  5. A new event has been added.

  6. A new event has been added.

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

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

  9. 2 new events added - 16 July and 3 September 2023.

  10. 2023 events added.

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

  12. 3 new events added.

  13. Event on 19 June added.

  14. New events added for July and August 2022.

  15. Updated with 2022 events and event contacts

  16. Updated with 2021 events

  17. Calendar of events updated for 2020

  18. Additional events added to the calendar

  19. Updated calendar of events for 2019 and contact list

  20. Update to both upstream and downstream access information

  21. New event and contact details added

  22. New events added to calendar. Old dates removed

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

  24. Event table and contact details updated for 2018

  25. New event date and associated contact details added.

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

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

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

  29. Event calendar updated with 2017 details.

  30. Notes about access restrictions downstream of Hay Bridge

  31. Old dates from event calendar removed

  32. Old event dates removed from calendar

  33. Events calendar updated

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

  35. January to June event dates removed.

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

  37. New event dates and contact details added.

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

  39. New events and contact details added.

  40. New event added

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

  42. New dates added to events calendar

  43. Event calendar updated.

  44. First published.

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