Ullswater Canoe Trail – a new leaflet describing canoe trails on Ullswater
An exciting new leaflet about canoeing on Ullswater has been produced by Eden Rivers Trust, in partnership with Canoe England, as part of its Discover Eden Heritage Lottery Funded Project. The leaflet will be launched at the Outward Bound® Ullswater /Norfolk Island Challenge Canoe Race on Sunday 1 July 2007 at 12.00 pm.
The Ullswater Canoe Trail enables locals and visitors to canoe through the breathtaking scenery of Ullswater while also learning more about the area.
More information here
The Oxford Circuit.. For example
General information
O.S. Map 164 and the Geoprojects map of the River Thames covers the whole journey which is about nine miles. BCU membership covers both the Thames and the Oxford Canal.
The paddle
Start at Port Meadow which is near Wolvercote just off the large A40 roundabout at the North of Oxford. The car park is free and also has public toilets and is next to the Trout Inn (the second home of Inspector Morse in the TV series). There is a height barrier so check before entering if you have a pile of boats on your car roof.
Launch into the back stream and pool by Godstow Bridge and paddle down stream to join the main river below Godstow Lock, beware of the rowing club on the right bank just before joining the main river and also a strong current from the adjacent Weir if the river level is up. The Thames now widens out as it passes the large area of Port Meadow with its views of Oxford. It then narrows as it comes into Oxford passing a boat yard and a foot bridge,
Shortly before reaching Osney Bridge, the lowest on the Thames at 7ft 6ins, look for a junction on your left with a foot bridge over it, you turn here into the Sheepwash channel. This takes you under the railway approaches to Oxford rail station and joins the Oxford Canal at Isis Lock. Turn left into the side stream and portage up a low bank onto the canal just above the lock.
You can now paddle north on the canal for about three miles, portage Wolvercote Lock, and continue under various concrete road bridges carrying the A34 and A40, you will see Dukes Lock ahead. Turn left before the lock into Dukes Cut. As you enter the cut you will see another railway bridge and a shallow entry lock back to the Thames level, portage this and you are now heading west back towards the River Thames.
You will reach a Tee junction where the navigation sign tells you to go right for the Thames, but you turn left into the back water called Pixey Mead. A short paddle takes you again under the A34 and on to a small weir on your right and the entrance to a mill on your left, portage on the extreme right of the weir against low concrete piling. Take care climbing down the sloping muddy bank into the lower stream.
The last part of the paddle takes this narrow, shallow back stream with some over hanging trees back to Godstow Bridge. Take the middle arch of the bridge it has the deepest water going over a slight ledge, you are now back at start point at the Port Meadow car park.
This paddle is best done in winter and spring, the area around Port Meadow is very popular with the public in the summer with families swimming and fishing in the pool below Godstow Bridge.
This paddle is suitable for most abilities and ages, the only part that can be a problem is the portage at the weir, the bank to the lower stream is at about 45 degrees and is usually muddy, we have on occasions seal launched, but it is shallow, a safer way is to let the boats down on ropes, and then get in at the bottom.
Recommended paddle by Robert Yeowell, last completed on 19 February 2006.
Where can I go paddling is often the question from new and experienced paddlers.
