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RIVER SEVERN
Overview
The longest river in England offers a number of opportunities for narrow boats to explore with junctions at Stourport-On-Severn (the Staffs & Worcester), Worcester, (Worcester & Birmingham), the newly-opened Droitwich Canal, the River Avon at Tewkesbury (note, there is a charge for cruising the Avon), and the Gloucester & Sharpness, which starts beyond Gloucester Docks, and travels to Sharpness and the Severn estuary.
The river has steep banks, due to the huge differences in water levels it experiences throughout the year, which can make it quite boring on the eye in many places. After a couple of days’ of heavy rain in Wales, most of that water ends up in the Severn, and one needs to be careful when planning a route, to avoid getting stuck. The locks will close on an amber warning, and your insurance will be invalid if you attempt to navigate the river in these conditions.
Facilities
Full CRT facilities can be found in Stourport Basin and Gloucester Docks. There is a water point at the moorings in Worcester, below the railway bridge, by the racecourse. Don’t hang around though, or the river warden will charge you for the privilege.
There are NO facilities at Upton-On-Severn, even though some of the guides suggest there is. You will have to go into the marina, opposite to get water. We found them quite accommodating. They will also let you dispose of your loo cassette, though I hear sometimes they make a small charge, which is quite common in marinas.
Gloucester Docks has all the facilities you need – a couple of water points, though the main facilities are beyond the swing bridge. There are a few mooring here that have electric hook up – though you will need a card. The lock keeper or the man at the swing bridge can sell you one.
There is the usual mix of supermarkets in the large towns. Upton has a Co-Op and Spar in the High Street, close to the river. Just beyond the swing bridge at Gloucester Docks is a large Sainsbury’s with mooring outside for potential shoppers. In the docks is a small convenience store, close to the Waterways museum.
Mooring
There is mooring on the river at Stourport, right by the river lock on a floating pontoon.
At Worcester, the main mooring is at the race course, where there is a charge of £4 a day, payable to the warden, who patrols daily, in the summer months. It’s a good 10-minute walk into the city from here.
There is free mooring further down the river at the entrance to Diglis Basin, the link on to the Worcester and Birmingham, though it is limited. If you enter Diglis canal lock and go up into the basin, there is free 48 hour mooring just beyond where the canal starts. There are also the usual facilities there.
Upton-On-Severn is the only CRT mooring on this stretch, and it is always busy. Recent changes has seen part of the mooring given over to a trip boat for disabled access, creating more issues. Be prepared to breast up here. Three or four boats tied together is not an unusual site. The mooring, on a floating pontoon, is only a minute or so from the town centre. More pubs than charity shops in Upton.
Most of the riverside pubs have their own landing stages. Some charge for mooring, others are happy for you to use the mooring if you use the pub. There is usually a sign on the mooring telling you the drill.
It is not recommended that you try and moor in a lock approach, unless you have cleared it with the lock keeper.
The mooring at Gloucester Docks are good. All 48-hour, and a good selection of either linear mooring or the use of finger pontoons, outside the popular Dr Foster’s pub. In the basin there are also a few moorings with electric hook-up. You will need a card, and these are available from the lock keeper or the man who operates the swing bridge at the other end of the basin. Beyond the swing bridge, you are on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, and there is free 48-hour mooring on the side, opposite the college.
Remember when mooring on the river to face upstream, especially if the river is running fast.
Locks
All locks on the river are manned and operated on a traffic light system. On the approach to a lock make sure you can be seen and slow down. The lock keeper will be looking out for you. There are mooring opportunities at each lock. The traffic lights will flash red. When the gates are fully open, the lights will change to green and you can proceed.
These are big locks, with cables running down the walls at intervals. Put a rope through the cable to secure the boat. The keeper will advise you, if you are not sure.
If you are travelling downstream through Gloucester Lock, on your approach, slow down and hug the wall on the left, and if there is a queue, or you are held up, tie up your rear line to one of the cables. The flow will bring your nose round, and wait for a green light.
Points to remember
If you are new to narrow boating on a river, you should take extra care. Life jackets are recommended – the river is very deep in places. Watch out for submerged logs and branches washed down after heavy rain.
If the weather is changeable, check the EA site for river levels at the various locks. These are updated every few hours.
Signs are few on the river, and if placed, are usually right on junctions, so you have little chance to react. A good guide book is recommended.
We found the exit to the Droitwich came on us very quickly.
There are still a few commercial craft using the river, but it is very wide and this causes few problems. Remember to give way to them.
