Canoe with a View : : Canadian Open Canoe forum

The River Dee, or Afon Dyfrdwy, starts by feeding Bala lake, far to the West of Bangor Is y Coed on the edge of Snowdonia, "The Lake" is commonly thought of as it's source and from here it goes from placid and Lazy down towards Llangollen where you will find the boiling torrents of the Serpent's Tail and Bala Mill, from here on, generally it is back to it's lazy winding way into England, only to return to it's birthplace, Wales as it flows into the Sea between North Wales and the Wirral.


Put in - Upriver of Farndon/Holt Sandstone Bridge River Right (SJ 41195 54385). Please be courteous and considerate towards Fishermen.
Parking is available in public carpark directly on the Bank.

Get out's -
Eccleston - Sandy bank, River Left, just after public carpark (SJ 41538 62210).
Chester - "Sandy Lane", Slipway, River Right, just after Sailing Club (SJ 41980 66003)

River conditions: Late Spring/Summer/Early Autumn, this section of river will provide pleasant slow moving water, good for all levels of experience, the river is tidal to 3 feet above Chester Weir so be prepared for an extended brew stop or Lunch stop (1 hr) if you get caught out and don't fancy paddling against the tide.

WINTER/Flood conditions, this section of river is EXTREEMLY DANGEROUS with strainers everywhere and should ONLY be run by experienced paddlers, in groups. The weir downstream of the BandStand in these conditions is for those that are fed-up with living and want a new boat.

Length of Trip:
To Eccleston approx 9 miles
To Sandy Lane approx 11.5 miles
To Chester and back to Sandy Lane approx 13.5 miles


Put-in to the slow running river, is a simple affair, at one of the fishing spots a few yards from the carpark.




After dipping your blade no more than 8 times you will be whisked away from the hustle and bustle of village life into the sereen world of the Lower Dee.




The river will wind you first through tree lined banks with "holiday homes" of all shapes and sizes, until bursting out into the Idyl that is everyone's first brew stop, a quiet, sandy beach with glorious views back up the river.




Refreshed and limbered up you'll be ready to hear the song of your blade once more as you slowly make your way down towards the metropolis. For a large part of your journey you will have the Duke of Westminster's estate on your left, presenting you with "estate staff" houses that will take your breath away.




And if you're luck's in you'll get a look at the Dukes private motor launch.

Eccleston Ferry Farm, River Right, signals the end of your journey if Eccleston is your destination, you will see a small sandy beach River Left, providing a simple 30 yard portage to the carpark.




If you fancy extending your day, continue on down the river, under the arterial route into North Wales (the A55). Following a huge piece of common land, "The Meadows" river left.

A word of WARNING - this section of the river can be extreemly busy, whichever direction you are travelling keep CLOSE to the river bank on your STARBOARD (right), there are numerous rowing clubs in Chester and these boats travel at speed and rarely look where they are going.

The get out is announced by your passing the Chester Sailing Club, River Right, followed by a playground, head for the concrete slipway just after the Ferry Pontoon.

If hungry for more you can extend the journey for another two miles by paddling on into the heart of Chester (an ancient Roman City and port), "The Groves" where on Sunny Summer days you can sit and listen to Brass Bands playing in the BandStand, while savouring an ice cream,




but don't forget to pop into the famous Blue Moon Cafe (SJ 41082 66070) for a bite to eat.




Before returning upriver to Sandy Lane for the Get out.

Just a quick update, on a weekday, during the Summer months, look/listen out for a "Spiv" sitting under or near the Suspension Bridge, playing the blues on a Steel Geeetar.

If he's there, do him the honour of getting out of your boat and saying "HI" to the legend that is our "Grizzly"....

Cheers
Red.