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Canoeing - River Dee Canoe Trail

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Welcome to Discover Cheshire - whether you are walking, cycling or riding in our county, this is the website which will help you enjoy this beautiful area even more.

It is an ‘insider’s guide’ that uses interactive maps to provide comprehensive details of a wide range of routes, country parks, other open spaces and places to visit. If you want to walk, cycle or ride, the site provides full route directions as well as maps, to print out and take with you.

And using the on-screen mapping you can access all the information you need to help you plan your day out – being able to highlight all the top attractions, quality graded places to stay, pubs and restaurants, and other facilities within a short distance of your chosen route.

For those interested in learning more about what makes Cheshire such a special place, we suggest a number of places to visit that help tell the story of this historic and fascinating county. These include museums, castles and stately homes.

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Grade: Challenging Distance: 29km/18 miles (17km/10.5miles from Farndon) Time: Allow 3 to 4 hours Start: ...

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Canoe along the beautiful River Dee, between the village of Farndon and Handbridge, in historic Chester.

The River Dee trail uses the sections of the river under the jurisdiction of Cheshire West and Chester Councils navigation responsibilities.

Please see Directions for more details.

Grade	Challenging
Distance	29km/18 miles, (17km/10.5miles from Farndon)
Time	Allow 3 to 4 hours
Start	Farndon SJ 411544
End	Chester Weir SJ 408658
Map	OS Landranger 117.
Access Points	Farndon, Eccleston, Sandy Lane, Chester Groves, Queens Promenade Handbridge
Portages	Due to the nature of the River Dee there are no compulsory portages. However if you wish to pass the weir in Chester and choose not to shoot the weir there is a portage on the left bank.
Contact

The River Dee trail uses the sections of the river under the jurisdiction of Cheshire West and Chester Council's navigation responsibilities.

The section of the river included is from Shocklach Green GR SJ 421495 to Wilcox Point below Chester weir. Any access above Shochlach Green is part of Wales. Detail of access arrangements would be through the Welch Canoe Association.

Below Wilcox Point is part of the Dee estuary and there are no permissions required. If however you progress to the estuary, this falls under the Dee Harbour Authority. In addition, please note the section from Queens Ferry Bridge to Chester weir is subject to a tidal boar wave. This happens on tides above 9.8m and starts at the Queensferry Bridge 1 hour (GMT) before high tide at Liverpool. Note: Tides over 9.8m also progress the full length of the trail. Check tide times and heights to suit your trip.

• Returning to the trail. The most suitable access point is at Farndon. There is parking and seasonal toilets here and the access is on the upstream side of the bridge.

• You can proceed upstream to the limit of the navigation, however there is no access point here. The limit of the navigation is12 km upstream and is on the Welsh boarder at GR 421495 If you pass under the power cables at this point you are in Wales which would need to have additional access agreements.

• From Farndon heading down stream 500m there is a shingle bank at low water from the river Allen. Be aware not to be washed into the trees on the right at this point.

• The river flows through open farm land and “The Huts” (temporary holiday homes).

• After 5km you reach the “Blue Bridge which is the heart of the Duke of Westminster’s Estate.

• A further 2km is the Crook of Dee and then 2km to Eccleston.

• At Eccleston there is parking and an access point on the beach.

• Heading down stream you pass under the A55 bridge and after 1 km reach the mile straight.

• At the bottom of the mile straight you reach the outskirts of Chester.

• There is a series of river gardens on the right and then the sailing club at Sandy Lane car park.

• Here there is parking, access and seasonal toilets.

• Continuing down stream for 2km you reach Chester. 250m below the Suspension Bridge is Chester weir. There is access, parking and toilets on the right bank by the band stand.

• To shoot the weir, access the fish steps on the left of the weir missing the first fish trap. Note,to shoot the weir wear a helmet and life jacket. Avoid shooting the weir in flood conditions.

• Progress down the fish steps to the “Old Dee Bridge” The last access point on the navigation is on the left bank upstream of the bridge. Below the navigation, the river does have a path on the right bank all the way to Queens Ferry. While there are places to exit, the banks are deep with mud and access to the road is difficult.

• To portage the weir exit on the left bank 50 m upstream of the weir. Follow the path past the weir to the grass area. Here there are some steep wooden steps which can be used to access or exit the river. Note these are steep and covered with mud so proceed with care.

• This is the nominal end of the River Dee Trail.

Grade	Challenging
Distance	29km/18 miles, (17km/10.5miles from Farndon)
Time	Allow 3 to 4 hours
Start	Farndon SJ 411544
End	Chester Weir SJ 408658
Map	OS Landranger 117.
Access Points	Farndon, Eccleston, Sandy Lane, Chester Groves, Queens Promenade Handbridge
Portages	Due to the nature of the River Dee there are no compulsory portages. However if you wish to pass the weir in Chester and choose not to shoot the weir there is a portage on the left bank.
Contact

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