Dorset easy whitewater + access

[Rhod]

The thought of paddling to an access agreement gives me a nasty taste in my mouth, but I would like to take a group of school kids for some grade 2 paddling within 1h or so of Blandford forum.

I'm not prepared to drop my school in-it with local fishing groups, or have my children shouted at.

In the short term does anyone have any idea of suitable sections where I shouldn't expect access hassles if I take a group out over the next couple of months? Or sections with agreements in place?

(BCU - I can't think of a river to take my kids on because access agreements exist, and not because they do not.)

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Mr Mark Pugh]

Hi

Your post brings back memories. I used to live in Blandford and regularly paddle with school pupils. The usual venues in summer around Blanford use to be sections of the Stour, Swanage and two venues in Salisbury, one is now a Pub that use to be a mill and the other is used by Salisbury Canoe Club which backs onto an industrial estate. We also made the effort to travel to the Nene whitewater centre and, I suppose, Cadiff is the same distance.

Good luck

Mark Pugh

[Rhod]

Thanks Mark. Gonna have a bash down the Stour without the kids Thursday night and see if anyone objects.

[Keith Day]

When the Access Map was set up, the ability to record usage and the reaction of other river users and riparian owners was built into each river so that, over time, exactly the information you are looking for would be accumulated. Unfortunately most paddlers don't record this information.

At the bottom of each river infobox is a link "add new access rating" which takes you to a very simple River Access Report (this one is for the Dorset Stour). If everybody reading this could provide a rating for the rivers they have used we would very quickly build up a picture of the "de facto" access situation, where you can expect a hassle free paddle and where you can expect objections from other river users.

[Kyle F]

Not sure how far your going, but the people who live at spetisbury are always friendly! however the river is in there back garden, so as long as your polite in return they dont seem to have any objects and there are some suggestions on group size if you check the spetisbury weir guide on here!