River Dart - Buckfastleigh to Staverton
- Details
- Last Updated on Monday, 18 March 2013 20:48
- Written by Mark Rainsley, also Fogey, Graham Kirkham, Dart Access and David Pearson.
GUIDE TO THE RIVER DART
(Buckfastleigh to Staverton)
NAME OF RIVER: Dart.
WHERE IS IT?: The classic SW paddle, this trip is on Dartmoor, would you believe it, not far from Ashburton and the A38 Plymouth - Exeter road.
PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Launch below Kilbury Weir after parking on the Dart Valley Railway’s land (SX 747662); see the guide to the previous section for details.
Finish 6 km downstream at Staverton Bridge or continue to Totnes.
Staverton Bridge (SX 785637) has parking near recently re-developed mill buildings. Unfortunately, at time of writing there have been attempts by residents to restrict access on foot to the river here; Totnes Canoe Clubs are attempting to have a Right of way recognised here.
APPROX LENGTH: 6 km.
TIME NEEDED: At least an hour and a half.
ACCESS HASSLES:
WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: It should be paddleable throughout the winter months.
GRADING: Grade 1 and 2 with a weir.
MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: A weir.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Directly downstream of the put-in, you encounter Salmon Ponds Weir (aka Kilbury Weir). This consists of small steps and chutes but is currently quite dangerous. Launch below as there is metal junk which offers a serious pin hazard.
The good news is that the rest of the trip is easy and danger-free, once you have portaged/ paddled the weir. Small rapids maintain interest all the way to Staverton bridge, where you can finish or carry on to Totnes.
OTHER NOTES:
CONTRIBUTED BY: Mark Rainsley, also Fogey, Graham Kirkham, Dart Access and David Pearson.
Can anyone provide an update on the Staverton egress for the lower Dart. Last year it was being redeveloped into nice new riverside flats, I assume this is now done and the new residents are looking forward to paddlers egressing into their back yards? Or is there an alternative?
Can you get out lower down and 'legally' walk back to vehicles parked at the railway station?
Ta
Beware of trees in the right channel before the bridge at Staverton. There are new trees in the River & it's akward to get around them even at Low levels. Some people have been caught up on them already!
You can get out in the channel refered to above at all levels but the ground gets very muddy.
Cheers Robbie C.
The ditch just before the bridge is actually part of the small millstream that feeds under the redevelopment, guess it could get a little wetter after rain as the banks are rather high. This was certainly looking muddy at the time (hence we exited after the bridge) although there were canoeist there that had egressed that way and stated it wasn't taxing as it's not part of the redevelopment I can't see the people there objecting too much.