River East Lyn - Brendon to Watersmeet

[wakey]

Cheers guys.
I can't get the thumbnails to open up by right clicking. I know it's a low but paddleable level at 1.5, but just wanted to know what it's like after that and how much is too much.
Thanks again.

[jmmoxon]

Wakey, just use the zoom on your browser...

Mike

[jmmoxon]

The tree has gone from the dogleg drop.

Great levels yesterday, 1.7 on EA gauge, with a spectacular hail & thunder storm. Higher again today.

Mike

[bubbles_jonnybravo]

Paddled the Lyn today from Brendon. There is a tree about 500m from The get in at Brendon, easily portaged river right. No way to sneak through today none of the branched have been stripped off.

[hardy]

Tree after the get in is swept over to river left bank.
Small ish branch pointing downstream at start of 2nd drop,at the double drop,at Longpool.This may be more of an obstruction under water between the drops,so take care.
4" branch poking across from river right,about 2' above water (at about 0.5 on stop / go gauge),on the run in to the main drop crux 2 in the gorge.No problem today,but higher levels maybe.

Apart from that,great run today.

[MattC]

There is a tree on the Brendon section on a sneaky corner a few hundred metres above the double drop (the river goes from right to left and back to the right). Possible to pass on the left, but it might be a little late by the time you see it... Best to take a look.

[pete thorn]

There is a new access point in Brendon which doesn't involve crawling under bushes. The Village Hall Committee have fenced the river bank as they were concerned about a picnic area being next to a steep drop into the river. However, at the upstream end of the site there is a drift down to the river, which originally was access to a ford. This has been blocked by garden debris for many years but has now been cleared. It makes a satisfactory launch point and does not appear to be owned by anyone as it was probably part of a highway. The car park at the Village Hall is maintained by the National Park and the public toilet is owned by them, so it is clearly intended for public use, not just for users of the hall. Locals may tell you it is private but they are misinformed. If you pay your £1 for parking and launch from the old ford then all should be well.
Please post or send me a pm if more garden refuse appears. The person responsible has been asked to find another place to empty his grass box. By the way, the river bank upstream of the old ford is owned by the owners of the Staghunters Inn. The landlords Richard and Simon are welcoming of paddlers so you might like to give them some business.

[pete thorn]

The National Trust have asked me to make clear that they have not given their permission for kayakers to descend the river from Brendon. British Canoeing's policy is that the legal position on passage along inland waters is uncertain, so individuals will need to make up their own minds about paddling. As always, care of the environment and avoiding paddling at low flows is essential.

[Simon Westgarth]

Here are a set of images showing the new put in at Brendon, made especially for kayakers and for storm water to run off the road by the looks of it!! You can seal launch from the top though, perfect.

[pete thorn]

In talks with the new general manager of National Trust for the Exmoor and other areas. A positive atmosphere and a series of meetings now planned to review their stance on paddling from Brendon. Hopefully more progress to report before next season.

[Environment-Agency]

We at the Environment Agency are dealing with a serious outbreak of disease among migratory fish on many rivers in Devon including the East Lyn. Two years ago this caused the complete closure of the salmon fishery on the River Lyn (we estimate more than 80% of fish died before they could spawn). Last year again disease was present and very few are thought to have spawned successfully.

We are asking for the assistance of all water users, including fishermen, dog walkers etc. to help the river recover. For canoeists this would include careful entry into and egress from rivers, paddling in good flows only and avoiding contact with river beds wherever possible. We also encourage canoeists to only paddle where there are agreed access arrangements in place.

We are currently trying to establish the extent and cause of the disease affecting rivers across Devon and Cornwall. Until we understand more and are able to implement any suitable measures, our only option to limit the impact of this disease is to protect the surviving salmon and sea trout and their spawn sites.

Thanks for your co-opertaion.

[pete thorn]

The rafting video is causing no end of trouble as it shows people wading about on gravels which may be salmon redds. It's getting reported to Natural England etc. It makes any discussions with other river interests much more difficult. Please don't do it.

[jmmoxon]

There are currently several trees totally blocking the river - right in front of the Rockford Inn (1st pic), just above Double Drop (2nd) & further down near a footbridge. There are also a few between there & Myrtleberry (the house below Watersmeet) that could cause issues at higher flows. Rest of main run is pretty clear.





Mike