River Dee - Ty Mawr Country Park to Overton Bridge

[Mark R]

Read full River Guide

[DaveB]

The Guide recommends egress at either The Boat or a mile further on at The Cross Foxes. The Boat has just changed hands (July 2009) and a phone call before the trip to make sure that the pub does not have a function and is happy for one or two cars to be left on their car park would seem to be a wise move. We promised to have a drink or two after the trip and were more than welcome to leave cars.

As a minor point an angler from Prince Albert Angling Club (which has the fishing there) arrived at the pub car park to go fishing and told us that all the parking spaces adjacent to the river bank were reserved for the Anglers (probably crap) and that we risked being clamped if we left our cars there and the Club Bailiff came by (almost certainly crap) but it was obviously simpler to move across the car park rather than to upset him. He pointed out the "No Launching of canoes" sign but did not pursue that when we said that we would not be launching there but landing in a few hours.

[fedster]

is their anything between overton and chester worth making the trip longer ?

[adamt]

Hi,
Has anyone paddled this more recently and can offer advice on the two weirs? Especially the one not on the OS map.

[DaveB]

In reply to the post asking for up to date info on the weirs: I can only recall 2 weirs on this stretch and both are marked on the OS map. The measuring weir at Manley Hall remains as described in the guide-i.e. river right looks appalling at all levels at which I have paddled it and river left looks less and less friendly as levels rise (although the best line looks to be always just left of the concrete pillar which stands in mid river). Many years since I have paddled Erbistock weir So I will not comment on it. In all respects on the stretch dwon to the Boat Inn the guide is still accurate.

The Boat Inn has changed hands again and the owner is getting very fed up with paddlers parking on his car park without seeking prior permission causing him to get complaints from customers unable to park at lunchtime. Please check that it is ok to leave vehicles and only leave the bare minimum necessary. If the Boat has a wedding or other function on it will need all its car park for the booking.

[DaveB]

The landlord of the Boat Inn is very fed up with paddlers who park on his car park without prior permission and also with paddlers who say they will be in for a meal after they finish and then just drive off into the sunset.. Please do not cause us to lose the use of this access/egress point. Simple courtesy is to phone first to check that it is Ok to leave cars (and check whether you should park on the field rather than the car park) and then to leave the smallest practicable number of vehicles and lastly to call in afterwards to say thankyou and to have a drink or a meal.

[Chris Bolton]

On the other hand, we did ask for permission, parked in the right place and went into the Boat for a drink, and we found the landlord to be a delightful character. So there's no reason to upset him.

[Jeph Stewart]

We did this section in 3 open canoes Sat Nov 10 2018, the level was 0.88m. i had not done this section before and i assume a lot of the decisions where washed out. we did an awkward 250m portage of the weir just before the boat inn but in hindsight could have run it (see picture).

local farmers and bird watchers where friendly.

Ty Mawr Country Park Visitor's center pay and display parking cost £1.

The Boat Inn 01978 780666 in Erbistock is on river left. The preferred exit for paddlers is directly in front of the pub not at the corner of the car park.

[DaveB]

The Boat Inn has closed for major renovation and there is no access or egress there at present. I have asked if paddlers will be able to use the car park again when thhe pub re opens and await a reply..

[DaveB]

The Boat is now open for business again and paddlers are welcome to use the overflow car park whilst running the river. ..Please keep cars to a minimum and launch/land at the front door of the pub rather than by the overflow car park. The beer is excellent! So is the food!

[Chris Bolton]

The phone number posted above for The Boat Inn is no longer valid - it's now 01978 280 205

[Chris Bolton]

We paddled from Llangollen to The Boat Inn on 12 Jan 2020 in open canoes, with the river at 1.05m on the Manley Hall gauge. The section down to Ty Mawr was easier than expected, maybe it washes out. Trevor Rocks was mostly just waves. From there to the Ceiriog confluence was more interesting than expected. We saw 3 or 4 fishermen who just pointed us to the opposite of the river from them and were happy enough. At that level I was expecting to portage the weir, but there was a line just left of the central block where it was washing through, and our canoes went through easily - but, as always, make you own mind up.



The portage, however, is horrible, partly because of slippery mud but mainly because the bank below the weir has been supported by gabions (wire baskets) joined together by twisted wire and quite capable of making a hole in boats and people if you get it wrong. Further downstream might be easier but the path has steps and sharp bends.



I phoned The Boat Inn the day before to confirm we could park. Anticipating it being busy for Sunday lunch, as it's now that sort of pub, we only left one car, parked in the overspill field, which is now semi-surfaced with reinforced gravel and reinforced grass (well, it hasn't grown yet so it's reinforced mud, but still much better than ordinary mud). As we landed (2:30pm) the main car park was indeed completely full (even in January), with a couple of cars in the overspill. By the time we'd shuttled vehicles from Llangollen, there were a few spaces and the bar wasn't too busy for us to have our 'repayment' drinks. We took out just level with the end of the main car park, and there's a gate into the overspill from the bank.

[edbens]

We are a group of 2 using packrafts on which we take our bikes.

We egressed just South of Pen Y Lan because we ran out of time and needed to cycle back to our van parked at Tw Mawr parking lot which closes at 5pm. We were immediately approached by a land worker (not the owner) and told this was private land. We apologised, explained the situation and that was that. No other issues and got back just in time.

[DaveB]

Paddled it on 1st Jamuary, very high, very fast, great fun. But NB: major maintenance work on the railway viaduct, scaffolding and floating pontoons block all or most of the river and if there is a through route there maybe cables in mid air linking thepontoons on either side. INSPECT! We portaged on river right

[DaveB]

The railway viaduct is now clear of obstacles. There are 2 tree hazards in the main channel river right side of the island just below the ceriog confluence. At very low summer levels the first could be sneaked round/through and the second, just a few feet downstream could be limbo'd. These could be much more serious as we move into autumn and winter and river levels rise.