GUIDE TO THE RIVER DOVE

(Norbury to JCB Academy)

NAME OF RIVER: Dove

WHERE IS IT?: Staffordshire, Ashburton near Alton Towers.

PUT-IN'S/TAKE-OUT'S: Norbury road bridge (SK119423) best access/egress take PROW from road and river right just below road bridge, natural beach, and eddy it looks like it is regularly used by dog walkers. If challenged continue on PROW downstream for 200m where it meets the river.
Egress: JCB Academy Road Bridge (Rocester Bridge) (SK1159039134).  Get out below the bridge river left onto PROW. Big car park on the Academy (SK1152539181) side of the bridge. 

APPROX LENGTH:  5km

TIME NEEDED: 1.5 hours

ACCESS HASSLES: British Canoing's stated policy of 365-day agreements unless proven environmental reasons prevent paddling. 

WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Unknown.

GRADING: Grades 1 and 2 - with weirs

MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Hydro intake screens at Norbury and JCB weir. JCB Academy weir has a concrete lump river wide at its toe. At some levels, this creates a super play wave at others it could be a bump. If your boat is very flat with no rocker, portage possible either side of the river. River right is hydro intake channel and large sluice. Beware this sluice can fall at any time - avoid going under which just goes to dead-end channel in the Secondary School. There is a fish pass also that returns the river just before the sluice, its a sharp left-hand turn, but it's a tight turn for a longboat - easy for a kayak. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Meandering and easy with small rapids from time to time.

The river now gently meanders towards JCB Academy weir signaled by an overhead steel bridge that looks like a very old railway bridge/viaduct section.  JCB Academy weir has a low. small discrete concrete lump river wide at its toe. At some levels, this creates a super play wave at others it could be a bump. If your boat is very flat with no rocker, portage possible either side of the river. River right is hydro intake channel and large sluice. Beware this sluice can fall at any time - avoid going under which just goes to dead-end channel in the Secondary School. There is a fish pass also that returns the river just before the sluice, its a sharp left-hand turn, but it's a tight turn for a longboat - easy for a kayak. 

OTHER NOTES: Next section is JCB Academy to Doveridge/Marchington Lane end.

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