Guidance

Information to help boaters on the River Wye

Details of access points, events and facilities on the River Wye.

From:
Environment Agency
Published
12 May 2014
Last updated
23 January 2026 — See all updates

The River Wye is 251 kilometres long. It drains a catchment containing a rich and varied landscape spanning the Welsh and English borders. It rises in the uplands of mid Wales, flowing past the towns of Rhayader, Builth Wells, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth, entering the Severn Estuary at Chepstow.

The Environment Agency is the navigation authority for the River Wye, from Hay to Bigsweir Bridge. Navigation on the tidal Wye, below Bigsweir, is the responsibility of Gloucester Harbour Trustees.

The Wye Navigation Advisory Committee meets in spring and autumn, helping to maintain sustainable recreation and navigation on the River Wye.

For details of the committee and a copy of approved minutes, please email wye-navigation@environment-agency.gov.uk.

River access for boaters

Boaters have confirmed legal access on the River Wye between Hay-on-Wye and Chepstow (where the River Wye enters the Severn Estuary). Upstream of Hay-on-Wye there are a number of negotiated access points.

Access upstream of Hay Bridge

  • there is no confirmed legal right of navigation upstream of Hay Bridge
  • access to navigate the upper Wye is disputed
  • there are 2 arrangements to help facilitate shared access and river use between anglers and paddlers; please refer to the Wye & Usk Foundation website and the Canoe Wye website for further details
  • much of the upper Wye is not recommended for beginners, or boaters who do not have considerable experience of white water - you should read the available guides before paddling
  • it is recommended that you check and if necessary obtain permission from the owner(s) of the riverbed along your route before you access the river

Access downstream of Hay Bridge

  • the public right of navigation does not give an absolute right of access to the river bank downstream of Hay Bridge, except in an emergency or to prevent one
  • other than at accepted public sites or where there is public access to the river bank, you should get permission from the owner of the riverbank/surrounding land before you launch or land your boat
  • any use of the banks must be not only incidental to your navigation, but also reasonable and considerate to the needs of landowners and other users
  • permission is needed to camp or picnic on the banks or neighbouring fields

River Wye calendar of events for 2026

There may be river restrictions around each event.

If you are participating in an event make sure you are aware of the Paddlers Code. This is a guide to using the river without reducing the enjoyment of others or damaging the environment.

Date Event Organiser
Sunday 4 January Winter League – Belmont, Tennis courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 18 January Winter League – Belmont, Tennis courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 8 February Winter League (reserve date) – All waters Hereford and District Angling Association
Wednesday 11 February Spring 2 day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Thursday 12 February Spring 2 day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 22 February River Wye Feeder Championships - Belmont Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 10 May Walk the Wye - Monmouth Show Ground Rotary Club of Monmouth
Saturday 23 May Monmouth Regatta - Monmouth Rowing Club Monmouth Rowing Club
Sunday 24 May Monmouth Sprint – Monmouth Rowing Club Monmouth Rowing Club
Saturday 6 June Haberdashers’ Monmouth J14 Regatta - Monmouth Haberdashers’ Monmouth School
Sunday 14 June Hereford Kayak Hasler – Hereford Rowing Club Hereford Kayak Club
Sunday 3 July Wild Wye Swim Run – Livox Quarry area, Tintern SARA
Sunday 6 September 59th Annual Raft Race - Monmouth to Whitebrook Rotary Club of Monmouth
Sunday 13 September Mick Pritchard Memorial – Tennis courts to Field Farm Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 27 September Joe Burrows Charity Match – all club waters Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 27 September Monmouth Autumn Head - Monmouth Rowing Club Monmouth Rowing Club
Sunday 4 October Wye Team Championship – all club waters Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 11 October Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 25 October Wye Championship – all club waters Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 1 November Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Thursday 5 November Bonfire and Fireworks – Monmouth Rowing Club Monmouth Rotary Club
Thursday 12 November Hereford 3 Day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Friday 13 November Hereford 3 Day Festival – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Wednesday 18 November Running Line Championships – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Saturday 21 November Pairs Match – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 22 November Pairs Match – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 6 December Monmouth Winter Head - Monmouth Monmouth Rowing Club
Sunday 6 December Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association
Sunday 20 December Winter League – Belmont, Tennis Courts Hereford and District Angling Association

If you are planning an event or know of an event which is not on the Environment Agency calendar, please email wye-navigation@environment-agency.gov.uk.

If you would like more information about an event please contact the event organiser:

Organisation Contact Email Website
Hereford and District Angling Association John Pembridge 01432 359 701 or 07413 472763 johnpembridge@talktalk.net Hereford & District Angling Association
Hereford Kayak Club Robert Balogh – 07875 143238 robbie800329@gmail.com Hereford Kayak Club
Haberdashers Monmouth Samuel J Wells Wells.Samuel@habsmonmouth.org  
Monmouth Rotary Club Norman Williams, 07748 853328 monmouthrotaryclub@gmail.com Walk the Wye; Rotary Monmouth; Monmouth Raft Race
Monmouth Rowing Club Events Secretary events@monmouthrc.org.uk Monmouth Rowing Club
Severn Area Rescue Association Richard Newhouse, 07584 287 887 richard.newhouse@sara-rescue.org.uk Wild Wye Swim

New Paddle Trail Guide for the River Wye

The Environment Agency has worked in partnership with British Canoeing to create a new improved Wye Guide that helps the paddler know more about the River Wye navigation. This guide contains practical information to help plan your journey.

The-River-Wye-Paddle-Guide-March-2023.pdf (gopaddling.info)

Updates to this page

Published 12 May 2014
Last updated 23 January 2026 show all updates

  1. Added new events for 2026 as well as updated contact details

  2. Added 4 new events planned for 15 to 18 July and one contact person's details.

  3. Added 2 new events for Sunday 13 July and Sunday 14 September as well as one contact person's details.

  4. Corrected link to River Wye paddling guide, updated the calendar of events for 2025, including removing old events, and added 3 additional contact details.

  5. Updated details of events for 2025 with contacts of organisations holding the events

  6. New events for 2024 added.

  7. Additional events added

  8. The Paddlers Guide has been added to the page.

  9. Additional events have been added.

  10. A new event has been added.

  11. A new event has been added.

  12. The dates for the Hereford Sea Cadets boating weekend have changed.

  13. Change to one date: Sunday 18 June | Marathon Hasler Race – Hereford |Hereford Kayak Club

  14. 2 new events added - 16 July and 3 September 2023.

  15. 2023 events added.

  16. Additional events added - 27-29 August and 4 September 2022.

  17. 3 new events added.

  18. Event on 19 June added.

  19. New events added for July and August 2022.

  20. Updated with 2022 events and event contacts

  21. Updated with 2021 events

  22. Calendar of events updated for 2020

  23. Additional events added to the calendar

  24. Updated calendar of events for 2019 and contact list

  25. Update to both upstream and downstream access information

  26. New event and contact details added

  27. New events added to calendar. Old dates removed

  28. New dates added to the event calendar and contact details added

  29. Event table and contact details updated for 2018

  30. New event date and associated contact details added.

  31. New event dates added to calendar and associated contact details.

  32. New event dates added to calendar and contact details updated.

  33. Change to information in 'Access downstream of Hay Bridge' section

  34. Event calendar updated with 2017 details.

  35. Notes about access restrictions downstream of Hay Bridge

  36. Old dates from event calendar removed

  37. Old event dates removed from calendar

  38. Events calendar updated

  39. organisation contact details changed and new dates for October added.

  40. January to June event dates removed.

  41. New event date added to calendar and Monmouth Triathalon Club details added

  42. New event dates and contact details added.

  43. Update information about how to get copies of approved minutes.

  44. New events and contact details added.

  45. New event added

  46. New date added to event calendar and new entry added to contact list.

  47. New dates added to events calendar

  48. Event calendar updated.

  49. First published.

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