Ask three paddlers what the Avon is like and you'll get three different answers, because there isn't one River Avon. There's the Warwickshire Avon sliding past Stratford, Bidford and Evesham; the Bristol Avon running from Bath to the floating harbour; the Hampshire Avon dropping to Christchurch. Each has its own rules, its own hazards and its own pace.
This guide concentrates on the Warwickshire Avon, the busiest and best served of them for kayaks and canoes, with a look at the Bristol Avon at the end. The aim is practical: where to put in, where to leave a car, what you'll have to carry around, and which bits deserve a long look from the bank before you commit.
Which Avon, and What to Sort Before You Launch
Licences and access
The navigable Warwickshire Avon is managed water with locks, weirs and a navigation authority. Canoes and kayaks need a licence on that reach. Membership of British Canoeing covers a long list of waterways, but arrangements change, so confirm the current position with the Avon Navigation Trust rather than trusting a blog post. On the Bristol Avon the picture varies from stretch to stretch, with some sections needing a permit or a harbour fee. The Hampshire Avon is largely private fishing water; assume no general right of navigation and ask before you launch anywhere.
Levels and weather
The Avon rises fast after rain and drops reasonably quickly. A gentle float on Friday can be a pushy brown chute by Sunday. Check the Environment Agency river level gauges before you go. If a gauge is well up and still climbing, pick another day or a smaller stream. Wind matters more than you'd expect on the wide lower reaches, where there's little shelter and a headwind can halve your speed.
- Licence or permit sorted for the reach you're paddling.
- River level checked, and falling rather than rising.
- Get-out checked — parking restrictions, closing times, and whether the bank is landable.
- Kit: spare paddle, throwline, dry bag, phone in a waterproof case, and clothing for immersion rather than for the car park.
- Someone told where you're going and when you expect to be off the water.
Stratford-upon-Avon to Bidford-on-Avon
This is the section most people start with, and it's a good introduction: roughly eight miles of gentle navigation with a handful of locks and weirs to break up the day. Launch in Stratford from the riverside near the Recreation Ground, where car parks sit a couple of minutes' walk from the water. In summer, arrive before mid-morning or you'll be carrying boats further than you'd like.
Downstream you'll meet a run of locks and weirs. Every one has a portage, but the landings were built for narrowboats, not for a loaded canoe, so give yourself time and keep the boat under control on the steps. Below Stratford the river winds past meadows and a few low gravel riffles that scrape a loaded boat when levels are low. You pass Welford and then the confluence with the River Arrow before Bidford appears.
Get out at Bidford near the bridge, where there's a green and parking close by. This is a popular finish, so treat the last bend as a busy one.
Bidford to Evesham
The middle stretch is quieter and prettier, with more bends, more trees and, importantly, more anglers. Expect around eight to nine miles. Fewer people paddle it, which shows in the portages: some are fine, some involve steps, stiles and a muddy bank. Scout each one from the bank rather than committing to a landing you can't get back out of.
The run into Evesham passes under the bypass and then the old town bridge, and the get-out is in the town itself, with parking nearby but often time-limited. The weir at Evesham deserves respect — it's a portage, not a playground.
Evesham to Tewkesbury
Below Evesham the river widens and slows. It's the least dramatic paddling on the Avon and, for many people, the most enjoyable: reedy banks, big skies, herons, and long stretches where you barely need to correct your course. The catch is access. Between Evesham and Pershore there are few convenient launch points, so plan a full day or split it.
Pershore to Tewkesbury
The last stretch takes you to the confluence with the Severn, and that changes the planning. The tide reaches up towards Tewkesbury, and the Severn can run hard. If you intend to carry on down the Severn, treat it as a separate trip with its own tide and safety considerations. Finish above Tewkesbury and portage the weir there; the water below it is not somewhere to drift unawares.
The Bristol Avon: Bath to Bristol
A different river with a different job. Most paddlers join below Bath, around Saltford or Keynsham, rather than trying to launch in the middle of the city. Do not paddle Pulteney Weir at Bath under any circumstances — it's a deep, recirculating weir with a record of drownings, and no level makes it a safe run.
Downstream, the water is pleasant and green as far as Hanham. Below that the Avon becomes tidal and the gorge is committed: high banks, few exits, and a current that changes with the tide. Check tide tables before you go and time your passage so you're not fighting a falling tide in the gorge. Entry to the floating harbour is through Netham Lock, so check its operating times in advance.
Hazards Worth Respecting
Almost every serious incident on the Avon involves a weir that someone decided to run without looking at it first.
- Weirs. Recirculating water at the base holds boats and people. Get out well upstream and portage.
- Locks. Keep clear of the cill and the gates. Never paddle into an empty chamber as it fills.
- Strainers. After high water, fallen trees and branches pin boats against banks. Read the water ahead.
- Anglers and lines. The Avon is heavily fished. Give way, drop your pace, and lift paddles to pass.
- Moored boats and cruisers. The lower navigation gets busy; keep to the correct side and pass slowly.
- Cold water and tide. Both catch competent paddlers. Dress for immersion and know your tide times.
Shuttles, Timing and Leaving It Clean
Sort the shuttle before you launch, not after. The simplest approach is two cars, one left at the get-out early in the day before the car parks fill
Photo: sam99929 / Pixabay
