Hi Folks!

One of our more frequently asked questions regarding all our boat hire is the full day canoe and kayak hire from Atcham to Ironbridge. Hire a canoe with paid access at the start point in Atcham by booking with Shropshire Raft Tours.

The trip is a 14.8 mile route passing by The Mytton and Mermaid Hotel seen from the Severn River as you paddle under 2 bridges at the start. As the river starts to bend, the Ismore Coppice Campground managed by the National Trust located at Attingham Park can be found on the left bank with compost toilets only.

Wroxeter Roman site is 300 meters from the river on the left bank. Soon after is St Andrew’s Church on the left bank as you approach the island. Choose the river right channel at the island and then veer left beyond what looks like another island.

Then you lose yourself in the beauty that is Shropshire, enjoying the stunning English countryside and wildlife galore. Swans who give you a flyby as you paddle through class 1 easy, calm sections of river.

Before the half-way bridge in Cressage the only pub can be found river right and aptly called the Riverside Inn. Be careful here folks as fisherman have the right to fish on the river right bank so give them space if you decide to walk up a steep bank (far left of the pub on the right side of the river bank).  If you decide to stop here please ensure you do not leave your boat unattended at any time.

Cressage bridge is upon you soon but the river bank (left) before the bridge is a right of way and a lovely place to stop for a picnic. This is your half-way point with 7.5 miles left to go.

The Leighton estate begins and so do the S-turns. You can see them from the road on the drive up to Atcham but when paddling through them, the banks are 15ft high in places. Do not stop on the left bank of the Leighton estate. It is private land so please respect this.

After the S-turns (Leighton meanders), signs of life start to reappear with the next bridge at Buildwas. There is where the old raft race would start with an 11 mile race from the Much Wenlock bridge all the way to Bridgnorth in Severn Park.

You pass by the old Ironbridge Power Station on river right, decommissioned in 2015 and now earmarked for a new townsite of up to 1,000 homes, cycle trails, shopping and leisure facilities.

Keep an eye out for more wildlife with deer spotted on a daily basis on river right from our customers. After the old Ironbridge Pump station on the power station side at the Ironbridge Rowing Club (river left) look out for otters. Soon after is Dale End Park with the Valley Hotel in the background.

Towards the end of your travels you pass by Merrythought village where you arrive by the Museum of the Gorge on the private riverfront land where we operate. Pull your boats up on the gravel beach and enjoy the beauty of the Ironbridge Gorge.

For public access/egress points please paddle through the town of Ironbridge, (under the Iron bridge itself) through the Narrows,  past the Bedlam Furnaces, the Robin Hood Pub and Jackfield Bridge before finishing at the top of the Jackfield Rapids (river left) or around the corner downstream by the Half-moon pub (just located past Jackfield Tile Museum) on river right.

Happy paddling folks!

Canoe Hire