GUIDE TO THE UPPER RIVER CHELMER

WHERE IS IT?: North of and into Chelmsford. Landranger sheet 167.

PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Put-in at Little Waltham bridge 707127. Take out at in Chelmsford, Baddow Road Car Park 714063 is good. It may be possible to paddle from further north. If you try it let us know how you got on. Below Chelmsford is the main Chelmer Navigation.

APPROX LENGTH: 8km.

TIME NEEDED: Three hours.

ACCESS SITUATION: Contact the access officer for up to date situation. There is no access agreement as such.

WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Needs heavy rain.

GRADING: 1 plus weirs.

MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: A number of weirs and broken weirs.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Get in at the road bridge. About 200metres down river is a small broken weir OK for surfing. Going on down at no point are you in the trees soon you come to Croxton's Mill which has small weir to shoot 3ft drop into very shallow water. This may not be possible at other levels, inspect.
After about 1 1/2 km you come to the second mill this also has a small drop and shallow pool but easy to shoot or portage left. Here below the weir is a lovely surf wave.
A long paddle now under the A138, just before the university is a weir with a grill over it. If at this point you go back 20 metres on your right is channel of water flowing under a foot bridge, mind the concrete in it, this will now take you past the weir with the grill. You will now come to another small broken weir shoot middle. Carry on down to shoot Victoria Road weir through town past Chelmsford canoe club left and get out right before next weir.

OTHER NOTES: Cracking little run when you are bored with the usual and there's lots of water about.

CONTRIBUTED BY: Lee Emmett