Geo-Trips :: Trip on the river Avon from Fordingbridge to Christchurch
Hampshire Avon
A boat trip from Fordingbridge, Mon, 28 Apr 2008 by Barry Deakin
A day trip by canoe down the Avon from Fordingbridge to Christchurch.
In 1664, Parliament passed an Act making the River Avon navigable from Salisbury to the Sea. This section of the river was made navigable for substantial vessels, with reports of barges of 25 tons making the passage, but it is thought that part of the works were swept away by a flood soon after. The Act was never repealed so the legal right of navigation still exists, although this is disputed by some landowners. The river is navigable by craft light enough to be portaged, which is necessary over some of the weirs.
The flow is surprisingly swift for a river in its mature stage, but this is still a full day's paddle in a canoe.
Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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River Avon
A typical Avon scene. Reeds, willows and a fishing jetty.
Weir above Bicton
There are two weirs at Bickton, one beside the mill, and this one a few hundred... more
Footbridge over the Avon
Looking downstream through the footbridge
Fishermen's hut
A relatively upmarket fishermen's hut beside the Avon near Bickton
River Avon
Typical Avon scene of reeds, willows and poplars.
River Avon
The river divides here, either side of a small wooded island.
River Avon
A swamped boat and a fishermen's hut amongst the willows
Ibsley Bridge
Looking downstream through the bridge that carries the road between Harbridge and Ibsley
River Avon above Ibsley
Trees growing at an angle, presumably because of the prevailing wind in this open... more
Ibsley weir
Looking upstream, towards the weir beside the A338 road at Ibsley
Pollarded willows
These pollarded willows stabilise the river bank on a very tight meander which has... more
River Avon
A tree nearing the end of its life as it succumbs to the effects of bank erosion
Bridge to Somerley
The iron bridge that carries the drive across the river Avon from Ellingham to Somerley
River Avon
Attractive meanders through Somerley Park. The swirling waters demonstrate that... more
River Avon
Few features break up the open landscape in this part of the Avon's flood plain
River Avon
A fallen tree in the river near Blashford
Ashley Farm
Ashley Farm, adorned with cherry blossom, viewed from the river Avon
Lifeland Copse and Meadows
Looking from the river bank, across the meadows beside the Avon, towards Lifeland Copse
Electricity sub-station by the Avon
Not the most attractive part of the river Avon. This electricity sub-station on... more
Hatches on the Avon at Ringwood
These hatches, with a bridge above, are beside the busy A31 at Ringwood.
Old Bridge over the Avon at Ringwood
This bridge carried the old road west from Ringwood over the river Avon. The view... more
Old railway bridge at Ringwood
With the railway gone, this bridge carries the Castleman Trailway over the river... more
River Avon
Reed beds and willows, a typical Avon scene.
River Avon above Avon Castle
The mixed trees on the right give away the fact that this is a residential area... more
Avon Castle
Environment Agency workers motoring past Avon Castle, a riverside property now... more
Avon river bank
Houses above Avon Castle are just visible here, through the reeds on a meander of... more
Falling tree on the river Avon
A plane tree clinging precariously to the eroding bank on the edge of Oakford Coppice.
Fishermen's hut
This hut on the east bank of the Avon is adorned with a fish on the gable, and has... more
Pumping Station
This pumping station is on the west bank of the river Avon, beside the A338. The... more
Shooting Hide beside the river Avon
One of a number of hides of the same construction, presumably for shooting... more
River Avon
Sabines Farm, viewed from the point at which the river divides into two streams.... more
Wind blown tree
This tree is one of three in a row, all blown down on the east bank of the river... more
Meadows beside the river Avon
Looking towards Dairy House Farm from the river.
Avon Causeway bridge
The bridge over the river Avon at the eastern end of the Avon Causeway.
Fishermen's hut on the river Avon
A fishermen's hut among the reed beds on the west bank of the river Avon. The... more
River Avon between Sopley and Winkton
The gatehouse to moorlands Bible College is the building just right of centre, in... more
Hatches on the river Avon at Winkton
The river divides into two streams here. This is the view looking upstream from... more
Hatches on the river Avon below Winkton
These hatches connect the east and west branches of the river Avon, which divides... more
Horses on Coward's Marsh
Coward's Marsh, now open Access Land, beside the river Avon near Fairmile.
River Avon at Burton
A view from the river Avon, across the meadows, to the houses alongside the B3347... more
River Avon at Fairmile
Power lines and gravel extraction plant mar this view across the meadows from the... more
River Avon above Christchurch waterworks
This pipeline across the river is near the upstream end of the large waterworks of... more
Railway bridge over the river Avon
Looking downstream through the railway bridge.
A35 bridge over the river Avon
The view downstream through the bridge carrying the A35 Christchurch by-pass over... more
Bridge Street crosses the river Avon
An interesting house on the east bank of the river Avon, in Bridge Street in... more
All images © Barry Deakin and available under a Creative Commons licence .