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 The Act was never repealed so the legal right of navigation still exists, although this is disputed by some landowners.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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SU1413 : River Avon by Barry Deakin
River Avon
A typical Avon scene. Reeds, willows and a fishing jetty.

SU1413 : Weir above Bicton by Barry Deakin
Weir above Bicton
There are two weirs at Bickton, one beside the mill, and this one a few hundred... more

SU1412 : Footbridge over the Avon by Barry Deakin
Footbridge over the Avon
Looking downstream through the footbridge

SU1412 : Fishermen's hut by Barry Deakin
Fishermen's hut
A relatively upmarket fishermen's hut beside the Avon near Bickton

SU1411 : River Avon by Barry Deakin
River Avon
Typical Avon scene of reeds, willows and poplars.

SU1411 : River Avon by Barry Deakin
River Avon
The river divides here, either side of a small wooded island.

SU1411 : River Avon by Barry Deakin
River Avon
A swamped boat and a fishermen's hut amongst the willows

SU1509 : Ibsley Bridge by Barry Deakin
Ibsley Bridge
Looking downstream through the bridge that carries the road between Harbridge and Ibsley

SU1510 : River Avon above Ibsley by Barry Deakin
River Avon above Ibsley
Trees growing at an angle, presumably because of the prevailing wind in this open... more

SU1409 : Ibsley weir by Barry Deakin
Ibsley weir
Looking upstream, towards the weir beside the A338 road at Ibsley

SU1409 : Pollarded willows by Barry Deakin
Pollarded willows
These pollarded willows stabilise the river bank on a very tight meander which has... more

SU1408 : River Avon by Barry Deakin
River Avon
A tree nearing the end of its life as it succumbs to the effects of bank erosion

SU1308 : Bridge to Somerley by Barry Deakin
Bridge to Somerley
The iron bridge that carries the drive across the river Avon from Ellingham to Somerley

SU1307 : River Avon by Barry Deakin
River Avon
Attractive meanders through Somerley Park. The swirling waters demonstrate that... more

SU1407 : River Avon by Barry Deakin
River Avon
Few features break up the open landscape in this part of the Avon's flood plain

SU1406 : River Avon by Barry Deakin
River Avon
A fallen tree in the river near Blashford

SU1306 : Ashley Farm by Barry Deakin
Ashley Farm
Ashley Farm, adorned with cherry blossom, viewed from the river Avon

SU1406 : Lifeland Copse and Meadows by Barry Deakin
Lifeland Copse and Meadows
Looking from the river bank, across the meadows beside the Avon, towards Lifeland Copse

SU1405 : Electricity sub-station by the Avon by Barry Deakin
Electricity sub-station by the Avon
Not the most attractive part of the river Avon. This electricity sub-station on... more

SU1405 : Hatches on the Avon at Ringwood by Barry Deakin
Hatches on the Avon at Ringwood
These hatches, with a bridge above, are beside the busy A31 at Ringwood.

SU1405 : Old Bridge over the Avon at Ringwood by Barry Deakin
Old Bridge over the Avon at Ringwood
This bridge carried the old road west from Ringwood over the river Avon. The view... more

SU1404 : Old railway bridge at Ringwood by Barry Deakin
Old railway bridge at Ringwood
With the railway gone, this bridge carries the Castleman Trailway over the river... more

SU1403 : River Avon by Barry Deakin
River Avon
Reed beds and willows, a typical Avon scene.

SU1303 : River Avon above Avon Castle by Barry Deakin
River Avon above Avon Castle
The mixed trees on the right give away the fact that this is a residential area... more

SU1303 : Avon Castle by Barry Deakin
Avon Castle
Environment Agency workers motoring past Avon Castle, a riverside property now... more

SU1302 : Avon river bank by Barry Deakin
Avon river bank
Houses above Avon Castle are just visible here, through the reeds on a meander of... more

SU1402 : Falling tree on the river Avon by Barry Deakin
Falling tree on the river Avon
A plane tree clinging precariously to the eroding bank on the edge of Oakford Coppice.

SU1301 : Fishermen's hut by Barry Deakin
Fishermen's hut
This hut on the east bank of the Avon is adorned with a fish on the gable, and has... more

SU1300 : Pumping Station by Barry Deakin
Pumping Station
This pumping station is on the west bank of the river Avon, beside the A338. The... more

SZ1399 : Shooting Hide beside the river Avon by Barry Deakin
Shooting Hide beside the river Avon
One of a number of hides of the same construction, presumably for shooting... more

SZ1499 : River Avon by Barry Deakin
River Avon
Sabines Farm, viewed from the point at which the river divides into two streams.... more

SZ1399 : Wind blown tree by Barry Deakin
Wind blown tree
This tree is one of three in a row, all blown down on the east bank of the river... more

SZ1498 : Meadows beside the river Avon by Barry Deakin
Meadows beside the river Avon
Looking towards Dairy House Farm from the river.

SZ1497 : Avon Causeway bridge by Barry Deakin
Avon Causeway bridge
The bridge over the river Avon at the eastern end of the Avon Causeway.

SZ1496 : Fishermen's hut on the river Avon by Barry Deakin
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

SZ1596 : River Avon between Sopley and Winkton by Barry Deakin
River Avon between Sopley and Winkton
The gatehouse to moorlands Bible College is the building just right of centre, in... more

SZ1696 : Hatches on the river Avon at Winkton by Barry Deakin
Hatches on the river Avon at Winkton
The river divides into two streams here. This is the view looking upstream from... more

SZ1695 : Hatches on the river Avon below Winkton by Barry Deakin
Hatches on the river Avon below Winkton
These hatches connect the east and west branches of the river Avon, which divides... more

SZ1595 : Horses on Coward's Marsh by Barry Deakin
Horses on Coward's Marsh
Coward's Marsh, now open Access Land, beside the river Avon near Fairmile.

SZ1594 : River Avon at Burton by Barry Deakin
River Avon at Burton
A view from the river Avon, across the meadows, to the houses alongside the B3347... more

SZ1594 : River Avon at Fairmile by Barry Deakin
River Avon at Fairmile
Power lines and gravel extraction plant mar this view across the meadows from the... more

SZ1594 : River Avon above Christchurch waterworks by Barry Deakin
River Avon above Christchurch waterworks
This pipeline across the river is near the upstream end of the large waterworks of... more

SZ1593 : Railway bridge over the river Avon by Barry Deakin
Railway bridge over the river Avon
Looking downstream through the railway bridge.

SZ1693 : A35 bridge over the river Avon by Barry Deakin
A35 bridge over the river Avon
The view downstream through the bridge carrying the A35 Christchurch by-pass over... more

SZ1692 : Bridge Street crosses the river Avon by Barry Deakin
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 external link.

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