*Hurley*

This must be one of the most talked about weirs on the Thames Valley stretch. The weir comprimises of 4 gates and are opened, based on the current Thames water flow rate. Hurley on 3 tends to be the ideal level for most boaters out there. The flow from the weir also gives a good place to develop ferry gliding and breaking in and out of bigger flows (depending on how many gates are open).

1 gate – A front surf wave for freestyle newcomers.

2 gates – A nice clean wave next to the wall, flanked to one side by a nice hole.

3 gates – A big wave with curling shoulders both sides, flanked by two great holes.

4 gates – A series of linked holes. The hole in gate 1 stays pretty much the same as if the weir were on 2 or 3 gates.

High 4 gates – The holes furthest away from the eddy get progressively chunkier, but still safe.

The Flowfield in this gauge at Maidenhead in cooperation with this table will help you predict how many gates hurley is on if the TVF text updates are more than 2 days old.

NOTE: The 2 things you need to be aware of is that both the SAS bank (River Left) and the pourover steps (River Right) are both undercut, so be careful when nearby (especially when swimming).

Parking/ Get on: Drive sensibly through Hurley village, all the way to the end of the road and then left into the car park. Get changed quietly and discreetly. Thieves are a problem in the car park, so avoid taking any unnecessary valuables from home, with you. There is a footpath to the waterside that follows on from the direction the road was heading, before it came to an end. Walk down the path to the waterside, and paddle upstream to the left.

 

*Chertsey*

The main feature here is a pour over. However it’s been the case that the Bucks open on the far left (River Right), offer a small play wave, for those that are not comfortable on a 4 gate Hurley. Often an ideal squirt boating venue, as it provides some good cartwheels, mystery moves and general play to be had here.

In the Summer months, when all stops running, it’s more than likely that Chertsey would still be running. There’s no particular level for Chertsey, so you never really know what to expect when you arrive there or if people say it’s on a good level.

NOTE: There is often flat bottomed boats/ barges moored directly opposite the pour over. It’s just worth noting that if people were to swim, that they head down stream away from the moored boats/ barges.

Parking/ Get on: The car parks here all tend to have height barriers, which for some you can just about fit under (best to have someone out of the car, to make sure you miss the barrier). Of course it depends on how your boats are stacked and how high your vehicle is. Alternative parking is either under the M3 motorway bridge (heading on the side of the Kingfishers Pub, just upstream of the weir, although avoid blocking the gate and avoid others blocking you in). Alternatively park in one of the pub car parks, but it’s polite if you buy some food and/or drink from them too before or afterwards.

 

*Mapledurham*

Mapledurham is an excellent beginners or intermediates wave on the Thames, when the water is far too high elsewhere. The feature isn’t that amazing, nor is it that retentive, but it allows you to do some basic surfing, cartwheels, loops and flat spins.

This only tends to be a green light if the Valley is in flood.  If Hurley is washed out, then it tends to be a good sign that Mapledurham may be a weir to check out. There’s a level below, thats been cleverly correlated to know how good the wave will be working.

11? 6? – Starting to work at this level and above.

12? – Good.

12? 6? – Great!

13? – Starting to get too high.

13? 6? – above this will be too high, the wave will be washing out.

Parking/ Get on: Turn right down New Hill (very steep) and go over a railway bridge into a housing estate. When you reach the bottom of the hill, at the sharp right bend turn left and park on that road on the right hand side (nearest the field). Walk down the public footpath/private road towards the river. Access the footpath and walk towards the river. You’ll come across a gate into a field, which at the right level, is more of a mini lake. Walk or wade across the field towards the main part of the river (it tends not to be deep enough to paddle across it). There’s a deep ditch in the middle of the field which can be up to groin height (just above the knees if you’re over 6ft). When you get to the lock area put on to the river.

 

*Shepperton*

When it is running this is without a doubt the best weir on the Thames. In fact it is one of the best playspots anywhere. Depending on the level it can form a very powerful, deep, bowl shaped wave with plenty of pile in the middle to keep you on it. The quality of the wave depends to a large extent on the amount of gates open and the level of the pool. Ideally the “rock” (large concrete boulder) on river left should poke out of the water about 6 inches. As the pool level rises and the rock disappears, the wave turns into a deep and very retentive hole. It is still great fun, but extremely hard work.

1, 2 or 3 gates open – No fun at all.

4 gates open – Extremely unlikely to be any fun.

5, or 6 gates open – Might be able to front surf it etc.

7, 8 or 9 gates open – Very likely to be fantastic.

10 gates open – This can be amazing, but as the pool level rises, the wave is more likely to turn into a hole.

NOTE: Flanking the main wave are two pour overs, which are very sticky. To enter the wave you have to go very near the pourovers. The results of paddlers entering the pourovers aren’t usually pretty. Also, it can be very hard to actually get on the wave as the eddy line is very powerful. As a result this is one of the few that is not suitable for beginners or nervous intermediates.

Parking: Driving down Ferry Lane, you will soon come across the river and the lock. Park near the lock if there is room – if not drive another couple of hundred yards and take a right to a large free car park. Walk across the lock and down a footpath to the Weir. Park/ change sensibly, so as to keep relations with the locals at their best.

 

*Sunbury*

With 7 gates, it can produce an awesome wave or a big hole. It’s almost as unpredictable as Shepperton and the conditions or type of feature created can change very quickly. When the Feature is at its best it creates a big powerful wave but just behind this is a very unstable retentive hole, so be prepared to get a short lived kicking as you come off the back of the main wave.

NOTE: This weir can be pretty nasty at some levels, so be careful and make your own judgement. You will have to Paddle down to have a look! The weir sill is shallow enough to re-shape the front of your boat. Do not ever get out in the gardens down stream from the weir.

Parking/ Get on: As if you are driving to WhiteWater The Canoe Centre (WWTCC), drive past the turning for WWTCC (on your right), in approx half a mile turn right just after Willow Way (on your right) and park in the public car park. Walk across the field to the river and put in to paddle down stream towards the weir. As you get to the end of the river right bank, you will see the weir on the right hand side.

 

*Hambledon*

The weir consists of pneumatic adjustable ramps attached to the weir sill, in front of all four of the main gates. At rest the ramps lie at 17 degrees. At maximum elevation I believe they can be raised to 35 degrees. The wave created on the weir is, large, powerful, surgy and unpredictable. There are also some challenging eddy lines to cross – not great for the easily spooked. When both Hurley and Hambleden are on 1 gate, it is probably best to go to Hambleden during the times when the ramps are in use.

Parking/ Get on: Instead of turning off into Hurley, keep driving towards Henley. After a mile or two you will see a right turn signed to Aston, (road is called Aston Ferry Lane). Drive down there, pass the pub and keep going all the way to the slipway at the end. Put in and paddle up to your left. If there is too much flow to paddle you can just walk up to the lock and put in there.
 

*Boulters*

The Flume at the downstream end of the weir, produces a good quality pourover style hole during the summer months in which various hole moves are possible. In very high water a big surfable wave train forms in front of the main gates. When working, the waves have a good bounce for aerial moves but are not over retentive.

NOTE: In high water people have drowned in the top corner of the weir – just river right of the main gates. The hole will not let you out, so avoid like the plague especially as it can have upto a 10 metre tow back.

Parking/ Get On: Just before Maidenhead bridge, take a left at a roundabout near a Texaco garage – following signs for Cookham. After 500 metres you will pass the lock. 100 metres further, turn left into the free car park (height restriction 1.9m). Walk over the main road, put in on the lock cut and paddle up to the left. When you get to the top of the lock cut turn right. You will soon see the weir spread out before you. First timers should carry on paddling down the backwater and take out onto the island at the convenient egress point and walk over to the downstream end of the weir pool to take a look. Please do not shoot the flume, as you have no right of navigation and you might damage the ramp.

 

*Marsh*

The white water forms between the weir stanchions in the form of a terminal hydraulic, and when the water finally does release itself from this death grip it washes straight into the strainer of the walkway bridge supports. It’s a place here that’s only considered paddleable if you are very experienced, and of course never alone and at your own risk.

NOTE: There is a bridge just down stream, therefore you MUST have a solid first time roll and plan what you will be doing in the event of capsize, BEFORE going onto the wave. All the way down on river right by the bridge are a series of fast deep boils. There are lots of hazards in and slightly above the water (Bridge Stanchions, old cut off supports, protector posts for the weir). So be careful and keep an eye on the people you are paddling with. Behind the bridge from the lock down is a series of pylons which look hazard free apart from they have an under water fence running in-between them with the full current of the river pushing against it. Be careful! Marsh is a dangerous place to paddle; it’s an accident waiting to happen if your paddling ability is not up to it.

Parking/ Get on: Drive down Mill Lane and follow the road until you have gone over the railway bridge and come to a football club on the left. Park in that car park. Walk down the road towards the river and then go over the river on the wooden bridge until you reach the lock. Cross the lock, to put in on the far bank.

* Hurley Classic – February

This must be the biggest freestyle event on the Thames Valley. Usually hosted by KJO.

* Boulters Rodeo – July
The event is open to paddlers of all abilities – open event for all and elite event for those who are current GB squad/entering selection/want points towards British Championship/sponsored paddlers etc. Hosts are Marlow Canoe Club, KJO and Square Rock.

Know of any events coming up, then contact us and we’ll update this page, or simply post it in our forum

There’s a few campsites around, that are all pretty decent. Alternatively there are a couple of Hotels/ Travel Lodges/ etc, nearby.
Bridge Hotel – Chertsey
River Side Park – Hurley

Pubs and Stuff:

Hurley
Red Lyon is approximately no more than a 5 minute drive from the Hurley village car park and it’s a decent pub. Serves some good food and is often the Pub that many boaters end up after a session of Hurley.

Chertsey
KingFisher (by the Bridge, with the car parks with the height barriers) serves some good food and drink. Pretty friendly there and prices aren’t too bad. It’s often polite if you were to park in their car park, to pop in for a drink afterwards.

The Boat House (& Bridge Hotel) (Other side of the bridge, by the shell garage & Caravan/ Camp site). Again it’s polite to buy a drink, if you end up parking in their car park.

Several good Paddling shops in the area. WWTCC (White Water the Canoe Centre) that are close to Shepperton, Sunbury and Chertsey and Berkshire Canoes with Mapledurham, close by. WWTCC is slightly larger than Berkshire, but both offer lots of kit and of course… STUDENT DISCOUNTS!