WorcesterVista.com

The River Severn is a massive drain carrying annually millions of

gallons of water from the Welsh Mountains and the West Midlands counties down to the Bristol Channel. In times of flood the water can rise twenty five feet but normally it flows between deep banks which prevent boaters seeing the towns and villages lining its route. Flowing through heavy clay the river carries up to thirty percent silt, particular since in post war years adjoining farmers and quarry owners have drained the lovely water absorbing meadows and increased the flood risk.

The River Thames is slowly fed from underground springs along its length and is a gravel bottomed stream running between shallow banks. With very little local clay this makes ideal conditions for pole punting as the point is not trapped to unship the unwary navigator. As a Worcester lad it hurts me to admit the Thames is a much lovelier river for pleasure boating particularly on a beautiful summers day. In the 19th Century graceful steam boats, rowing skiffs, sail and pole propelled punts,manual, steam and electric canoes, and slipper stern motor boats for bathing appeared in their hundreds and many have survived into the twenty first Century with new replicas being built. As the pictures show, all ages are catered for on the river and its banks near Henley, scene of the finest regatta in the world.

The canal from Gloucester to Sharpness is the only water on the Severn to offer placid steam boat cruising waters.