Paddleboarding-Weybridge to Desborough Island

Paddleboarding-Weybridge to Desborough Island

A paddle via the National Trust maintained Way Navigation, past historic wharfs to the Thames via a loop around Desborough Island

A full route description can be found in our book Paddleboarding South East

Licence National Trust portable licence required https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/river-wey-and-godalming-navigations-and-dapdune-wharf/river-wey-information-for-canoeists

Starting Point From the parking area at New Haw Lock, cross the A318, and launch on the right bank downstream of the lock.

Parking Off-road parking off A318, adjacent to New Haw Lock, KT15 3JQ, Grid ref. TQ 055 630; What3Words marked.manual.cope

Launching River bank

Pitstops great vibes, crepes, cocktails and wine on tap, D’Oyly’s, tel. 07850 686017; riverside garden between Coxes Lock and Town Lock, The Pelican, Addlestone, tel. 01932 847956; good food beyond Thames Lock, over the road from Weybridge Marine, The Minnow, tel. 01932 831672

Getting there Follow A318 south from New Haw village, pass the White Hart pub, cross over the river bridge heading towards Byfleet, then turn right into the parking lane immediately after the bridge.

Special points

Check river levels before you paddle at https://riverlevels.uk/wey-weybridge and on the Thames at Shepperton https://riverlevels.uk/flood-warning-river-thames-at-shepperton-and-lower-halliford . Watch out for wake caused by the pleasure boats as they pass you especially when heading back up the Thames and also stay close to the banks to avoid faster flows found in the centre of the river.

There are eight locks to portage on this journey, four on the way out and four on the way back.

Weybridge to Desborough Island Paddleboard route map