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| − | ==East Kent Coast: River Stour==
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| − | <!-- Picture -->
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| − | <img src="http://towerhamletscanoeclub.co.uk/photos/tonyr/images/10636/original.aspx" mce_src="http://towerhamletscanoeclub.co.uk/photos/tonyr/images/10636/original.aspx" alt="River Stour entrance at Pegwell Bay" width="913" height="146">
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| − | <p>
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| − | This little tidal river flows out from Canterbury, via Sandwich to the sandflats of Pegwell Bay.
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| − | Quiet, peaceful and sheltered, this is more of a <i>"Wind in the Willows"</i> experience than a
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| − | <i>white water </i>one. There are no rocks anywhere, and currents barely reach 2 knots even at
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| − | peak.
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| − | </p>
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| − | <p>Unlike the neighbouring sea coast at <i>Pegwell Bay</i>, there is no "tidal offset" to confuse things
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| − | here. The river floods and ebbs predictably. HW at <i>Sandwich</i> is around <i>Dover</i> HW+1 and
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| − | <i>Grove Ferry</i> is at Dover HW+2.
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| − | </p>
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| − | <p>
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| − | The "top" end around <i>Fordwich</i> is particularly nice as it passes along the <i>Stodmarsh</i>
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| − | nature reserve, and has large wetland areas either side of the waterway. It's rare to see
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| − | any vessel larger than a kayak upstream of the <i>Grove Ferry</i> bridge because of its limited
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| − | headroom. Downstream of the bridge there are a few river cruisers, but typically only in Summer.
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| − | </p>
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| − | <p>
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| − | You can paddle this river in either direction, but it's best done with tide support, and with an
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| − | eye on the tides at <i>Sandwich</i>, where access at LW is a very muddy experience. Typical
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| − | "A to B" trips are between <i>Grove Ferry, Sandwich</i> and/or <i>Ramsgate West</i> via the Pegwell
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| − | Bay crossing.
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| − | </p>
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| − | <table>
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| − | <tbody>
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| − | <tr>
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| − | <td width="30">0k
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td width="35"><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.2954,1.1227%28Fordwich%29&z=14" mce_href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.2954,1.1227(Fordwich)&z=14" target="_blank">map</a>
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><b>Fordwich</b>
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| − | <br>Lovely old village through which the river passes, but with restricted access and difficult parking.
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| − | 24hr access possible just West of the road/river crossing in the village centre (temporary parking
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| − | and climb down the slopey bank). There is also a local sailing outfit on the North side of the river
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| − | just East of this bridge, with some access. Paddling upstream of here is made difficult by a
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| − | combination of private land ownership, and sluices across the river paths - a shame, as we are
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| − | barely 5K from <i>Canterbury</i> Town Centre. Generally better to enter the river at <i>Grove Ferry</i>...
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| − | </td>
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| − | </tr>
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| − | <tr>
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| − | <td>7k
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3236,1.2082%28GROVE%20FERRY%29&z=14" mce_href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3236,1.2082(GROVE%20FERRY)&z=14" target="_blank">map</a>
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><b>GROVE FERRY</b>
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| − | <br>24hr (+-) access over the banks of the public car park / picnic site, adjoining <i>Stodmarsh</i>
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| − | bird reserve and the popular
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| − | <a href="http://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/pubs/pubs.php/groveferryinn_canterbury" mce_href="http://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/pubs/pubs.php/groveferryinn_canterbury" target="_blank">Grove Ferry Inn</a>.
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| − | Best access point in the area ! There is no slipway, but tidal movement is quite limited this far upstream
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| − | so it's always possible to get in and out.
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| − |
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| − | </td>
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| − | </tr>
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| − | <tr>
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| − | <td>11k
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3324,1.2318%28Sarre%20Level%20Crossing%29&z=14" mce_href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3324,1.2318(Sarre%20Level%20Crossing)&z=14" target="_blank">map</a>
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><b>Sarre Level Crossing</b>
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| − | <br>Curious arrangement where the river passes close by a private house and driveway just 300m off the
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| − | A253, but with a railway level crossing sandwiched in between. Access possible over the banks here, but
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| − | not easy to park anywhere. And of course you have to portage over the railway line !
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| − | </td>
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| − | </tr>
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| − | <tr>
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| − | <td>13k
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3243,1.2569%28Plucks%20Gutter%29&z=14" mce_href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3243,1.2569(Plucks%20Gutter)&z=14" target="_blank">map</a>
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><b>Plucks Gutter</b>
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| − | <br>Good name, isn't it ? Basically just a pub and a few houses where a road crosses the river.
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| − | 24hr access apparently possible via rowing club slipway on North side, East of the bridge, but
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| − | parking difficult, except in the pub. Busy in Summer.
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| − | </td>
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| − | </tr>
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| − | <tr>
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| − | <td>17k
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3176,1.3117%28Minster%20Marshes%29&z=14" mce_href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3176,1.3117(Minster%20Marshes)&z=14" target="_blank">map</a>
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><b>Minster Marshes</b>
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| − | <br>HW+- access to North Bank, with a small, gravel parking lot belonging to Fishing club.
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| − | Civilisation is 1300m along track and over the railway line to Minster Village (shops, pubs, better parking)
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| − | </td>
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| − | </tr>
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| − | <tr>
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| − | <td>21k
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3018,1.3457%28Stonar%20Cut%20West%29&z=14" mce_href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3018,1.3457(Stonar%20Cut%20West)&z=14" target="_blank">map</a>
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><b>(Stonar Cut West)</b>
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| − | <br>No access! Worthy of mention only because 10K downstream from here you will pass within 200m
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| − | of this place, thanks to the huge loop section through Sandwich Town. A large sluice separates
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| − | the two. This is rather like those holes in the wall at <i>Ikea</i> where you can see into the future
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| − | (but in this case you can't pass through!)
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| − | </td>
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| − | </tr>
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| − | <tr>
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| − | <td>25k
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.2754,1.3440%28SANDWICH%20TOWN%20QUAY%29&z=14" mce_href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.2754,1.3440(SANDWICH%20TOWN%20QUAY)&z=14" target="_blank">map</a>
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><b>SANDWICH TOWN QUAY</b>
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| − | <br>HW +- 2h, or get very muddy! Parking on quayside, restaurants, lovely town.
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| − | (HW here is 1h after Dover, so access is really Dover HW-1 to Dover HW+3, perhaps more..)
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| − | </td>
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| − | </tr>
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| − | <tr>
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| − | <td>31k
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3017,1.3477%28Stonar%20Cut%20East%29&z=14" mce_href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3017,1.3477(Stonar%20Cut%20East)&z=14" target="_blank">map</a>
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><b>(Stonar Cut East)</b>
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| − | <br>No access! See <i>Stonar Cut West</i> !
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| − | </td>
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| − | </tr>
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| − | <tr>
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| − | <td>33k
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3143,1.3693%28Shell%20Ness%20Beach%29&z=14" mce_href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.3143,1.3693(Shell%20Ness%20Beach)&z=14" target="_blank">map</a>
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| − | </td>
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| − | <td><b>Shell Ness Beach</b>
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| − | <br>24hr. Nice sandy spit by the river entrance to stop on. This is a beautifully private spot with
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| − | a nice beach stroll from here South along Sandwich flats. It's seclusion is because the river
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| − | cuts off all land access to the North, while the nearest road access (a twisty golf course track,
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| − | with potentially a road <i>toll</i> to be paid) is several kilometers to the South.
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| − | <br>If you're heading across the bay to Ramsgate, then it's normally OK to head for the cliffs
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| − | at around 045 degrees (the other way, it's the cooling towers at 225 degrees!). However,
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| − | bear it mind it can be very choppy here in Easterly conditions, and that with some 2k
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| − | of drying mud to cross, you could get caught. On a falling tide, you may prefer to follow the
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| − | yacht track and run 090 for 1K, then 045. There is a way out by the Viking Ship
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| − | in the top corner of the bay, but HW only.
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| − | </td>
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| − | </tr>
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| − | </tbody></table>
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| − | ----
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