Boating holiday routes: The River Wey

The peaceful and beautifully scenic River Wey travels through the heart of some of Surrey’s best countryside, providing boaters with the chance to explore some of the County’s attractive towns and villages.

This picturesque canalised river travels all the way from Godalming in Surrey, to the Thames Lock at Weybridge. Since 1653 it was used as the main link from Surrey to London, transporting goods to the capital. Commercial carrying on the River continued all the way up until the 1960s, since then it has been used by a variety of pleasure boat users and holiday makers. The River Wey was given to the National Trust in 1964, from its last private owner. It has remained in their care ever since.

The River Wey passes through the market town of Guildford, which offers a fantastic range of restaurants making it an ideal place to stop for lunch or dinner. Guildford is home to many places of interest including Guildford Castle and Guildford Cathedral. It has a wide variety of high street and designer shops it’s not a bad place to indulge in an afternoon of shopping either! Past Guildford the scenery becomes more rural, meandering through meadows, woodland and pretty riverside villages such as Send and Pyrford.

The River Wey passes through the Surrey Hills, named as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1953. The river is home to a diverse range of wildlife including dragonflies, butterflies and bats. Over 55 species of birds have homes on the river, including kingfishers, herons and warblers. Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) are common along the length of The River Wey. Nature reserves are also present along the Wey, offering protection to the habitats of the animal’s who live alongside the river.

You can cruise the length of the River Wey in a short break over a weekend or midweek break. A midweek break will allow more time for exploration along the river. Visit the National Trust’s Exhibition Centre at Dapdune Wharf, not to mention trying some of the many riverside pubs along the way! If you cruise onto the River Thames on a 7 night break, you can buy a licence at the first lock. Meaning you can vist towns and attractions such as Windsor Castle or Hampton Court.

To experience all that the River Wey has to offer:

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