Boating on the River Stour

The River Stour is approximately 24 miles long. It is still a statutory Navigation, and a right to travel by boat along the whole river is still preserved. Almost half of the River is now re-opened for use as a through navigation for boats (from Sudbury to Great Henny on the upper reach and from Stratford St Mary to Brantham on the lower reach). However, the remaining locks, which provided through navigation on the unrestored central section, are largely derelict or have disappeared, and there and many obstacles for boat users.

The Bylaws provide that from Ballingdon bridge (Sudbury) to Great Henny, boats with engines may be used, but are subject to a strict speed limit of 4 mph, which does not create wash or damage to the banks. However, boats with engines are precluded from using the river below Great Henny, unless (like Stour Trusty II) they were licensed at the time of the Anglian Water Act 1977.

Thus, the only boats currently able to use part of the river below Great Henny are those which are light enough to manoeuvre around many obstacles to navigate the river. This restricts most of the river to canoes although, even for such small craft, the river is not sufficiently navigable to allow easy passage along its entire lower section.

Trusty II offers river trips from Flatford. Rosette and Francis J offer river trips from Sudbury and Henny