River Wey Navigations boat trips

The River Wey lengths

Each length of the River Wey Navigation is different, passing historic locks, once-urban areas and rural plains. Here are some highlights to look out for as you explore the navigations.

Catteshall Lock

Catteshall Lock is the first lock on the Godalming Navigation. From here you can see the ancient Lammas lands – historic common land on the floodplain, where ownership was marked by dole stones. Two of these still remain – can you find them?

St Catherine's length

St Catherine's length runs from the once industrial hamlet of Broadford, curving around the sharp bends under St Catherine's Hill, giving you a glimpse of the golden sands that gave Guildford its name, to Millmead Lock in the centre of town.

Stoke length

Stoke length is where the creation of the Wey Navigation started. Sir Richard Weston first cut an artificial channel in 1618, from where the Rowbarge Inn now stands, to the new lock at Stoke, and then three miles beyond across his land. The original lock controlled the water used to flood the meadows.

Triggs length

Triggs length is the most rural length along the Navigation. You may see roe deer scurrying about in the fields on either side of the river, kestrels and parakeets above and a good variety of bats and owls at night.

Walsham length

Walsham length is a man-made section of the navigation running from Pyrford Lock to Send. Although it's one of the shortest lengths, it's also one of the prettiest, with the Royal Horticultural Society Gardens at Wisley forming the backdrop to the natural river.

New Haw length

New Haw length was once an urban length of the navigation but is now suburban, with only the noise of the M25 passing overhead at Byfleet. You’ll see plenty of unusual buildings along this length with Coxes Mill, the Grist Mill at Parvis Wharf and traditional rowing clubhouses backing onto the waterway.

Wildlife to look out for

The urban oasis of the River Wey and Godalming Navigations is an important green corridor amidst the bustle of modern-day Surrey. The banks and waterway support a rich variety of wildlife, so whether you're on a walk or in a boat, keep your eyes peeled for the natural world around you.

Plants and habitats

The towpath along the River Wey is edged with a variety of plants which create habitats for a wealth of wildlife. As a man-made thoroughfare, the habitat structure is largely man-made too, and we manage these plants to ensure access and encourage wildlife along the towpath.

Species common to most lengths include cuckoo flower, meadowsweet, hemp-agrimony, and purple loosestrife. You might also see a pink flower called Himalayan balsam, an invasive plant that is bashed to protect other plants in the area, including the orange balsam.

Bat spotting at night

Bats are by far the most numerous canal mammals. Several species, including Daubenton’s and pipistrelle, roost in canal structures along the River Wey and forage for insects over the water, the towpath and along the adjoining corridor.

The pipistrelle is the most common British species of bat and is also the smallest. It flies high and appears jerky as it dodges to catch insects in flight. The Daubenton’s is slightly bigger and is often seen flying a few centimetres above the water, taking insects from close to the surface – hence their common name, the ‘water bat’. They make summer roosts in trees and bridges along the towpath.