River Witham

I've not paddled this river and don’t have a full itinerary. What follows are a few landmarks and bridges. It is a bleak windswept river with, apart from Lincoln and Boston, little to see as you paddle between high flood banks. But look out for the hamlet of New York set back from the bank at Dogdyke and as you paddle on to Boston remember from where two of the world's great cities got their names.

Access is also possible from the A17 bridge at Beckingham

The old bridge is closed to vehicles, but there is parking on the old road, and steps to the water under the new bridge. There was plenty of flow when I visited in Feb. 2006

0 miles - A1434 bridge at Bracebridge

Plough Inn left.

Launch left below bridge

Dixon Street bridge

Boultham Ave bridge

Channel enters left

Station street bridge

Ropewalk bridge

Railway bridge

1.2 miles - Brayford pool

The Fossdyke canal enters from the west.

Exit Brayford pool to the east under the modern Wigford Way bridge A 57

1.3 miles -The Glory Hole.

The High Street

Sculpture

Footbridge

1.4 miles - A15 bridge

Cathedral left

Pipe footbridge

2 miles - Stamp end Lock

The upper gate has an unusual guillotine design instead of the usual hinged doors.

2.2 miles - Railway bridge

6.7 miles - Fiskerton moorings left.

The river is set back a mile or so from the river. The Witham once ran past the village but was straightened many years ago when the fens were drained.

Click here for the Fiskerton airfield oil wells, and here for the RAF Fiskerton memorial.

7 miles - Five Mile house bridge

10 miles - Short Ferry Pumping station left.

Old river course leaves left around Branston Island.

11 miles - Bardney Lock

Old river rejoins left.

Bardney lock

11.5 miles - Bardney bridge B1190

Landing stage left above bridge

Sugar factory left below bridge

17.5 miles - Kirkstead bridge

Kirkstead Arms right

Railway hotel left

21 miles - Tattersall bridges

The new bridge now carries the A153

22.2 miles - Dogdyke right

Land left for the Packet Inn.

The tiny settlement of New York, a couple of miles down the road, gave its name to one of the great cities of the Americas.

23 miles - Chapel Hill right

Crown Inn.

Slea navigation (Kyme Eau) enters right

Click here to read more.

28 miles - Langrick bridge

Ferry Boat Inn left

30.2 miles - Anton's Gowt

Malcolm Arms left

The lock on the channel leaving left enters the Witham navigable drains. It is possible to paddle through to the centre of Boston via this route.

32.7 miles - Boston Grand Sluice.

The end of the non tidal Witham.

Boston - the town that gave its name to a famous New World settlement.

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