Melton Mowbray to the Soar
0 miles - Town Park
The river, which is called the Eye above Melton
Mowbray, splits into two channels just after this footbridge opposite the public
baths.
It is possible to launch from the Town Park here.
The left channel is an artificial cut.
The main channel runs along the edge of Town Park
Both branches are canoeable. Melton Mowbray showground,
cricket pitch and tennis courts
lie on the island.
Launch from the
right bank immediately above the A 607 bridge. Short term parking
on the A 607
0.5 miles - A607 bridge
0.8 miles - the old cut rejoins left.
1 mile - Disused railway bridge
2 miles – railway bridge
Mill house, organic garden and farm centre left
2.5 miles - footbridge
3.75 miles - old lock cut leaves right.
It's now
completely dry. But the route is still easily visible over the fields.
4 miles - Kirby Bellars bridge
The wooden pilings of the old weir are just visible below
the bridge. Old lock right.
St Peter's church left
Site of Kirby Bellars priory left.
There is nothing
to see now.
5.5 miles – Bridge Asfordby right
As you approach the village the lock cut leaves left.
Do not take this - there is no easy portage over the lock step.
Stay on the main stream till you see a weir left. The
main river goes on Bridge Asfordby, but again there is no easy portage past the old mill race.
The way through is to portage the weir left. It's
nettly but otherwise fairly straightforward.
The stream below the weir is shallow but paddleable.
Pass under a footbridge
After the mill stream rejoins from the right comes Bridge Asfordby
bridge itself
Shallows below. The lock cut rejoins left.
5.7 miles – footbridge
6.5 miles Frisby-on-the-Wreake left.
Old lock
entrance left immediately above footbridge. Don't be tempted - it is a sharp step and the stream
below is blocked by trees
Paddle on towards the large sluice gates and
land right at the concrete slipway
The portage is straightforward, if a bit slippery over the
outflow channel from the fishing lakes right.
7.4 miles - lock cut left.
Dry in low
water. Ignore it.
A shallow weir is shootable
7.5 miles – brick bridge 1892
Shallows below
7.8 miles – railway bridge
8.5 miles footbridge Hoby right
Shallows below the bridge.
The filled-in old lock and various old
channels are visible in the field right
9 miles – farm bridge
9.5 miles Bridge Brooksby left
Here is the old railway bridge about 1910
10 miles – footbridge
10.5 miles footbridge
11 miles bridge Trussington right
12 miles bridge and lock stec.
13 miles bridge Ratcliffe on Wreake right
14 A 607 bridge
14.25 miles – Lewin bridge (Fosse Way)
15 miles – railway bridge
15.5 miles – A 46 bypass bridge
15.6 miles junction with grand union canal.
Within minutes of setting off at 7.30 am, I had to use my
knuckles to get over a shallows prior to the pallets and debris cloaking piers
of the pack-horse bridge at Ratcliffe Mill. I would not usually paddle this
river at such low water level, nor would I have attempted to negotiate so much
debris at high levels. Once clear of the small drop I paddled under the
road-bridge and waved Jean goodbye. 100 yds later I spotted the first
Kingfisher, possibly a good omen.
I had to pick a way through the shallow weirs at Ratcliffe lock and
Syston mill noting that a fallen tree needs drastic cutting away before we shot
this in flood next time.
