River Wye

River in Wales and England

This article is about the river that flows, in part, along or close to the Anglo-Welsh border. For other rivers called Wye, see River Wye (disambiguation).

River Wye

The Wye at Hay-on-Wye

Native name| Afon Gwy (Welsh)
Location
Country| Wales, England
Physical characteristics
Source|
• location| Plynlimon
• coordinates| 52°28′5.170″N 3°45′56.282″W﻿ / ﻿52.46810278°N 3.76563389°W﻿ / 52.46810278; -3.76563389
• elevation| 690 m (2,260 ft)
Mouth|

• location

| Chepstow, Severn Estuary

• coordinates

| 51°36′36.086″N 2°39′42.423″W﻿ / ﻿51.61002389°N 2.66178417°W﻿ / 51.61002389; -2.66178417

• elevation

| 0 m (0 ft)
Length| 250 km (160 mi)
Basin size| 4,136 km2 (1,597 sq mi)
Basin features
Tributaries|
• left| Marteg, Ithon, Lugg
• right| Elan, Irfon, Monnow, Trothy
Map showing the River Wye from source to sea, excluding tributaries

The River Wye (/waɪ/; Welsh: Afon Gwy [ɡʊɨ̯]) is the fourth-longest river in the UK, stretching some 250 kilometres (155 miles) from its source on Plynlimon in mid Wales to the Severn Estuary.[1] The lower reaches of the river forms part of the border between England and Wales. The Wye Valley (lower part) is designated a National Landscape (formerly an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).[2][3] The Wye is important for nature conservation and recreation, but is affected by pollution.[4][5]

## Etymology

[edit]

The meaning of the river's name is not clear. Possibly the earliest reference to the name is Guoy in Nennius' early 9th Century Historia Brittonum and the modern Welsh name is Gwy, meaning wet or liquid.[6] The Wye was much later given a Latin name, Vaga, an adjective meaning 'wandering'.[7][8][9] The Tithe map references a Vagas Field in both Whitchurch and Chepstow.[10] Philologists such as Edward Lye and Joseph Bosworth in the 18th and early 19th centuries[11] suggested an Old English derivation from wæġ, 'wave'.

## Description

[edit]

The source of the Wye is in the Welsh mountains at Plynlimon. It flows through or past several towns and villages, including Rhayader, Builth Wells, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford (the only city on the River Wye), Ross-on-Wye, Symonds Yat, Monmouth and Tintern, meeting the Severn estuary just below Chepstow. The lower 16 miles (26 km) of the river from Redbrook to Chepstow form the border between England and Wales.

## Conservation

[edit]

River Wye (Lower Wye)Site of Special Scientific Interest

Grid reference| ST544912 to SO230429
Interest| Biological/Geological
Area|

* England: 1,159.6 ha (2,865 acres)
* Wales: 245.2 ha (606 acres)
* Total: 1,404.8 ha (3,471 acres)

Notification| 1978
Natural England website

The River Wye is protected by two Sites of Special Scientific Interest, one covering the Upper Wye (Gwy Uchaf) above Hay-on-Wye,[12] and one covering the Lower Wye (Gwy Isaf) downstream to Chepstow.[13] The criteria for inclusion of the river as an SSSI include geology, topography, flora, mammals, invertebrates, fish and birdlife, as the river and its tributaries constitute a large linear ecosystem. The Lower Wye SSSI is itself divided into seven units of assessment set by Natural England, and administrative responsibilities are shared between the councils of Powys, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Monmouthshire.[13] The Wye abuts a range of other SSSIs in England and Wales, including the Upper Wye Gorge and Lower Wye Gorge.

It is also a Special Area of Conservation[14][15] and one of the most important rivers in the UK for nature conservation. It is an important migration route and wildlife corridor, as well as a key breeding area for many nationally and internationally important species. The river supports a range of species and habitats covered by European Directives and those listed under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.[13] In Powys the river lies within the Radnorshire Environmentally Sensitive Area. Much of the lower valley is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

### Salmon

[edit]

The Lower Wye has been designated as a salmonid fishery under the EC Freshwater Fish Directive.[13]

The Wye was particularly famous for its large "spring" salmon that had spent three or more years at sea before returning to spawn. They used to enter the river between January and June and sometimes reached weights of over 50 pounds (23 kg), the largest recorded being 59 lb 8 oz (27.0 kg) landed after a long fight by Miss Doreen Davey from the Cowpond Pool at Winforton on 13 March 1923. The last recorded 50 lb (23 kg) rod-caught salmon from the Wye was taken in 1963 by Donald Parrish and weighed 51 lb 8 oz (23.4 kg). Since the early 2000s the spring catch has been steadily recovering and salmon of over 35 lb (16 kg) have been reported every year since 2011.

## Pollution

[edit]

Pollution has severely affected the river; the Wye does not meet European and national standards on river health.[4][5] This has been happening for some time; a Nutrient Management Board (NMB) was established in 2014 to address the issues.[16] Pollution from chicken and dairy farms has become so bad the Wye has been used as an example of river pollution in the UK on Countryfile and in several national newspapers.[4][17][5][18]

> The Wye is dying at astonishing, heartbreaking speed. When I canoed it 10 years ago, the stones were clean. Now they are so slimy that you can scarcely stand up. In hot weather, the entire river stinks of chicken sh**, from the 10 million birds being reared in the catchment..

> — George Monbiot[19]

This pollution causes algal blooms several times a year with increasing frequency and length, depleting the oxygen in the water causing fish such as brown trout, chub and barbel as well as aquatic invertebrates and plants to suffocate to death.[17] Fish and aquatic invertebrates are the main food source for otters, kingfishers, herons, eels and other protected species.

> If this goes on, we will lose everything that we treasure about the Wye. It will turn a horrible, ugly green every time it gets sunny. The fish will go, and they will be followed by our kingfishers, our dippers and our herons.

> — Simon Evans, Wye and Usk Foundation[17]

Along with many other rivers the Wye is being heavily polluted by manure from the 10 million free range chickens for eggs and meat in intensive poultry units (IPUs) in Powys and Herefordshire, contaminating the Wye's tributaries.[17][18][20] As of April 2020, there were over 110 registered IPUs in Powys, each with over 40,000 birds (smaller IPUs need not be registered).[21]

In addition, runoff from dairy farms, farm slurry and silage liquor are entering the Wye. A study by the Welsh Government found that only 1% of farm slurry stores in Wales met regulations and that farms were purposely spreading slurry on fields before high rainfall, leading to increased run off into waterways.[22] An investigation by Greenpeace found that Environment Agency staff cuts from austerity had reduced pollution inspections by up to one third.[5] An internal report by the Environment Agency showed that the use of a “voluntary approach” by government was leading to increased levels of river pollution across the UK.[23] Powys County Council approved the construction of 20 new free-range chicken sheds in 2019 and as of February 2022 continues to license new chicken farms. In addition to problems with the riverine environment, this is causing air quality issues.[4][17][21] Pollution from the chicken factory farms is estimated to have killed 90% to 97% of the river’s water crowfoot beds, and 3,000 tonnes (3,300 tons) more phosphate than plants can absorb is released in the River Wye's catchment every year.[24]

In February 2022, it was declared at a meeting of the River Wye Nutrient Management Board[16] that

> The River Wye will be in irreversibly worse condition within two years unless swift action is taken

> — Simon Evans, Wye and Usk Foundation[25]

In March 2023, a High Court claim was brought against the Environment Agency by environmental charity River Action for failing to take action to protect the Wye from environmental pollution, after a Lancaster University study found that 60-70% of phosphates in the river come from agriculture.[26]

## History

[edit]

The Wye at Chepstow, showing the castle and the road bridge linking Monmouthshire (on the left) with Gloucestershire

The Romans constructed a bridge of wood and stone just upstream of present-day Chepstow, some remains of which were found in the river bed during an archaeological dig in 1911.[27] The River Wye is tidal from its junction with the River Severn for about 15 miles (24 km) to Bigsweir,[28] where a band of hard rock forms a natural weir across the river.[29] The tidal range on this lower section is huge, with water levels rising by up to 50 feet (15 m) on some spring tides, but despite the risks of navigating such a river, it has been used since Roman times to transport coal from the Forest of Dean, cider from Hereford, together with Italian wine, iron, stone and timber.[28]

When compared to many of the long rivers in Britain, the Wye is quite steep, with a rise of 1.93 feet per mile (0.365 m per km) between its junction with the River Severn and Monmouth, and a rise of 2.4 feet per mile (0.455 m per km) between there and Hereford. In the summer months, the river level at Hereford is 152 feet (46 m) above ordnance datum (AOD), and Hereford is about 70 miles (110 km) from the river mouth. For navigation to occur, some form of management of river levels was required. Early records are fragmentary, but it appears that the river was used to transport iron from the Forest of Dean for Edward the Confessor's ships in the 11th century, and in 1171 and 1172, iron was supplied to Henry II for his invasion of Ireland. From the 13th century, the records are clearer, and iron from forges at Bicknor, Lydbrook, Monmouth and Carey Mills was transported by river. During the reign of Edward I, a common right of navigation on the Wye was recorded, with the channel to be kept free of weirs and other obstructions. Where these already existed, they were to be demolished at the owner's expense.[30] Documents from 1561 and 1571 concerning water mills and weirs show that the river was used for navigation at the time.[31]

United Kingdom legislation

Rivers Wye and Lugg Navigation Act 1662

Act of Parliament

Parliament of England

Long title| An Act for making navigable the Rivers of Wye and Lugg, and the Rivers and Brooks running into the same, in the Counties of Hereford, Gloucester, and Monmouth.
Citation| 14 Cha. 2. c. 15
Dates
Royal assent| 19 May 1662
Other legislation
Repealed by| Gloucester Harbour Revision (Constitution) Order 2002

Status: Repealed

In 1622, a petition was raised by the counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire, together with the city of Hereford, that the river should be cleared of obstructions that made fishing and navigation difficult. A commission of sewers was appointed, but seems to have done very little, since most of the weirs belonged to the king. There were seven weirs on the river in 1641, to provide water power for mills and forges. During Cromwell's Commonwealth period, proposals were made to improve the river for navigation by building flash locks at the weirs, and dredging the channel to make it deeper. Although there were arguments for and against the proposals, Sir William Sandys was appointed in 1662 to oversee making the Wye and the River Lugg navigable. He had previously worked on the Warwickshire Avon to make that navigable. Some £1,300 had already been raised in the country, but it is unclear what he did with the money.[32] He was assisted by Henry and Windsor Sandys, and they were given powers to construct a towing path, 4 feet (1.2 m) wide on both sides of the river, to allow boats to be hauled upstream. Although tolls could be charged, they also had to maintain the right of free passage which was long established on the river. Twenty Commissioners were appointed, ten from Hereford, five from Gloucester and five from Hereford. All weirs were to include an opening, so that salmon and other fish could migrate along the river.[33]

The scheme involved the construction of flash locks in channels cut to bypass the weirs, a system which Sandys had used with success on the Avon, but the Wye was a much faster flowing river, which meant that the solution was impracticable and very costly. It had been abandoned by 1668, as maintenance costs made the operation of boats unprofitable, and a new scheme, proposed by Lord Coningsby of Hampton Court, Herefordshire was to be implemented.[34] All fishing weirs and mill weirs would be bought and demolished, while Sandys locks would be abandoned. The river bed would also be deepened where necessary. The cost of buying the weirs would be raised by a tax on the county, and it was estimated that the river would be navigable for about 200 days per year. At the time there were weirs supplying six fulling mills and three corn mills at Hereford, and another nine elsewhere, at Fownhope, Hancox, Carey, Foy and Wilton. There were another nine derelict weirs above Monmouth, and five below the town.[35]

United Kingdom legislation

Rivers Wye and Lugg Navigation Act 1695

Act of Parliament

Parliament of England

Long title| An Act for making navigable the Rivers of Wye and Lugg in the County of Hereford.
Citation| 7 & 8 Will. 3. c. 14
Dates
Royal assent| 7 March 1696
Other legislation
Repealed by| Gloucester Harbour Revision (Constitution) Order 2002

Status: Repealed

United Kingdom legislation

Rivers Wye and Lugg Navigation Act 1726

Act of Parliament

Parliament of Great Britain

Long title| An Act for explaining and amending an Act passed in the Seventh and Eighth Years of the Reign of His late Majesty King William the Third, intituled, "An Act for making navigable the Rivers Wye and Lug, in the County of Hereford;" and for making the same more effectual.
Citation| 13 Geo. 1. c. 34
Dates
Royal assent| 15 May 1727
Other legislation
Repealed by| Gloucester Harbour Revision (Constitution) Order 2002

Status: Repealed

United Kingdom legislation

Wye and Lugg Navigation and Horse Towing-path Act 1809

Act of Parliament

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Long title| An Act for amending several Acts for making navigable the Rivers Wye and Lugg, in the County of Hereford, and for making a Horse Towing Path on certain Parts of the Banks of the said River Wye.
Citation| 49 Geo. 3. c. lxxviii
Dates
Royal assent| 20 May 1809
Other legislation
Repealed by|

* Gloucester Harbour Revision (Constitution) Order 2002

Status: Repealed

Text of statute as originally enacted

Lord Coningsby's proposals were enshrined in an act of Parliament, the Rivers Wye and Lugg Navigation Act 1695 (7 & 8 Will. 3. c. 14), which authorised the County of Hereford to buy up and demolish the mills on the Wye and Lugg. All locks and weirs were to be removed, except that at New Weir forge below Goodrich, which survived until about 1815. By 1727, around £18,000 had been raised to carry out the work, and thirteen weirs in Herefordshire had been bought and removed. Some work had also been carried out on the Lugg, but much of it was damaged by flooding soon afterwards. One unexpected consequence of removing the weirs was that water levels dropped, resulting in there being a number of shoals that boats now had to negotiate.[36] Another act of Parliament was obtained, the Rivers Wye and Lugg Navigation Act 1726 (13 Geo. 1. c. 34), which appointed new trustees, and allowed them to authorise the construction of mills and weirs at locations which would assist navigation.[37] In 1763, James Taylor proposed the construction of 22 weirs, each with an associated pound lock, to make the river fully navigable, but the scheme was not implemented.[38] When it looked likely that the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal would not reach Hereford, there were calls to further improve the Wye. At the time, boats were hauled by gangs of ten or eleven men, but men were in short supply, and a towing path for horses was suggested. William Jessop carried out a survey, and the towing path was authorised by the Wye and Lugg Navigation and Horse Towing-path Act 1809 (49 Geo. 3. c. lxxviii). A company was formed to build 37 miles (60 km) of path from Lydbrook to Hereford, and to maintain ferries at five points where the path crossed from one side of the river to the other.[39]

Evidence given in Parliament during the passage of the bill stated that some 10,000 tons of coal were moved along the river to Hereford each year, with 3,000 tons of other commodities. Another 4,000 tons of lime and other goods were delivered to various points along the river. Progress on the project was rapid, and local newspapers announced the arrival of two barges in Hereford on 23 January 1811, each towed by two horses. Carriage of coal to Hereford became easier following the opening of the Severn and Wye Tramroad in 1813, which brought coal to the river bank at Bishop's Wood.[40] A steam tug was trialled on the river in 1825, but although it proved to be successful, it was sold due to the difficulty of finding suitable barges for it to tow. Passenger services became a feature of the river from 1835, with boats running between Ross, Monmouth and Chepstow, later extended to include Goodrich and Tintern.[41] The river was also navigable above Hereford, as far as Hay-on-Wye, although only when there was sufficient water, and a system of ropes and pulleys were used to allow boats to negotiate the rapids at Monnington.[42]

Money was spent several times improving the River Lugg from Leominster to its confluence with the Wye at Mordiford, but its navigation is likely to have been difficult. The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal reached Hereford in 1845, providing an alternative way to supply the town with coal, and trade tailed off with the opening of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway in 1854, and the Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway in the following year. After the Wye Valley Railway opened in 1876, the river ceased to be navigable above Brockweir, and as the river silted up, Tintern became the normal upper limit for navigation.[43] The river is still used by pleasure craft.

The river was unusual in that it was a Free Navigation from its source to Hay-on-Wye, a distance of 82 miles (132 km).[44] It ceased to be free after the modifications by Sandys in the 17th century, but this right was re-established by the 1695 act, which stated:

> Therefore be it enacted that the rivers Wye and Lugg may be henceforth accounted, deemed and taken to be free and common rivers for all to make use of for carrying and conveying of all passenger goods, wares and commodities by boats, barges, lighters and other vessels whatsoever.[45]

United Kingdom legislation

Wye Navigation Order 2002

Statutory Instrument

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Citation| SI 2002/1998
Dates
Made| 25 July 2002
Commencement| 15 August 2002
Other legislation
Made under| Transport and Works Act 1992
Text of the Wye Navigation Order 2002 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The National Rivers Authority brought a case before the High Court in 1995, to enable them to impose bylaws on the river. Shortly afterwards, they were replaced by the Environment Agency, and in 2002, the Wye Navigation Order 2002 (SI 2002/1998) was enacted. This confirmed the right of navigation on both the Wye and the Lugg, but established the Environment Agency as the navigation authority for the rivers. It also banned the construction of locks and weirs, so neither river is likely to be navigable by motor boats under normal circumstances.[28] Despite this, in 1989, Frank Barton and Pat Hucket successfully navigated a 124-foot (38 m) 230-ton barge up the river to Hereford.[46] Travelling time on the river was 20 hours, but this was spread over six months, as they had to wait for just the right water levels. The vessel was renamed Wye Invader during the journey.[47] In March 2019, Barton returned to the river, navigating a narrowboat called Wye Invader Two from Sharpness to Monmouth Rowing Club and back again. The trip was possible because there was about 7 feet (2.1 m) of flood water in the river, enabling the boat to pass over the weirs and obstructions.[48]

## Navigation and sport

[edit]

Kayaking near Hay-on-Wye

The Environment Agency is the navigation authority for the river. The normal tidal limit (NTL) of the river is Bigsweir and navigation below this point is under the control of the Gloucester Harbour Trustees as Competent Harbour Authority. There is a public right of navigation up to Hay-on-Wye,[49] and canoes are generally permitted on the next 5.5 miles (8.9 km) up to Glasbury, so long as they do not disturb anglers.[50]

A railway poster advertising the Wye Valley as a tourist destination. Date is before 1942.

The River Wye provides for canoeing and kayaking as it has sections suitable for all ranges of skills and free access all the way downstream from Hay to Hereford and Monmouth, and the tidal Wye to Chepstow and the Severn Estuary.[51] There are a wide range of canoe hire and supervised trips, as well as campsites at key points on the river. Symonds Yat has a particularly popular series of rapids that was purchased by the British Canoe Union in 2003 to preserve the rapids for recreational use, canoe trips through the rapids stop next at Monmouth.[52] There are three rowing clubs on the river at Hereford, Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth. Annual regattas are held at Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth for rowers and scullers of all abilities, next to the local rowing club. In 2017 more than 600 people took to the River Wye in inflatables ranging from dinghies to paddling pools during the event WYE FLOAT, opened by former Olympic ski jumper Eddie the Eagle.[53]

Walkers can take the Wye Valley Walk which follows the route of the River Wye from Coed Hafren, near Plynlimon, to Chepstow along a series of well-maintained way-marked paths. A viewpoint near The Biblins on the Wye is known as 'Three Counties View', the meeting place of the counties of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire.

## Tributaries

[edit]

The Wye's tributaries include the river Lugg, Elan, Dulas, Irfon, Marteg, Monnow, Trothy, Ithon, Llynfi, Letton Lake, Tarennig (the Wye's first tributary) and Bidno. A fuller list is available at the relevant section of the list of rivers of Wales

## 2020 floods

[edit]

Main article: 2019–20 United Kingdom floods § Storm Dennis (15–19 February)

In February 2020, Wales and parts of England endured extremely heavy rainfall from Storm Dennis, following shortly after Storm Ciara. The central part of South Wales was particularly affected. The river over-topped its banks and caused flooding in several areas, including Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth. Much of Hereford was flooded, with homes inundated. Churches and leisure centres were opened to accommodate evacuated residents. The river at Monmouth reached its highest level ever recorded.[54][55]

## 2021 floods

[edit]

In January 2021, the Wye catchment suffered flooding as a result of Storm Christoph.[56]

## Cultural references

[edit]

The Romantic poet William Wordsworth includes an apostrophe to the Wye in his famous poem "Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey", published in 1798 in Lyrical Ballads:

> How oft, in spirit, have I turned to thee,
>  O sylvan Wye! thou wanderer thro' the woods,
>  How often has my spirit turned to thee!

Nelson travelled down the Wye in 1802, along with Lady Hamilton and her husband, Sir William Hamilton.[57] They sailed from Ross-on-Wye to Monmouth, to be greeted by a cannonade and the band of the Monmouthshire Militia playing See, the Conquering Hero Comes.[57] Nelson expressed surprise that he was known at "such a little gut of a river as the Wye".[57]

## Views of the river

[edit]

* Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

* Ross-on-Wye

* Water transport at Symonds Yat

* St Peter's Church, Dixton

* Landscape with View on the River Wye by Thomas Jones

* Eagle's Nest, Wyndcliff

* A steam-hauled stone train crossing the River Wye after departing from Tintern railway station in 1963

## Bridges on the river

[edit]

See also: List of crossings of the River Wye

* The old railway bridge at Redbrook

* Monmouth Viaduct and Duke of Beaufort Bridge at Monmouth

* Bigsweir Bridge

* Chepstow Castle and bridge

* Brockweir Bridge

* Biblins Bridge

* Wye Bridge, Monmouth

* Wilton Bridge, Ross on Wye

* Chepstow Bridge at very high tide

* Backney Bridge, near Backney Halt, demolished under the Beeching Axe.

* Victoria Bridge, Hereford

* River Wye estuary and M48 Wye road bridge

## See also

[edit]

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

* KML
* GPX (all coordinates)
* GPX (primary coordinates)
* GPX (secondary coordinates)

* Wye Valley Walk
* Wye Valley Railway
* List of rivers of England
* List of rivers of Wales
* List of bridges in Wales
* South Herefordshire and Over Severn

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "SSSI Citation River Wye (upper Wye)" (PDF). Natural Resources Wales. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
2. ^ "Natural England information on AONBs and map". Natural England. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
3. ^ "Natural England information on Wye Valley AONB". Natural England. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
4. ^ a b c d Monbiot, George (12 August 2020). "The government is looking the other way while Britain's rivers die before our eyes | George Monbiot". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
5. ^ a b c d "River Wye pollution linked to free-range poultry farming". Countryfile.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
6. ^ "Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru". geiriadur.ac.uk.
7. ^ Richard Lovell Edgeworth; Maria Edgeworth (1816). Readings on Poetry. R. Hunter. pp. 3.
8. ^ Izaak Walton (1833). The Complete Angler; Or, Contemplative Man's Recreation; Being a Discourse on Rivers, Ponds, Fish and Fishing. With Lives and Notes. Peter Pauper Press. p. 249.
9. ^ J. Thompson (12 March 2015). John Thelwall: Selected Poetry and Poetics. Springer. p. 338\. ISBN 978-1-137-34483-0.
10. ^ The Tithe map (1844)
11. ^ Joseph Bosworth (1838). A Dictionary of the Anglo-saxon Language.
12. ^ "Countryside Council for Wales Landscape & wildlife statement for River Wye (Upper Wye) / Afon Gwy (Gwy Uchaf)". Countryside Council for Wales. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
13. ^ a b c d "Natural England SSSI information on River Wye (Lower Wye) or Afon Gwy (Gwy Isaf) SDdGA – citation, maps and unit details". Natural England. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
14. ^ "Information on River Wye Special Area of Conservation designation". Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
15. ^ "Joint Nature Conservation Committee Listing of Special Areas of Conservation". Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
16. ^ a b "Guidance- Nutrient Management Plan: River Wye". www.gov.uk. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
17. ^ a b c d e McKie, Robin (20 June 2020). "'It's like pea soup': poultry farms turn Wye into wildlife death trap". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
18. ^ a b Ungoed-Thomas, Jon. "Free-range egg farms choking life out of the Wye". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
19. ^ "RIVERCIDE live documentary [LIVE VERSION] with George Monbiot, Charlotte Church, B Zephaniah". www.youtube.com. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
20. ^ Ecotipus (22 September 2019). "Open Letter: Intensive Poultry Units Pose Serious Public Health Risk". Ecotipus. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
21. ^ a b Colley, Claire (7 April 2020). "Life in the 'poultry capital' of Wales: enough is enough, say overwhelmed residents". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
22. ^ "Welsh slurry contractors say regulation is required on spreading". Fly Fishing & Fly Tying. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
23. ^ "Axe falls on dairy sector". Fly Fishing & Fly Tying. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
24. ^ "Factory farming is turning this beautiful British river into an open sewer | George Monbiot". The Guardian. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
25. ^ Gavin McEwan (8 February 2022). "Race against time to stop River Wye being 'a sewer ..." Retrieved 10 February 2022 – via pressreader.com.
26. ^ Jones, Branwen (15 March 2023). "High Court review to look at River Wye pollution". WalesOnline. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
27. ^ Waters 1977.
28. ^ a b c Cumberlidge 2009, p. 340.
29. ^ Cohen 1956, p. 83.
30. ^ Cohen 1956, p. 86.
31. ^ Cohen 1956, pp. 86–87.
32. ^ Hadfield 1967, pp. 184–185.
33. ^ Cohen 1956, p. 87.
34. ^ Cohen 1956, pp. 88–89.
35. ^ Cohen 1956, p. 89.
36. ^ Hadfield 1967, pp. 185–186.
37. ^ Cohen 1956, p. 94.
38. ^ Cohen 1956, p. 95.
39. ^ Hadfield 1967, p. 187.
40. ^ Hadfield 1967, p. 188.
41. ^ Hadfield 1967, pp. 188–189.
42. ^ Hadfield 1967, p. 189.
43. ^ Hadfield 1967, pp. 189–190.
44. ^ Cumberlidge 2009, p. 339.
45. ^ Cohen 1956, p. 90.
46. ^ Wright 1990, pp. 78–79.
47. ^ Barton 2019.
48. ^ Barton 2019a.
49. ^ "Wye canoe?" (PDF). Environment Agency. "Upstream of Hay Bridge, the river can provide some good canoeing water but there is no established public right of navigation."
50. ^ "Canoeing in the Area". Hay-on-Wye Tourist Information Bureau. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
51. ^ "Boating along the River Wye". Waterscape. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
52. ^ "River rapids sold to canoeists". BBC News. 15 March 2003. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
53. ^ Phillips, Jessica (14 August 2017). "Photos: 2017 Wye Float". Hereford Times.
54. ^ "Storm Dennis: Herefordshire flooding updates". Hereford Times. 18 February 2020.
55. ^ "Storm Dennis: Flood warnings as River Wye reaches record high". BBC News. 18 February 2020.
56. ^ "POTD: A comical corgi bloodbath and a miracle gas blast escape ...floodwater in Hereford..." www.telegraph.co.uk. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
57. ^ a b c Kissack 1975, p. 251.

## Sources

[edit]

* Barton, Frank (2019). "Wye Invader - The Impossible Journey?". Archived from the original on 18 January 2021.
* Barton, Frank (2019a). "Log of Wye Invader to Monmouth" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 July 2021.
* Cohen, I (1956). The Non-Tidal Wye and its Navigation. Woolhope Naturalists Field Club (Transactions).
* Cumberlidge, Jane (2009). Inland Waterways of Great Britain (8th Ed.). Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson. ISBN 978-1-84623-010-3.
* Hadfield, Charles (1967). The Canals of South Wales and the Border. David and Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-4027-1.
* Kissack, Keith (1975). Monmouth: The Making of a County Town. Chichester: Phillimore. ISBN 978-0-85033-209-4. OCLC 255539468.
* Paget-Tomlinson, Edward (2006). The Illustrated History of Canal and River Navigations. Landmark Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84306-207-3.
* Waters, Ivor (1977). Chepstow Road Bridges. Moss Rose Press. ISBN 978-0-906134-09-2.
* Wright, Ian (January 1990). "Barging up the Wye". Waterways World. Waterways World. ISSN 0309-1422. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Cohen, I. "The non-tidal Wye and its navigation", Trans. Woolhope Nat. Fld. Club, 34 (1955), pp. 83–101.
* Stockinger, V. (1996) The Rivers Wye and Lugg Navigation: A Documentary History 1555–1951, Logaston Press, ISBN 978-18-738-27895
* King, P. "The River Teme and Other Midlands River Navigations", Journal of Railway and Canal Historical Society, 35, 50 (July 2006), pp. 350–1.
* Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Wye" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to River Wye.

* Natural England (SSSI information)
* The Wye and Usk Foundation conservation charity
* Canoeists' guide to the River Wye
* River Wye Preservation Trust

* v
* t
* e

River Severn, Great Britain

Administrative
areas|

* Powys
* Shropshire
* Worcestershire
* Gloucestershire
* Monmouthshire
* South Gloucestershire
* Bristol
* North Somerset
* Somerset
* Newport
* Cardiff
* Vale of Glamorgan

Settlements|

* Llanidloes
* Newtown
* Welshpool
* Shrewsbury
* Ironbridge
* Bridgnorth
* Bewdley
* Stourport
* Worcester
* Tewkesbury
* Gloucester
* Berkeley
* Chepstow
* Avonmouth

Major tributaries|

* River Vyrnwy
* River Tern
* Cound Brook
* River Stour
* River Teme
* Warwickshire Avon
* River Wye
* Bristol Avon
* River Usk

Flows into|

* Severn Estuary
* Bristol Channel

Linked canals|

* Staffordshire & Worcestershire
* Worcester & Birmingham
* Droitwich
* Herefordshire & Gloucestershire
* Thames & Severn
* Coalport
* Gloucester & Sharpness
* Stroudwater Navigation
* Coombe Hill

Major crossings|

* Welsh Bridge
* English Bridge
* The Iron Bridge
* Mythe Bridge
* Over Bridge
* Prince of Wales Bridge
* Severn Bridge
* Aust Severn Powerline Crossing
* Severn Tunnel
* All crossings of the River Severn

Longest rivers of the United Kingdom

1. Severn
2. Thames
3. Trent
4. Great Ouse
5. Wye
6. Ure/Ouse
7. Tay
8. Spey
9. Clyde
10. Tweed
11. Avon
12. Nene
13. Eden
14. Dee

* v
* t
* e

Biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire

* Summarised data for all sites (biological and geological)

* Ashleworth Ham
* Astridge Wood
* Badgeworth
* Barnsley Warren
* Barton Bushes
* Bigsweir Woods
* Blaisdon Hall
* Bourton Down
* Box Farm Meadows
* Boxwell
* Brassey
* Brooks Head Grove
* Buckshraft Mine & Bradley Railway Tunnel
* Bull Cross, The Frith and Juniper Hill
* Bushley Muzzard, Brimpsfield
* Caerwood and Ashberry Goose House
* Chaceley Meadow
* Clarke's Pool Meadow
* Cleeve Common
* Cockleford Marsh
* Collinpark Wood
* Coombe Hill Canal
* Coombe Hill
* Cotswold Commons and Beechwoods
* Cotswold Water Park
* Crickley Hill and Barrow Wake
* Daneway Banks
* Dean Hall Coach House & Cellar
* Devil's Chapel Scowles
* Dingle Wood
* Dixton Wood
* Dymock Woods
* Edge Common
* Elmlea Meadows
* Frampton Pools
* Highbury Wood
* Hobbs Quarry
* Hornsleasow Roughs
* Hucclecote Meadows
* Innsworth Meadow
* Juniper Hill, Edgeworth
* Kempley Daffodil Meadow
* Kingscote and Horsley Woods
* Lark Wood
* Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common
* Lineover Wood
* Lower Woods
* Lower Wye Gorge
* May Hill
* Midger
* Minchinhampton Common
* Nagshead
* Old Bow and Old Ham Mines
* Old River Severn, Upper Lode
* Pennsylvania Fields, Sedbury
* Poor's Allotment
* Puckham Woods
* Range Farm Fields
* River Wye
* Rodborough Common
* Rough Bank, Miserden
* Salmonsbury Meadows
* Selsley Common
* Severn Estuary
* Severn Ham, Tewkesbury
* Shorn Cliff and Caswell Woods
* Slade Brook
* Soudley Ponds
* Speech House Oaks
* Stenders Quarry
* Stinchcombe Hill
* Strawberry Banks
* Swanpool Wood and Furnace Grove
* Swift's Hill
* Sylvan House Barn
* The Hudnalls
* The Malvern Hills
* Tudor Farm Bank
* Turvey's Piece
* Upper Severn Estuary
* Upham Meadow and Summer Leasow
* Upper Wye Gorge
* Walmore Common
* Westbury Brook Ironstone Mine
* Whelford Meadow
* Wigpool Ironstone Mine
* Wildmoorway Meadows
* Winson Meadows
* Woodchester Park
* Workman's Wood
* Wotton Hill
* Yarley Meadows

Neighbouring areas
Avon
Herefordshire
Oxfordshire
Wiltshire
Worcestershire

* v
* t
* e

Geological Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire

* Summarised data for all sites (biological and geological)

* Alderton Hill Quarry
* Bull Cross, The Frith and Juniper Hill
* Campden Tunnel Gravel Pit
* Cleeve Common
* Coaley Wood Quarries
* Crickley Hill and Barrow Wake
* Easter Park Farm Quarry
* Edgehills Quarry
* Foss Cross Quarry
* Garden Cliff
* Hampen Railway Cutting
* Haresfield Beacon
* Harford Railway Cutting
* Hobbs Quarry
* Hornsleasow Quarry
* Huntsman's Quarry
* Jackdaw Quarry
* Kemble Railway Cuttings
* Knap House Quarry, Birdlip
* Land Grove Quarry, Mitcheldean
* Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common
* Longhope Hill
* Lower Woods
* Lower Wye Gorge
* Lydney Cliff
* May Hill
* Meezy Hurst
* Minchinhampton Common
* New Park Quarry
* Nibley Knoll
* Notgrove Railway Cutting
* Oakenhill Railway Cutting
* Puddlebrook Quarry
* River Wye
* Robin's Wood Hill Quarry
* Rodborough Common
* Salmonsbury Meadows
* Scully Grove Quarry
* Severn Estuary
* Slade Brook
* Stenders Quarry
* Stony Furlong Railway Cutting
* Swift's Hill
* Upper Severn Estuary
* The Malvern Hills
* Purton Passage
* Selsley Common
* Upper Wye Gorge
* Veizey's Quarry
* Wainlode Cliff
* Wellacre Quarry
* Wood Green Quarry & Railway Cutting
* Wotton Hill

Neighbouring areas
Avon
Herefordshire
Oxfordshire
Wiltshire
Worcestershire

* v
* t
* e

Transport in Monmouthshire

Road|

* M4 motorway
* European route E30
* M48 motorway
* A40 road
* A449 road
* A465 road
* A472 road
* A4042 road
* A4136 road
* A48 road

Bus|

* Stagecoach South Wales
* Stagecoach West
* Newport Bus

National Cycle Network|

* Celtic Trail
* National Cycle Route 4
* National Cycle Route 47
* National Cycle Route 42

Railway lines|

* South Wales Main Line
* Gloucester–Newport line
* Welsh Marches line

Railway stations|

* Abergavenny
* Caldicot
* Chepstow
* Severn Tunnel Junction

Waterways|

* Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
* River Wye

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Israel

Other|

* IdRef

* v
* t
* e

Transport in Gloucestershire

Road|

| Motorways|

* M4
* M5
* M32
* M48
* M49
* M50

|

A-roads|

* A38
* A40
* A46
* A48
* A403
* A417
* A419
* A429
* A431
* A432
* A433
* A466
* A4032
* A4103
* A4135
* A4136
* A4174

Service stations|

* Gloucester services
* Michaelwood services
* Severn View services

Other|

* B4008
* E30
* Icknield Street
* Westgate Street

Airports and heliports|

* Cotswold Airport
* Gloucestershire Airport
* Cheltenham Racecourse Heliport

Rail|

| Main lines|

* Cotswold Line
* Cross Country Route
* Gloucester-Newport line
* Golden Valley line
* Henbury Loop line

|

Closed lines|

* Avon and Gloucestershire Railway
* Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway
* Bicslade Tramroad (Tram)
* Bristol and Gloucester Railway
* Bristol and Gloucestershire Railway
* Bullo Pill Railway
* Cheltenham and District Light Railway
* Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway
* Cirencester branch line
* Coleford Railway
* Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway
* Dursley and Midland Junction Railway
* Evesham loop line
* Forest of Dean Central Railway
* Forest of Dean Railway
* Gloucester and Cheltenham Tramroad (Tram)
* Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway
* Ledbury and Gloucester Railway
* Midland and South Western Junction Railway
* Mitcheldean Road and Forest of Dean Junction Railway
* Monmouth Railway
* Oxford, Witney and Fairford Railway
* Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway
* Severn and Wye Railway
* Severn Bridge Railway
* Sharpness Branch Line
* South Wales Railway
* Stonehouse and Nailsworth Railway
* Stratford and Moreton Tramway (Tram)
* Tetbury branch line
* Tewkesbury and Malvern Railway
* Wye Valley Railway

Stations|

* Ashchurch for Tewkesbury
* Cam and Dursley
* Cheltenham Spa
* Gloucester
* Kemble
* Lydney
* Moreton-in-Marsh
* Pilning
* Stonehouse
* Stroud

Closed stations|

* Adlestrop
* Andoversford and Dowdeswell
* Andoversford Junction
* Awre for Blakeney
* Badminton
* Barbers Bridge
* Berkeley
* Berkeley Road
* Bilson Halt
* Bishops Cleeve
* Blaisdon Halt
* Bourton-on-the-Water
* Bowbridge Crossing Halt
* Brimscombe Bridge Halt
* Brimscombe
* Bullo Cross Halt
* Cam
* Cashes Green Halt
* Chalford
* Charfield
* Charlton Kings
* Charlton Halt
* Chipping Sodbury
* Chedworth Halt
* Cheltenham High Street Halt
* Cheltenham High Street
* Cheltenham Leckhampton
* Cheltenham Spa Malvern Road
* Cheltenham Spa St. James
* Chepstow East
* Chesterton Lane Halt
* Chipping Campden
* Churchdown
* Cinderford New
* Cirencester Town
* Cirencester Watermoor
* Cleeve
* Downfield Crossing Halt
* Drybrook Road
* Dudbridge
* Dursley
* Dymock
* Ebley Crossing Halt
* Fairford
* Foss Cross
* Four Oaks Halt
* Frocester
* Gloucester Eastgate
* Grange Court
* Greenway Halt
* Gretton Halt
* Hallen Halt
* Ham Mill Halt
* Haresfield
* Hayles Abbey Halt
* Henbury
* Iron Acton
* Jackament's Bridge Halt
* Laverton Halt
* Lechlade
* Longhope
* Lydbrook Junction
* Malswick Halt
* Mangotsfield
* Mickleton Halt
* Nailsworth
* Netherhope Halt]
* New Passage Halt
* New Passage Pier
* Newent
* Newnham
* North Filton Platform
* Notgrove
* Park Leaze Halt
* Redbrook on Wye
* Rodmarton Platform
* Ruspidge Halt
* Ryeford
* St Mary's Crossing Halt
* Severn Bridge
* Sharpness
* South Cerney
* Speech House Road
* Staple Edge Halt
* Staple Hill
* Stonehouse (Bristol Road)
* Stow-on-the-Wold
* Stroud (Midland)
* Tetbury
* Tetbury Road
* Tewkesbury
* Thornbury
* Tidenham
* Trouble House Halt
* Tutshill for Beachley Halt
* Tytherington
* Upper Soudley Halt
* Warmley
* Weston-sub-Edge
* Wickwar
* Whitecroft
* Willersey Halt
* Winterbourne
* Withington
* Woodchester

Heritage stations|

* Bitton
* Cheltenham Racecourse
* Gotherington
* Hayles Abbey Halt
* Heywood
* Lydney Junction
* Lydney
* Norchard
* Oakiron
* Oldland Common
* Parkend
* Perrygrove
* Rookwood
* St Mary's Halt
* Toddington
* Whitecroft
* Winchcombe

Heritage railways|

* Avon Valley Railway
* Dean Forest Railway
* Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
* Lea Bailey Light Railway
* Perrygrove Railway
* Toddington Narrow Gauge Railway

Proposed|

* Gloucestershire Parkway

Buses|

| Stations|

* Gloucester Transport Hub

|

Companies|

* First West of England
* Newport Bus
* Stagecoach West

Waterways|

| Rivers|

* River Avon, Bristol
* River Avon, Warwickshire
* River Boyd
* Bybrook River
* River Cam
* River Chelt
* River Churn
* River Coln
* River Dikler
* River Evenlode
* River Eye
* River Frome, Bristol
* River Frome, Stroud
* Hazel Brook
* River Isbourne
* Lam Brook
* River Leach
* River Leadon
* Little Avon River
* Nailsworth Stream
* Painswick Stream
* Ruscombe Brook
* River Severn
* Siston Brook
* Slad Brook
* Stoke Brook
* River Swilgate
* Tetbury Avon
* River Thames
* River Trym
* River Windrush
* River Wye

|

Canals|

* Cinderford Canal
* Coombe Hill Canal
* Gloucester and Sharpness Canal
* Hereford and Gloucester Canal
* Lydney Canal
* Pidcock's Canal
* Stroudwater Navigation
* Thames and Severn Canal

Docks and ports|

* Gloucester Docks
* Sharpness

Footpaths|

| National Trails|

* Cotswold Way
* Thames Path

|

Long-distance footpaths|

* Celtic Way
* Geopark Way
* Gloucestershire Way
* Heart of England Way
* Limestone Link
* Macmillan Way
* Monarch's Way
* Oxfordshire Way
* Sabrina Way
* Severn Way

Other|

* Frome Valley Walkway
* Wysis Way

Cycle paths|

*  Route 42
* Route 44

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template