Welcome

The Stort Navigation is a little gem of a river. Turning onto the Stort from the River Lee at Fielde's Weir, one is immediately struck by a sense of change. The wide, open straights of the Lee give way to a narrow, meandering river which works it way through the lush countryside of Essex and Hertfordshire. Although nature seems to close in on you, civilization isn't too far away!

Saturday 6 October 2012

Roydon Lock (13)

Roydon Lock, River Stort
Looking downstream to Roydon Lock (13)

About 250 yards upstream of Roydon railway bridge (7), the navigation reaches Roydon lock (13). The lock has a rise of 7 feet. The lock is popular with cyclists and walkers, as well as boaters, as a range of  refreshments is available from the lock cottage:
Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks, ice cream, sandwiches.
A lovely place to relax and watch the world go by while licking a lolly or sipping a cuppa.
Also available: Calor gas, coal (Stoveglow £10 per 25kg bag), red diesel, windlasses, BW keys, toilet fluid, water (£1 charge), Towpath Talk.


Local knowledge:
  • The top gates on this lock tend to spring open quite quickly; when emptying the lock it is a good idea to partially open a bottom gate paddle before closing the top gates.
  • The flow through the top paddles is very strong. Keep your boat towards the back of the lock when ascending  and raise the paddles in stages.
  • A CaRT rubbish barge is normally moored below the lock, downstream of the lock landing

Ducklings
Ducklings in Roydon Lock (13) From Roydon Lock
Looking Upstream from Roydon Lock (13)

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