River Severn Mountford Bridge to Shrewsbury on Sunday 18th August by Sue Lowndes

Not quite Three men in a Boat but three SUPs, three sea kayaks, one kayak, one double kayak and one open canoe put in at Montford Bridge to paddle the gentle stretch of the River Severn to Shrewsbury.  From the Wingfield Arms pub car park, it was a short portage to the river bank where we could easily launch from the wooden pontoon, having, of course, paid our £2 launching fees.  The bonus of using the campsite’s lovely loos is an added treat! 

The weather was kind with little wind and some glimpse of sunshine and the water flowed gently if a little low in places.  With our picnics (well butties) loaded, it really was a splendid day for a paddle!  The River Severn has lovely bends and sweeps with high banks and wooded hillsides which help you feel quite isolated as you listen to the ripples of water lapping against the boat increasing the feeling of being in the wild and occasionally we were afforded with fleeting glimpses of, and the sounds of birds from trees. A low fly-past of a heron caused a great stir of excitement; rumour had it that a kingfisher had been spotted by 2 of the paddlers.

One shallow area resulted in some wobbles and excitement and the trip was an excellent introduction for anybody who wanted to take their first paddle on a moving water. 

River Severn Mountford Bridge to Shrewsbury by Sue Lowndes