|
CANCHE RIVER -
Northern France |
|
Canche River info
- for free pdf download of this article, click here 
This file
is 0.5mb and may take a while to download if you don't have
broadband. |
|
The river Canche is about one
hour's drive south of Calais and is ideal for paddlers with some
experience of moving water who want to experience the fun of paddling
abroad without the long drive down to the Alps. The river is basically
flat water but always has a current on it. It does however, have numerous
weirs and canoe passes which liven things up a little. It is ideal for
kayakers who want to experience grade 1 and 2 conditions, or open
canoeists of any level. Like any river, the difficulty varies according to
weather and river conditions. All the information below is based on our
experience at the time of paddling, and we advise that you always check
carefully before running any of the obstacles on the
day.
N.B. "River left"
and "river right" refer to the left and right hand side of the river as
you face downstream
N.B. All distances are approximate, we didn't have
a GPS with us at the time!
The river can be divided up
into two easy days paddling which will allow you loads of time to play on
the weirs and have a leisurely lunch etc. The upper section from Guisy to
the road bridge just west of Beaurainville is the more technical section
and we always paddle this on day 2 of a 2 day trip. On the first day, we
paddle from the road bridge just west of Beaurainville to the campsite on
the river in Montreuil. Tackling the river this way, saves the best to
last for the more experienced paddlers, and gives the less experienced a
chance to get a feel for the river.
|
|
Directions to the
Canche - about 50 minutes drive from Calais.
A26 from
Calais
After about 2 miles turn on A16 heading towards
Boulogne
Follow A16 until J26 (this is a toll auto route - cost is
about 2.5 Euros)
Follow N39 and N1 towards Montreuil
Turn right at
traffic lights sign posted Montreuil
Drive over the river and railway
and turn immediately right and right again, then follow signs to
campsite
If you would prefer to say in a hotel there are lots to choose
from in Montreuil itself.
|
|
Day one:
Bridge just west
of Beaurainville to Montreuil campsite
Only use this get out if
you are staying at the campsite. If you aren't, you can get out on
"river left" just before the road bridge by the slalom course.
|
Directions to get
in:
Follow the D349
south east from Montreuil until you come to a roundabout. Turn left.
Follow the road towards Beaurainville, go over the railway and take the
first turning on the left after the bike shop which is on the right.
Follow the road for about half a mile and fork left. Follow the road until
you see the river on your right and park in the lay-by just upstream of
the bridge. |
N.B. Steep high
bank
Picture taken from upstream of bridge - Photo copyright Kent Canoes
|
|
A few miles from the get
in:
Sluice gates 100 metres downstream of ruined mill which is on
"river left". Get out on "river left" just after mill stream (river left)
and inspect. This is usually shootable with care, but inspection is essential due to logs etc often blocking the sluice.
Portage if unsure on "river left".
|
Click on picture for
large image - Picture taken from downstream
Photo copyright Kent Canoes
|
| About a mile downstream of these sluice gates is another set
of sluice gates with a canoe pass on "river right". The immediate
approach is angled so take it slowly to give yourself enough time to get
the boat straight for the main shoot. It can be quite a big drop but has
always been shootable in our experience. Watch out for strong current from
"river left" at bottom of shoot. |
Click on picture for large image
Picture taken from
downstream
Photo copyright Kent
Canoes
|
|
As you approach Montreuil, you
will go under a main road bridge. About half a mile after this is the
Montreuil slalom course. There are no drops as such, but there are small
standing waves and the current can be quite strong. The local French club
also put obstacles in the water to increase the flow and create breakouts
so watch out for these. Get out here on "river left" if you are not using
the campsite.
|
Click on picture for large image - Picture taken from
downstream
Photo copyright Kent
Canoes
|
|
Once you are through the
slalom course you will go under the road bridge. From here to the campsite
is about half a mile. The current can be very quick here, and there are
low hanging trees on "river right" which need to be avoided. You will need
to make your way over to "river left" and line up with the shoot which
leads into the mill pond by the campsite.
|
Click
on picture for large image - Picture taken from downstream
Photo
copyright Kent Canoes
|
Day
Two:
Guisy to road bridge just west of Beaurainville |
|
Directions to get in:
Take the D349 from Montreuil
towards Hesdin. About a mile before Hesdin, turn left sign posted Guisy
(by the church). Park in the lay-by by the river. Carry the boats to the
slipway on the upstream side of the bridge. |
Click on picture for large image - Picture taken from
upstream
|
| About
a mile downstream is a metal foot bridge, just downstream of old church on
"river right". Half a mile beyond this is a set of sluice gates which can
usually be navigated on "river left". Make sure you are well over to
the left approaching these sluices, the current can be quite fast. There
is a factory here and the locals are not very friendly so we suggest you
carry on downstream from here. |
Click on picture for large image - N.B. boat facing
upstream
Photo copyright Kent
Canoes
|
|
Several miles downstream, you
will go under a road bridge and see a huge factory on "river left". Go
under a metal foot bridge. About 400 yards from here is a grade 2+ rapid.
This is less intimidating than it looks and has always been shootable. It
is worth inspecting from "river left" if you are not sure. Be aware that
there are rocks on "river right", and wooden stakes on "river left" which
can be just under the surface at higher water levels. You don't have to
take photographs from the front of the boat if you don't want
to!
|
Click on picture for large image - Picture taken from
downstream
Photo copyright Kent
Canoes
|
About a mile from here you will start to approach
Beaurainville. Go under a road bridge and shortly afterwards you will see
the bridge above the slalom course. The weir is immediately under this
bridge. This has always been shootable on river left. Be aware however,
that this is a popular site and the weir pool can be full of French slalom
paddlers practising their techniques. The drop is simple enough but the
weir pool can be grade 2-3 depending on river levels.
|
Click on picture
for large image - Picture taken from downstream
Photo
copyright Kent Canoes
|
|
About half a mile downstream
of the slalom course is the "Play wave". The river bends round to the
right and there is a small play wave on "river left" with a good eddy to
breakout into on "river right".
|
Click on picture for large image - Picture taken from
downstream
Photo copyright Kent
Canoes
|
| Half a
mile after the play wave, the river splits left and right. The right hand
shoot is simple enough, but is narrow so watch out for brambles etc. On
the left hand side is an old bridge with two arches immediately followed
by a small weir which in high levels can have a considerable tow
back - be aware. We have always shoot this weir on river left. |
Click on picture for large image - Picture taken from
downstream
Photo copyright Kent
Canoes
|
| And that's it. The get out at
Beaurainville is about a mile from the weir
bridge. |
