Current Hazards

Warning Posted on UKRiversGuidebook forums 10th Feb 2008:

There is a huge tree across the whole of the the left channel of the island immediately after "broken weir" on the lower lower dart - seen just in time on the 9th Feb 2008!

be careful! It was misty when we paddled, only just saw how far the tree stretched a t the very last moment! - right channel around island is clear but a touch shallow

Buckfastleigh Weir

Warning received on 25/01/08

As at 19/1/2008,
The normal right-hand (chicken shoot) route down Buckfastleigh Weir, approximately 1.5 m from the right hand bank and just left of the kicking right flow has a submerged object capable of suddenly stopping/ pining a craft and was responsible for hospitalising a paddler. This object is possibly a shopping trolley. It was sufficient to remove a piece of skid plate from half way up the bow of an open canoe of approx one inch square.

Protruding iron work - creating "cockerel tails" on the face of the weir. Please be aware that we are unable to do anything about this hazard in the foreseeable future. Please be careful.

26/09/02

Received from Chris Green:

 "The fish pass on the left side of the weir is an extremely tempting route,  especially in medium to low flows. I have shot it myself many times. But,  the action of shooting each drop in turn leads boats to turn sideways and run slightly right and into the fast channel that forms the interface between the fish pass and the main weir face. In this channel, there is a1m  deep undercut at the right hand end of the third wall that is invisible to canoeists. I found it by wading around in the pools at low flows and poking  about with a range pole. A colleague of mine in Teignbridge Canoe Club had a very nasty pin in the undercut a few years ago, but I only understand the danger that he was in now after carefully inspecting the weir.

I would be grateful if you could pass on this to other canoeists using that section of the Dart and urge extreme caution to anybody considering using the fish pass as a route down the weir."

• KILBURY WEIR - (the one below the Little Chef)

There are loops of exposed iron-work to the right of the salmon steps.

The whole salmon steps area should be avoided in all flows.

• STAVERTON WEIR -

In low water there are small exposed  wooden spikes - right-hand side shoot at the top of the weir. OK in medium to high flows.