UK Kayaking News Roundup – 30 October 2026
Welcome to the Paddle With Tom UK Kayaking News Roundup for Friday 30 October 2026.
This week brings a major expedition finish, a promising Oxford Canal reopening, new updates from Bath and Cheshire, and important information about river conditions and water quality.
As ever, I have linked the original reports so you can check the latest situation before setting out. Navigation notices and water levels can change quickly.
Ash Dykes completes his 18-day Congo Basin kayak expedition
26 October 2026
Archive Sangha River photograph: JosepMGracia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (2014). Not a photograph of Ash Dykes or his expedition. Photograph credit and Creative Commons licence details
Welsh explorer Ash Dykes has finished his first Project 6 mission, travelling nearly 500 miles down the Sangha River through the Congo Basin in inflatable kayaks. The 18-day journey ran from Nola in the Central African Republic to Mossaka in the Republic of Congo.
Dykes was accompanied by videographer Will Perez and local guide Obed Temba Tuyumvire. Heavy storms, heat, insects and long days on the water tested the team, with some stretches keeping them afloat for up to 15 hours.
A brief communications blackout earlier in the expedition was subsequently attributed to a Starlink failure. The successful finish is a welcome follow-up to our earlier coverage; the next Project 6 mission is yet to be announced.
Bath Tunnel: temporary protection plan proposed, closure still in place
27–29 October 2026
Archive tunnel photograph: Dr Neil Clifton / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0 (1977). Not a photograph of the October 2026 damage. Photograph credit and Creative Commons licence details
A fresh Canal & River Trust update on 27 October says Bath & North East Somerset Council is considering a temporary protective shield around the damaged section of Bath No.1 Tunnel. The aim is to restore navigation while engineers work on a permanent repair design.
The Kennet & Avon Canal and adjacent towpath at the tunnel have been shut since 9 October after stonework was damaged during road works above. The latest update did not provide a reopening date.
An older notice was marked completed on 29 October, but a replacement closure notice subsequently clarified that the closure remains in place. Do not plan a through-paddle here until the Trust explicitly confirms passage is open.
South Oxford Canal reopens temporarily after autumn rainfall
23–29 October 2026
Archive Claydon Lock photograph: Graham Horn / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0. Not a photograph of current water levels. Photograph credit and Creative Commons licence details
There is encouraging news for paddlers on the South Oxford Canal. Following heavy rain, the Canal & River Trust reopened the route from Claydon Top Lock 17 to Banbury Lock 29 on 23 October, then extended the temporary opening to Aynho Weir Lock 33 on 25 October.
Updates through 29 October say levels remained in the normal operating zone for navigation between locks 17 and 33, but the Trust warned that water was gradually receding and that reservoir supplies had not recovered.
This is an opportunity rather than a guaranteed long-term reopening. If planning a route around Cropredy, Banbury or Aynho, check the live notice immediately before launching and expect short-notice changes.
Bosley and Marple lock flights remain closed despite improving water
27–29 October 2026
Archive Bosley Lock photograph: Roger D Kidd / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0. Not a photograph of this week’s water levels. Photograph credit and Creative Commons licence details
The latest notice for the Bosley Flight on the Macclesfield Canal and the Marple Flight on the Peak Forest Canal says water levels have improved slightly after weekend rain, but feeder reservoirs are still low. The main navigation closures remain in place.
An assisted Bosley passage was arranged for essential travel on Thursday 29 October, with limited places and advance booking. The Trust says it will consider further assisted movements if conditions allow, and plans another update by 24 November.
For recreational paddlers, this is not a general reopening. Check the latest restrictions, confirm any portage arrangements and avoid assuming that lock passages are available.
Environment Agency publishes new weekly river-flow picture
29 October 2026
Archive Abingdon Weir photograph: Ian S / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0 (2020). Not a photograph of this week’s conditions. Photograph credit and Creative Commons licence details
The Environment Agency published its latest rainfall and river-flow summary on 29 October, covering 21–27 October across England. It is a useful national snapshot as paddlers assess how recent autumn rain has affected rivers following a very dry summer.
A national weekly report cannot tell you whether a particular launch point is safe. Flow can rise quickly after rain even when reservoirs and canal feeders remain depleted, and strong stream warnings can vary from reach to reach.
Before a weekend paddle, check the report alongside live local gauges, the navigation authority’s warnings and the weather forecast. Treat fast flow, cold water and debris as separate hazards.
Water-company pollution report raises fresh concerns for river users
29 October 2026
Archive River Nene outfall photograph: Alan Murray-Rust / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0 (2014). Not a photograph of a newly reported incident. Photograph credit and Creative Commons licence details
A joint regulatory assessment published on 29 October found that eight of England’s nine major water companies were rated poor or requiring improvement on environmental performance. Regulators recorded 74 serious pollution incidents and 2,666 pollution incidents overall during 2025.
Those figures relate to last year’s performance, but the new report matters now for anyone paddling inland waterways. Water that looks clear is not necessarily free of contamination, particularly downstream of outfalls or following heavy rain.
Paddlers should check local water-quality alerts, avoid contact with visibly polluted water, cover cuts and wash hands and equipment after a trip. The report is a warning about systemic performance, not a claim that every river is currently unsafe.
Explore more with Paddle With Tom
Find your next kayak route, join a friendly paddle meet-up or watch my latest paddling films.
