River Wey
Navigating these waterways will require a special lock handle (windlass), these can be loaned or purchased from Thames Lock, Stoke Lock, Farncombe Boat House and the Navigations Office, or purchased only at Pyrford Basin.
The navigational authority for this waterway is The National Trust (River Wey and Godalming Navigations and Dapdune Wharf)Relevant publications — Waterway Maps:
- Waterway Routes 01M - England and Wales Map
- Waterway Routes 61M - River Wey and Basingstoke Canal Map (Downloadable)
Relevant publications — Waterway Guides:
- River Wey and Godalming Navigations and Dapdune Wharf — associated with this page
- This is the web site for the National Trust who manage the River Wey
Wikipedia has a page about River Wey
The River Wey is a tributary of the River Thames in south east England. Its two branches, one of which rises near Alton in Hampshire and the other in West Sussex to the south of Haslemere, join at Tilford in Surrey. Once combined the flow is eastwards then northwards via Godalming and Guildford to meet the Thames at Weybridge. Downstream the river forms the backdrop to Newark Priory and Brooklands. The Wey and Godalming Navigations were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, to create a navigable route from Godalming to the Thames.
The Wey drains much of south west Surrey (as well as parts of east Hampshire and the north of West Sussex) and has a total catchment area of 904 square kilometres (350 sq mi). Although it is the longest tributary of the Thames (if the Medway is excluded), its total average discharge is lower than that of the Kennet and Cherwell. The river morphology and biodiversity of the Wey are well studied, with many places to take samples and record data. The main tributary is the Tillingbourne, which rises on the western slopes of Leith Hill and flows westwards to join the Wey to the south of Guildford, between Shalford and Peasmarsh.
The name Wey is of unknown origin and meaning.