Popular Post Dave123 Posted May 6, 2021 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 6, 2021 (edited) Just a quick post to encourage anyone exploring the River Witham to definitely make the trip up the Sleaford Navigation to South Kyme! Currently relatively free of weed and decent enough depth until the moorings in South Kyme. Moorings are good and although it is narrower and slower progress from here to the first winding hole still well worth the trip! If you can get the stern into the winding hole the current takes the bows round fairly easily, although it is getting a bit silted up. South Kyme is a pretty village and locals welcoming. Apparently the local vicar is a waterways chaplain and does services aimed at boaters if that's your thing. Also one of the few places residents have said to me they want to see more boats visit, and been offered a fill up with water from a house here too! Just needs more boats to keep the channel clear etc Edited May 6, 2021 by Dave123 5 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave123 Posted May 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2021 And contrary to what the guide books say you do get nice views over the banks, and the narrowness makes a nice break from the Witham? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearley Posted May 6, 2021 Report Share Posted May 6, 2021 None of those mooring posts when we visited in the mid 90s. But can confirm the locals were friendly, even to the extent of bringing their children out to see the boat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty Cal Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 12 hours ago, pearley said: None of those mooring posts when we visited in the mid 90s. But can confirm the locals were friendly, even to the extent of bringing their children out to see the boat. The moorings are a very recent addition, within the last few years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scholar Gypsy Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 Very good. I was annoyed that I couldn't get there in 2019, but the river was in flood and it didn't seem a good idea! In any event there was insufficient headroom at the first bridge at Chapel Hill! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 Went there in 2013. The silting at the winding holes and by the lock at the time made it real adventure boating, including a six mile reverse, followed by getting stuck on a mud bank overnight till some nice weed bashing contractors let down water to get the boat off! Now these problems have been fixed, then it is well worth a visit. As others have said, the locals in South Kyme are a friendly bunch. After the first lock raises you to the dizzying heights, you actually get a view of the countryside, rather than just of flood protection banks. OK, the view is of Lincolnshire flat land, but a view is a view. Jen 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doratheexplorer Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 What's the licencing arrangements on there? It's not CRT, do I need a seperate licence? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac of Cygnet Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 Tried a few years ago in June, but had to give up after half a mile - physically impossible to push through the weed. I was told that I was a month too late. The Witham Navigable Drains were relatively clear. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 1 hour ago, doratheexplorer said: What's the licencing arrangements on there? It's not CRT, do I need a seperate licence? As far as I can make out, there isn't one. The EA control water levels, but have no interest in navigation. The Sleaford Navigation Trust don't mention any requirements. You can only get there via the CaRT controlled Witham. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doratheexplorer Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 9 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said: As far as I can make out, there isn't one. The EA control water levels, but have no interest in navigation. The Sleaford Navigation Trust don't mention any requirements. You can only get there via the CaRT controlled Witham. Where does the funding for the moorings and lock restoration come from I wonder? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 2 minutes ago, doratheexplorer said: Where does the funding for the moorings and lock restoration come from I wonder? As is usual with these things, a lot of hard work by the volunteers at the trust persuading various organisations to chip in. http://www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk/history/restoration/destination-south-kyme/ for example. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave123 Posted May 7, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 12 hours ago, Mac of Cygnet said: Tried a few years ago in June, but had to give up after half a mile - physically impossible to push through the weed. I was told that I was a month too late. The Witham Navigable Drains were relatively clear. Yes, and I think the weed is particularly scarce now because it's been so cold overnight so far, compared to this time last year. 14 hours ago, Scholar Gypsy said: Very good. I was annoyed that I couldn't get there in 2019, but the river was in flood and it didn't seem a good idea! In any event there was insufficient headroom at the first bridge at Chapel Hill! That's a shame! The flood gates were only open just wide enough for a narrowboat and wouldn't budge open any further. Not sure if this is due to silt or intentionally to stop wider boats that might get stuck further on? But height clearance was fine 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoominPapa Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 Navigation now closed. http://www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk/news/new-problems-at-bottom-lock/ MP. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave123 Posted May 9, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2021 Oh that's a shame, lucky not to get trapped up there! Apparently a work party went up in some boats this weekend so hopefully they can sort it soon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted May 9, 2021 Report Share Posted May 9, 2021 (edited) On 07/05/2021 at 23:48, MoominPapa said: Navigation now closed. http://www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk/news/new-problems-at-bottom-lock/ MP. Hopefully it will get sorted soon. That area tends to silt up, as I discovered. The EA have a sluice adjacent to the lock and run down a lot of water during the winter. The backwater to the bottom of the lock ends up with a lot of silt dropping out of suspension. My boat stuck on the bottom lock mud bank in 2013. I've removed a lot of heavy stuff, emptied the water tank and set up a 3:1 hauling Z-rig to try and pull the boat off the mud. All to on avail! Eventually freed by a combination of hauling, reverse prop and water run down from the top. Jen Edited May 9, 2021 by Jen-in-Wellies 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave123 Posted May 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2021 Was told by Langrick bridge stores/boatyard that the lock is back open now A stone was blocking the gates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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