Castle Mills Lock – that gives access to the River Foss from the River Ouse in the centre of York – is reopen. Volunteers from IWA and River Foss Society once again now operate the lock.
The first pleasure boat through the lock since 2018, ‘Slipstream’, was a 16ft Norfolk crab boat. Castle Mills Lock is open thanks to the determination of local volunteers and the expertise of IWA. The new formal agreement between City of York Council, the navigation authority, and IWA means that volunteers can again operate the lock.
You can book a passage through Castle Mills Lock. (At least 2 days notice is needed).
Following an IWA campaign cruise in 2004, trained volunteers operated Castle Mills Lock on the River Foss. Thanks to a new formal arrangement in 2020, volunteers from IWA and the River Foss Society received training to operate the lock. However, the pandemic and two long stoppages on the lower river delayed the reopening. Further training took place in early August 2021 ahead of the York Walls Festival.
The River Foss up to Wormalds Cut is a recent addition to our Silver Propeller Challenge. The challenge aims to get more people out on the water and enjoy the far-flung reaches of the wonderful waterways.
