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River Glen

The River Glen in Lincolnshire is navigable from its junction with the River Welland at Surfleet Seas End, upstream to Tongue End, the junction with the formerly navigable Bourne Eau.

River Glen Map

Facts & Stats

11.5

(18.5km)

The length of the River Glen which joins the Welland at Sufleet Sluices and is navigable to Tongue End.

1

set of tidal gates (at the entrance from the Welland).  There are no locks.

Waterway notes

Maximum Boat Sizes

  • Length: Unlimited, but craft over 30 foot (9.1 metres) will have difficulty in turning.
  • Width: 14′ 6″ (4.4 metres) – Surfleet End Sluice
  • Headroom: 6′ (1.8 metres) above ordinary summer water level at Sluice Bridge
  • Draught: 3′ (0.9 metres) at Surfleet, but reducing nearer to Tongue End

Navigation Notes

  • Entrance to the River Glen depends on the state of the tide on the River Welland.  The tidal gates are only available when the tidal river Welland is at the same level as the Glen.
  • The junction with the Bourne Eau is the only turning point above Pinchbeck Bars Bridge (a distance of 5 miles – 8km).  Small craft may be able to proceed further upstream, but there is no turning.

Branch

IWA Lincolnshire Branch

Navigation Authority

Environment Agency

Towpath

There is a towpath for the whole length of the navigable river Glen, and beyond Tongue End as far the A15 road bridge.  The entire towpath forms part of the Macmillan Way, a continuous signed 290 miles (467 km) long-distance path running from Boston to Abbotsbury on the Dorset coast.

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