New Haw (Hampton-Molesey)

Paddling along the Wey Navigation from New Haw Lock towards Pyrford Lock offers a journey through the Surrey countryside on one of the country's oldest river navigations. Managed by the National Trust, this stretch requires a licence for all portable craft, including canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, which helps fund the preservation of the historic 20-mile waterway. As you head upriver from New Haw Wharf, the navigation passes under the M25, with its Urban Art and then meets the junction with the Basingstoke Canal at West Byfleet before reaching Pyrford Lock. This section showcases the unique engineering of the navigation, which blends man-made canal cuts with adapted sections of the River Wey. Along the route, paddlers can enjoy the scenery and local wildlife, passing near historic sites such as Pyrford Basin and the nearby Byfleet Mill, reflecting the waterway's heritage as a vital trade route for timber, corn, and coal between Guildford and the River Thames.