How to get there - From South Street quay, just south of town centre. Pay-and-display on quayside, or free roadside parking by the church. (map)
Suggested Launch Site - From paved quayside, north bank
General
Description - Downriver for a couple of miles until Poole Harbour starts opening out, and after that, as much as you feel like. The river is between thick reed beds, but the harbour has small sandy or shingly beaches backed by heathland, suitable for picnics on the Arne peninsula.
For a trip with the tide in both directions, start about mid-tide falling at Wareham, and start back when the tide rises. However, the tides are not strong, and Poole Harbour is very shallow, so you get better views and more choices of direction if you start at mid-tide rising for only a small amount of extra effort.
Keep to centre of marked channels on a falling tide. Be prepared to use spray decks in all but calm conditions.
