River Plym

Course

The river's source is around 450 m above sea level on Dartmoor, in an upland marshy area called Plym Head. From the upper reaches, which contain antiquities and mining remains, the river flows roughly southwest past clay workings at Shaugh before the Dewerstone, where it meets the River Meavy. The course then changes to run southwards, between Plymouth and Plympton passing through the National Plymbridge Woods and under the ancient Plym Bridge. Its upper tidal estuary is known as the Laira and the lower part is called Cattewater, which is navigable and leads towards Plymouth Sound. It is approximately 20 miles long.

Nomenclature

The name Plym is thought to have its origins in the word for "plum" in Brythonic () or "plum tree" in Old English from a back-formation from the name of Plympton. The port of Plymouth took its name from the river.

History

, a River-class antisubmarine frigate, was named after the river during World War II. It carried out convoy escort duties in the North Atlantic and was later destroyed in the UK's first nuclear explosion.

When it was in operation, the Cann Quarry Canal left the river at Marsh Mills.

The Plym Valley Railway runs alongside the River Plym. It opened in 1856 as a section of the South Devon and Tavistock Railway, which followed the river as far as the tributary with the River Meavy. The line closed to passengers in 1962, and goods services stopped four years later. The new railway is a volunteer-run railway that operates steam and diesel-hauled train rides. The first section from Plym Valley from Marsh Mills station opened in 2001, with an extension to Lee Moor Crossing in 2008. In 2013, the line was extended to Plymbridge. The remainder of the line forms part of the Plym Valley Trail, a cycle route from Plymouth to Ilfracombe.

Leisure

The River Plym is popular for canoeing. The upper section of Dartmoor from Cadover Bridge to Shaugh Bridge is considered challenging and has been described by the British Canoe Union as the hardest section of the river to navigate. It is often the first river to fill during heavy rain and one of the first to drop afterward. Experienced canoeists judge the water level carefully around the weather. This section has some pool drops, which are not recommended for novices. Lower sections beyond Shaugh Bridge to Bickleigh Bridge are easier to navigate past the first rapid, provided the river is at a sufficient water level.

In addition, the Plym is rich with brown trout, sea trout, and salmon. Angling is allowed in both lower and upper areas with much of the water being managed by Plymouth & District Freshwater Angling Association.

References

Citations

Sources

References

1. "The River Plym: Source to Saltram". National Trust Dartmoor.
2. (2015). "Torbay and South Dartmoor". Ordnance Survey Landranger Series.
3. (2015). "Plymouth and Launceston". Ordnance Survey Landranger Series.
4. (31 March 2016). "Plym - Summary". Environment Agency.
5. John Pownall Reeves. (2014). "The Lone Flag: Memoir of the British Consul in Macau during World War II". Hong Kong University Press.
6. Hadfield, Charles. (1985). "The Canals of Southwest England". David & Charles.
7. Colin G. Maggs. (2013). "The Branch Lines of Devon: Plymouth, West & North Devon". Amberley Publishing Limited.
8. (3 January 2013). "Historic journey marks Plymouth rail line's reopening". Plymouth Herald.
9. (24 September 2014). "Devon Coast to Coast cycle route". BBC News.
10. British Canoe Union. (2003). "English White Water: The British Canoe Union Guidebook". Pesda Press.
11. "Plymouth and District Freshwater Angling Association".