How to get there - Take the A26 north from Lewes for 4 miles. At Upper Wellingham turn left for Barcombe Cross and at Barcombe Cross turn right. After half a mile fork right into Boast Lane then left into Dallas Lane , them right into Anchor lLane. The Anchor Inn is at the end.
Suggested Launch Site - The landlord at the Anchor Inn is apparently happy for you to park in his car park (avoiding the charges for the car park over the road) providing you have a drink or a meal at the end of your trip. Its always polite to ask though. Launch over the bank.
General
Description - Head north upstream for about 2 miles through unspoilt countryside to fish ladder falls.
If you need to you can hire boats from the Anchor Inn.
Apparently the BCU has an agreement with the Ouse Angling Society not to canoe above Hamsey on the first weekend after 16th June every year.
The Ouse used to be a commercial waterway and rights of navigation may still exist but it's a bit of a grey area above Barcombe. The sections upstream of Barcombe are lovely and the Anchor is a reasonable pub for a lunch/tea break. For advice on access upsteam of Barcombe please contact The BCU Local Rivers Advisor for the Sussex Ouse who is Mr John D Cattermole, 12 St Pancras Green, Kingston, Lewes BN7 3LH, Tel: 01273 472 760
Comments on this trip
Simon Marks 13 Jun 2008
The nontidal stretch of the river (i.e. above Barcombe Mills to the Anchor and up to Newick) is not very wide and quite heavily fished. The resident anglers can get very annoyed and are convinced that private canoeing is not permitted on the river. There are also comments about damage by canoists to the spawning grounds of migratory Sea Trout. In my view it is best to stick to the tidal stretch below Barcombe Mills (down river to Lewes and Newhaven) which is less heavily fished and where canoing is allowed.
