Devizes - Westminster Canoe Marathon Supporters Portal

To All Crews & Supporters

Devizes to Westminster

This website contains useful information for supporters of DW competitors - before and during the event. Information and tips gleaned the hard way - by trial and error whilst supporting a Junior K2 during DW2011!  This site will tell you how far you have to walk to portages, what the parking is like, where you might find WCs, etc.  Click on the links to the left for kit suggestions, where to stay, driving instructions and lots more.  It is a very personal view of what might be helpful to know and if we have missed anything that you found helpful and that you would like us to add to the site, please contact us by clicking on the Contact Tab (top right).

If some of the comments seem negative e.g. "parking horrific", "long walk to portage" etc. please don't be put off!  We have tried to be truthful about both the good things and the less good moments you will experience along the way so that you are forewarned.  It can be stressful at times as well as tiring and expensive (when you add up the hotel bills, the petrol, the meals, food, equipment etc.) but I think everyone who has been supporting crew for DW does not regret doing it. Supporting a DW paddler is an amazing experience - you will meet many delightful and interesting people along the way, see parts of England you never knew existed and, above all of course, you will help your crew to achieve something wonderful.  You will also get a lot out of it yourself (not least the feeling of personal achievement at completing the weekend!) and it will be an experience you have shared with your paddler: a memory to be treasured by you both - you will all have "done DW"!

About DW
The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon is held every Easter over a course of 125 miles (201 kilometres) from Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster in central London. It has been run since 1948. Starting at Devizes wharf, the route follows the Kennet and Avon canal for 54 miles to Reading, where it joins the Thames. Another 54 miles later it reaches Teddington Lock, ending 17 miles later at Westminster Bridge.

The course requires competitors to portage their boats around 77 locks. Starting from Devizes, there are four locks before the 502-yard (459 m) Bruce tunnel, and another 31 locks before Newbury wharf, and the end of the first stage, is reached. Stage 2 contains 22 locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal, before the junction with the River Thames is reached, and a further six locks on the Thames, before the stage ends above Marlow lock. Stage 3 includes 14 locks, ending below Teddington lock, while stage 4 contains a single lock at Richmond before the final 18 miles (29 km) on the tideway. Richmond lock is only operational at some states of the tide, and so a portage may be avoided if passage is made during a period of 2 hours either side of high tide.

The stages are as follows:

Stage 1: Devizes to Newbury (34.5 miles)

Stage 2: Newbury to Marlow (35.5 miles)

Stage 3: Marlow to Teddington (37.5 miles)

Stage 4: Teddington to Westminster (17.5 miles)


Personalities to own a DW medal are former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Paddy Ashdown, explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Rebecca Stephens, the first woman to climb Everest solo.

Information courtesy of Wikipedia