River Ivel

This article is about the river in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. For the river in Somerset, see River Yeo (South Somerset).

The river at Biggleswade

The River Ivel is a river in the east of England. It is a tributary of the River Great Ouse.

Course of the Ivel

The river Ivel rises just north of Baldock in Hertfordshire, but most of its course lies within Bedfordshire. It flows through Stotfold, Arlesey, Henlow, Langford, Biggleswade, Sandy and Blunham. It joins the Great Ouse near Tempsford. The total length is about 25 km.

Tributaries

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Flooding

The section from Langford to Blunham, including Sandy, is designated as a Flood Warning Area. For further details see the Environment Agency website

Nature Trail

The 'Kingfisher Way' is a 34 km / 21 mile nature trail, which mostly follows the River Ivel from its source at Ivel Springs in Baldock, through to its confluence with the River Great Ouse at Tempsford. [This website is, on 12 Jul. 2011, merely a source of advertisements]

Navigating the Ivel

Although the river is no longer navigable to larger craft it is possible to canoe with care along the 11 km/ seven miles of river between Biggleswade and Tempsford. This, of course, is advisable only under good conditions, when the river is not too low or too high.

Angling on the Ivel

Much of the River Ivel has fishing rights reserved by local angling clubs and associations including:

Biggleswade & Hitchin Angling Association http://www.bighitaa.co.uk/

Blunham Angling Club http://www.blunhamac.co.uk/

Shefford & District AA http://www.shefforddaa.org.uk/

The Ivel is becoming known for the quality and size of specimen fish that can be caught, including barbel (10-17+ lbs), perch (4 lbs+), chub (7 lbs+), roach and carp to 20 lb, and pike.

External links

• Case study of the River Ivel Walk nr Biggleswade