River Truro

The Truro River is a small tidal river in Cornwall. It begins where the Kenwyn and Allen rivers meet under the city of Truro. From there it flows south into the wider Fal estuary and then out to Carrick Roads. The river is deep enough for boats to reach Truro’s quays. Around the city the river valleys form a wide bowl open to the south. Heavy rain and high tides once caused serious floods in the 1988. Engineers have since built flood defences to protect Truro. An emergency dam stands on the Kenwyn at New Mill. A tidal barrier on the Truro River holds back surges from the Fal. Between the Truro and Fal valleys lies the Tresillian River, which joins the Truro just above its mouth. Early records call the Tresillian the ‘Seugar’ or ‘Sowgar’, though no one knows what the name meant. The lower river from Truro to Malpas forms a protected estuary rich in wildlife. Tidal mudflats feed wading birds, seabass, mullet, flounder and eels. Each year a few sea trout run up the Allen to spawn. The banks are lined with specialised plants. The estuary’s quiet waters and wide skies make it a place for watching birds and enjoying the river’s gentle flow.