River Teme

The River Teme rises in Mid Wales near Kerry and flows southeast, forming the border between England and Wales for several miles before entering Shropshire. It passes Knighton, Bucknell and Ludlow, then turns northeast to Tenbury Wells and Worcestershire, joining the Severn south of Worcester. The entire river was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1996. Its name appears in an 11th-century charter as Tamede, linked to older forms such as Temese and Tamesis from Brythonic Tamesa, meaning ‘the dark one’. The Teme is the second largest tributary of the Severn, descending from about 450 metres above sea level at its source to 14 metres at its confluence. The river is crossed by historic bridges rebuilt by Thomas Telford after floods in 1795, and several times by the Elan aqueduct. It is joined by tributaries including the Clun at Leintwardine, the Onny at Bromfield, the Corve near Ludlow, the Ledwyche at Burford and the Rea at Newnham Bridge. The upper reaches are steep and fast-flowing with shallow waters, weirs and water mills, while downstream near Tenbury Wells the river becomes more tranquil though still shallow with strong cross currents. The landscape shows signs of old cut-offs and oxbows, especially on the wide alluvial plain below Tenbury. Visitors can walk sections of the riverbank or fish for barbel in designated stretches. Rowing boats are available for hire at Linney Park in Ludlow, and an annual coracle regatta has been held at Leintwardine and Mortimer’s Cross. The Teme’s otter population is recovering after years of decline, though salmon numbers remain low due to obstructions. Along the way, old boathouses and farm buildings recall the river’s past use for leisure boating and transport, including Victorian accounts of journeys by boat from Worcester to Ludlow.