River Wey

The River Wey winds through south-east England as a chalk river and main tributary of the Thames. Its two branches meet at Tilford in Surrey, one rising near Alton in Hampshire and the other south of Haslemere in West Sussex. From Tilford the combined flow travels east then north through Godalming and Guildford before joining the Thames at Weybridge. Downstream the river passes Newark Priory and Brooklands, while the Wey and Godalming Navigations provide a historic waterway built in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Wey drains 904 square kilometres across south-west Surrey, parts of Hampshire and West Sussex. Its total average flow is lower than that of the Kennet or Cherwell, yet the river’s shape and wildlife have been closely studied. The main tributary is the Tillingbourne, which rises on Leith Hill and joins the Wey south of Guildford. The name Wey first appears in 675 as Waie, likely from a pre-Iron Age word for running water. The river’s upper reaches cut steep-sided valleys through soft strata before flattening into alluvial plains near Tilford. From Godalming the Wey follows the navigations’ towpath for 20 miles, open to walkers. It passes through Elstead, Eashing and Guildford, where old mills still harness its power. Heathland, woodland and watermeadows line the banks, supporting Sites of Special Scientific Interest and water vole releases planned for 2026.