Canal & River Trust

River Stort

17 miles of navigable water, 17 locks, 1 named marina or mooring. Passes Bishop's Stortford, Harlow, Sawbridgeworth.

Will your boat fit?

BoatSizeFits?
Narrowboat57ft × 6ft 10inFits
Long narrowboat70ft × 6ft 10inFits
Widebeam60ft × 10ftFits
Widebeam60ft × 12ftFits
Dutch barge70ft × 14ft 6inToo big

Length and beam against Canal & River Trust. “Some sections” means your boat is too big for at least one section or lock. Draught and headroom aren't checked here: see the table below.

Bishop's StortfordHarlowSawbridgeworth

Published size limits

Maximum boat sizes in metres, from the Canal & River Trust's waterway dimensions (page last edited 26 Mar 2026). “–” means the Trust doesn't give a figure.

SectionLengthBeamDraughtHeadroom
River Stort26.84.081.12.11

Marinas and moorings

Each opens its Check a Mooring page: what's nearby on the water and ashore.

Services on the water

Mapped within 150 m of the River Stort in OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map these, so there are gaps.

Water points 5

  • Bishops Stortford Water Point
  • Burnt Mill Water Point
  • Feildes Lock Water Point
  • Harlow Marina Water Point
  • Harlow Mill Lock Water Point

Elsan disposal 3

  • Bishops Stortford Elsan Point
  • Feildes Lock Elsan Point
  • Harlow Marina Elsan Point

Pump-out 0

None mapped.

Boat fuel 0

None mapped.

Rubbish disposal 1

  • Bishops Stortford Rubbish Disposal

Winding holes 2

  • Bishops Stortford Town Arm Turning Point
  • Hunsdon Mill Lock Turning Point

Questions

Can a widebeam go on the River Stort?

Yes. A 60ft × 10ft widebeam is within every published limit on the River Stort.

Will a 57ft narrowboat fit on the River Stort?

Yes. A 57ft × 6ft 10in narrowboat is within every published limit on the River Stort.

How long is the River Stort, and how many locks does it have?

About 17 miles of navigable water on our map, with 17 locks mapped in OpenStreetMap.