North West England

[Jim Pullen]

ENGLAND - NORTH WEST

(North of the Severn drainage, west of the Pennines)

Acting Regional Editor: Jim PullenPLAYSPOTS

RIVER DERWENT (Workington Weir) - Cumbria's hidden playspot. (photos)

RIVER EDEN (Wetherall Weir) - Carlisle's playspot.

RIVER KENT (Arnside tidal bore and playspots) - The Kent estuary's classic spot, along with some notes on the Leven bore. (photos)

RIVER LUNE (Skerton Weir) - playspot for the very brave.

EASY WHITEWATER/ TOURING RIVERSRIVER BRATHAY - a scenic beginners trip. (photos)

RIVER CALDER (Martholme Viaduct to Ribchester) - Ribble tributary.

RIVER DEE (Farndon to Chester) - just in from Wales.

RIVER DERWENT (Seathwaite to Derwentwater) - touring in Borrowdale.

RIVER DERWENT (Derwentwater to Bassenthwaite Lake) - between two beautiful lakes.

RIVER DERWENT (Bassenthwaite to Workington) - classic touring trip.

RIVER DERWENT (Workington to the sea) - short trip to surfing.

RIVER EAMONT (Ullswater to Brougham Castle) - draining Ullswater in the Lake District.

RIVER EDEN (Lazonby to Armathwaite) - scenic easy whitewater.

RIVER EHEN (Ennerdale Water to Egremont) - West Cumbrian beck. (photos)

RIVER GRETA (Ingleton to the Lune) - scenic exploring in the Three Peaks area.

RIVER GOYT (New Mills to Brabyns park) - a higher section to this popular Manchester run.

RIVER GOYT (Brabyns park to MCC site) - near Manchester Canoe Club's base.

RIVER HODDER (Burholme Bridge to Higher Hodder Bridge) - classic open boat touring.

RIVER HODDER (Higher Hodder Bridge to Ribble Confluence)

RIVER KENT (Bowston to Sprint Confluence) - an easy trip is possible on this section and into Kendal.

RIVER LUNE (Tebay to Beck Foot) - above the classic ww section, with one grade 4.

RIVER LUNE (Rawthey confluence to Rigmaden Bridge) - easy whitewater touring.

RIVER LUNE (Rigmaden Bridge to Devil's Bridge) - easy whitewater. (photos)

RIVER LUNE (Halton to Glasson Dock) - a tour of Lancaster and estuary touring.

RIVER RIBBLE (Paythorne to Sawley) - flat water with weirs.

RIVER RIBBLE (Clitheroe to Ribchester) - a long section with easy rapids.

RIVER ROCH - An surprisingly good urban paddle with a few tricky weirs.

RIVER ROTHAY - a pleasant Lakeland paddle on Wordsworth's river.

RIVER WEAVER/ WEAVER NAVIGATION - scenic flat water touring in Cheshire.

RIVER WENNING (Clapham to Low Bentham) - an easy Lune tributary draining the Yorkshire Dales. (photos)

RIVER WYE (Buxton to Litton Mill) - exciting easy grade WW trip in the Peak District.

RIVERS YARROW AND DOUGLAS (Chorley to Tarleton) - a manmade gorge near Chorley.

RIVER WYRE - high water easy WW near Lancaster.

TARNBROOK WYRE - high water, easy WW beck that leads into the river Wyre.

INTERMEDIATE/ ADVANCED WHITEWATER RIVERS

AIRA BECK - A great blast into Ullswater.

ARTLE BECK - A spate tributary of the Lune near Lancaster.

BARBON BECK - Fence and tree dodging spate tributary of the lower Lune.

BIRK BECK - Continuation of Wasdale Beck and tributary of the Lune.

BLACK BECK - a tree and wire fence strewn ditch near the Duddon. (photos)

BLACK CLOUGH - short spate ditch near Woodhead reservoir.

BORROW BECK - a spate Lune tributary. (photos)

RIVER CALDER (Lankrigg Moss to Thornholme Farm) - a high water run in West Cumbria.

RIVER CALDER (Thornholme Farm to Sellafield) - radioactive West Cumbrian gorges.

RIVER CALDEW (Grainsgill Beck to Mosedale) - Paddle next to Skiddaw

CHURCH BECK (Coniston to Coniston Water) - a short spate trip in the Lakes.

RIVER CLOUGH (Garsdale Head to Road Bridge) - steep paddling in upper Garsdale. (photos)

RIVER CLOUGH (Road Bridge to Sedbergh New Bridge) - steep paddling in Garsdale. (photos)

RIVER CRAKE (Coniston Water to the Sea) - a south Lake District trip.

CROOKDALE BECK - small tributary to Borrow Beck.

RIVER DANE (Gradbach to Rushton Spencer) - spate Peak District ditch.

RIVER DUDDON (Seathwaite to Duddon Bridge) - completing one of the Lake District's longest trips.

RIVER ETHEROW - A classic spate paddle less than 30mins from Manchester.(photos)

FLINT BECK/ NEEDLEHOUSE GILL - steep exploring near the Rawthey. (photos)

RIVER GELT - trib of the Irthing near Brampton.

RIVER GLENDERAMACKIN - spate trib of the Greta with a walk-in. (photos)

GRAINS GILL - spate beck forming the Borrowdale Derwent. (photos)

GRASSGUARDS GILL - spate tree-ditch addition to Upper Duddon.

RIVER GRETA (Lake District) - a Grade 3 gem in the north Lake District. (photos)

RIVER HINDBURN - a great spate trip near Lancaster. (photos)

RIVER IRTHING (Waterfall to Gilsland) - a trip near Carlisle. (photos)

RIVER IRWELL (Rawtenstall to the Burrs) - the raging river of Bury! (photos)

RIVER KENT (Scroggs Bridge to Bowston) - a mostly easy section with two harder rapids and lots of weirs.

RIVER KENT (Sprint Confluence to Force Falls) - an introduction to waterfalls with reliable water. (photos)

KIRKSTONE BECK - spate boating next to the A592.

GREAT LANGDALE BECK - a bimble in England's most beautiful valley. (photos)

LITTLE LANGDALE BECK - a short trip with extreme possibilities. (photos)

LECK BECK - great Pennine spate stream needing a walk-in. (photos)

RIVER LEVEN - the most reliable Lake District whitewater river. (photos)

LIDDEL WATER - short section on the Scottish Border. (photos)

LONG HOUSE GILL/ TARN BECK - a short spate paddle in Dunnerdale. (photos)

LOW GILL - a short trip to add to the Lune. (photos)

RIVER LOWTHER - a pleasant and fairly easy Lake District river near the M6.

RIVER LUNE (Beck Foot to Rawthey Confluence) - a classic reliable grade 3 trip. (photos)

RIVER LUNE (Halton Rapids) - one of the north's best training sites. (photos)

MILLERGROUND BECK - rockbash into Lake Windermere. (photos)

RIVER MINT (Patton Bridge to the Kent Confluence) - a easy spate stream feeding the kent above Kendal.

NEWLANDS BECK (Little Town to Stair) - a good trip in the North East Lakes.

RIVER RAWTHEY - one of the best Grade 4 trips in the north. (photos)

RIVER RIBBLE (Helwith Bridge to Settle) - excellent grade 3 and 4 paddling in the Yorkshire Dales. (photos)

RIVER ROEBURN - Pennine demon spate run! (photos)

RIVER SPRINT (Near S Bends to River Kent Confluence) - a speedy south Lakes river. (photos)

TORVER BECK - a short spate Lakeland stream. (photos)

RIVER TROUTBECK - an intense spate paddle in the Central Lake District. (photos)

VERY DIFFICULT/ EXTREME WHITEWATER RIVERSRIVER BELAH - tree-strewn steep run in East Cumbria. (photos)

CHURCH BECK (Coppermines to Coniston) - a difficult portage-ridden waterfall trip in the Lakes. (photos)

CROGLIN BECK - short waterfall trib of the Eden. (photos)

RIVER DOE - extreme waterfall run near Ingleton. (photos)

RIVER DUDDON (Birk's Bridge to Seathwaite) - a splendid tricky trip in the Lakes. (photos)

RIVER ESK (Upper section to Brotherikeld) - Cumbrian waterfall run. (photos)

GLENRIDDING BECK - a steep run flowing into Ullswater. (photos)

GREENBURN BECK - a continuous steep low water run with a walk-in.

GRIZEDALE BECK - a supersteep boulder bash between Windermere and Coniston Water. (photos)

HEYDEN BROOK - A steep continuous spate ditch close to Manchester. (photos)

LANGSTRATH BECK - short spate run with a walk-in. (photos)

LEAD MINES CLOUGH - a short spate run near Chorley.

RIVER RAWTHEY (upper reaches) - a very tough gorge above the normal section. (photos)

SCANDALE BECK (Low Sweden Bridge to Scandale Bridge) - short section of rock-strewn falls. (photos)

RIVER SPRINT (Upper Section) - steep drops in upper Longsleddale. (photos)

RIVER SPODDEN (Healey Dell) - several good drops in a nature reserve near Rochdale. (photos)

STOCK GHYLL - a high speed tour of Ambleside. (photos)

RIVER TWISS - paddling the Ingleton waterfalls walk. (photos)

WASDALE BECK - a steep continuous spate run near Borrow Beck. (photos)

WHILLAN BECK - a Lakeland low water horror. (photos)

Can't see a guide to the river you're looking for? Click here to discuss missing guides and work-in-progress.

Read full article

[Jim Pullen]

9 new guides and 5 major updates went up today, together with a load of pics. You may need to refresh the NW guide menu before you see them.

Just a few more pics to go up and that's the NW backlog cleared - thanks to all who've contributed over the last couple of years and sorry about the long delay!

If anyone spots any broken links or mistakes please pm me. Also if you think you contributed something since October 2006, but can't see it either in the guides or this forum, please let me know and we'll try and find it!

[Jim Pullen]

All done now!

New Guides

Barbon Beck by me.
Calder (Upper) by Rich C.
Caldew by Helen Wigmore.
Etherow by David Fairweather (includes photos).
Greenburn Beck by Ned.
Heyden Brook by David Fairweather (includes photos).
Hodder (Lower) by T Ives.
Kirkstone Beck by Rob Beale.
Millerground Beck by Rob Beale (includes photos).
Newlands Beck by Dave Bradshaw, Helen Wigmore & Barry Curley (includes photos).

Major Updates

Rothay
Ribble (Clitheroe)
Goyt
Derwent (Derwent Water)
Derwent (Bassenthwaite)

Pictures

Croglin Beck
Eden
Irwell
Leven
Rawthey

I've also fixed the Upper Esk pictures, which had broken links.

As before pm with any issues!

[Jim Pullen]

A few sets of photos from Steve Ed uploaded today:

Leven Brickshute Weir
Leven Backbarrow
Greenburn Beck
Church Beck
Hindburn
Eamont
Skelwith Force
Birk Beck

[Jim Pullen]

New guide to Lead Mines Clough put up tonight, thanks to Rick.

[Jim Pullen]

New guide to Artle Beck up today. Thanks to Anthony Shaw.

[Jim Pullen]

For what it's worth I've written a quick guide to Grassguards Gill.

If anyone has any more guides/pictures or updates for the NW, feel free to send them on to me!

[Jim Pullen]

I've just done an update to the Lower Duddon, putting in grid refs for all the put-ins/get-outs and updating the main text to reflect the current state of play with the weirs. I've also added a few pics of Ulpha gorge and the Rawfold Bridge rapid.

[Jim Pullen]

Updated the guide to the Upper Calder, as well as adding pics to the Upper and Lower sections. Thanks to Poke for sending these in.

I noticed a couple of the links in these guides were broken, so fixed them. If anyone spots any more please let me know!

[Jim Pullen]

Here's my attempt at a "missing" list for the NW section, compiled from WWLD, personal knowledge and internet rumour! If any flow into the North East or start in Scotland, let me know and I'll take them off.

Aira Beck (Ullswater Trib, Dockray) added 25/09/09, thanks to Iain Robinson.
Bleng (Irt Trib)
Brock (Wyre Trib)
Caldew (Lower river)
Clapham Beck (Wenning Trib, see here!)
Cocker (Derwent Trib)
Crosby Gill (Duddon Trib, see here!)
Cunsey Beck (Windermere Trib, from Esthwaite Water)
Darwen (Ribble Trib)
Dee (Rawthey Trib, see here!)
Eden (Upper)
Ellen
Force Beck (Rusland Pool, Leven Trib)
Gatesgarthdale Beck (Buttermere Trib)
Gayle Beck (Ribble Trib)
Gelt (Irthing Trib) added 24/09/09, thanks to Iain Robinson.
Glenderamackin (Greta Trib) added 23/11/09, thanks to Iain Robinson.
Glenderaterra (Greta Trib)
Glenridding Beck (Ullswater Trib) added 23/11/09, thanks to Rick Atkinson.
Goldrill Beck (Ullswater Trib)
Hayswater Gill (Goldrill Beck Trib)
Irt
Kent (above Scroggs Bridge)
Keskadale Beck (Newlands beck Trib)
Leith (Lyvennet Trib)
Lickle (Duddon Sands Trib)
Lingmell Beck (Wast Water Trib)
Logan Beck (Duddon Trib, see here!)
Liza (Ennerdale Water Trib, see here!)
Lowther (Eamont Trib)
Lyne (Border Esk Trib)
Lyvennet (Eden Trib)
Marron (Derwent trib)
Mosedale Beck (NE, Greta Trib)
Mosedale Beck (SW, Wast Water Trib)
Nether Beck (Wast Water Trib)
Oxendale Beck (Great Langdale Beck Trib)
Petteril (Eden Trib)
Rydal Beck (Rothay Trib)
Scandale Beck (Ravenstonedale, Eden Trib)
Stainforth Beck (Ribble Trib)
Swindale Beck (Eden Trib)
Trout Beck (North, Greta Trib)
Wyre - added 18/08/11 - thanks to Dave Goadby
Wyth Burn (Thirlmere Trib)
Yewdale Beck (Coniston Water Trib)

If you've done any of the above, please send me a guide! Also let me know if there's any I've missed off.

[Jim Pullen]

We ran a surprisingly enjoyable section of the Kent from Scroggs Bridge to Burneside on Saturday and I was surprised to not find it on here, so I've written a guide.

Has anyone done either of the two sections above and fancy sending me a guide in?

[miniboomer]

apparently scandale beck is very very technical and demanding 3-4-5 class falls constant drops

[Jim Pullen]

New pics for the Irthing and Upper Caldew up tonight, thanks to Iain Robinson.

Cheers for the comment above Jake, but I think you're reffering to the Ambleside Scandale Beck (which we already have a guide for), the Ravenstondale one is more like grade II/III. I'm actually aware of the nature of most of the rivers on my list, but have a policy of only writing guides if I've actually run them! Stuart Miller's book provides an excellent guide which covers all the rivers currently on the site and most of the ones on my list. However, I believe UKRGB offers a totally different resource which complements the book and allows paddlers to keep each other informed of any changes (see the recent Leven thread for example).

I hope that one day we'll have guides up to all the rivers on my list, but I need contributions from all of you out there who've run them to do it - I'm never going to get round to running them all myself! Either email info to Mark or PM me directly.

Cheers,
Jim.

[Jim Pullen]

New guides to the Gelt and Aira Beck, thanks to Iain Robinson.

New pics of Barbon Beck, thanks to John Wooton.

[Jim Pullen]

New guides to Glenridding Beck and the Glenderamackin uploaded tonight. Thanks to Rick Atkinson and Iain Robinson respectively.

[Jim Pullen]

New guide to The Spodden (Healey Dell) uploaded. Thanks again to Rick.

[Jim Pullen]

New guides to the Wyre and Tarnbrook Wyre posted up today. Thanks to Dave Goadby.

Anyone done anything else in this summer rain that's not yet on the site?

[Chris Cleaver]

I am interested in promoting my local rivers and there are a couple without guides which I could contribute over the winter months. Not silver rivers but still interesting paddles in Greater Manchester. The Tame and the Mersey.

Happy paddling

[Jim Pullen]

Thanks Chris, pm me a guide in the UKRGB format and I'll put it on the site for you.

[p.sanger]

today I took a walk up heyden brook and took a few pictures of the main drop on it and some info as I did a quick depth test if you want some more info. bearing in mind it was at low water today due to no rain.

[Jim Pullen]

today I took a walk up heyden brook and took a few pictures of the main drop on it and some info as I did a quick depth test if you want some more info. bearing in mind it was at low water today due to no rain.

We already have a guide: Heyden Brook

Anything else to add? Photos always welcome!

[Shufflerschair]

Hello Jim,

I'm the BCU River Adviser for the Rivers Roch and Irwell, and I'd like to post a River guide to the Roch.
I've tried PM'ing you, but it doesn't work.
Have you an e-mail address that I could use please.

Andy Rothwell.

[Jim Pullen]

Guide to the river Roch now online.