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GUIDE TO THE RIVER SKIRFARE NAME OF RIVER: River Skirfare. WHERE IS IT?: Wharfedale. PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Halton Gill, Take out at Arncliffe (layby/wasteland right next to river. You pass it on the way up). Or continue in to the River Wharfe. APPROX LENGTH: 4.5 miles. TIME NEEDED: Unknown. ACCESS SITUATION: Wear dark clothing, keep low and if anybody sees you PLF. Well that was my group's philosophy. If there is one, I don't know about it. WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: There needs to be loadsa water. GRADING: Grade 3-4 in spate, otherwise Grade 3 or easier. Note that numerous fences can make this slightly harder than the technical grade suggests. MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Wire fences across the river. When I did it there were two. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Get in by an entrance to an estate. There is a sign telling campers to ask permission before camping. Grade 2 water leads down to the first rapid on a right hand bend, Grade 3. Shoot centre right. Grade 2-3 water continues, then eases up until you see a stone bridge. On the downstream side of this bridge is the first wire fence.Shame, because there is a nice grade 3 right above the bridge. When I did this some nice paddlers before us must have bent the wire back because there is a tight gap on the left which we squeezed through. Grade 2-3 water continues dying down to 2 near the egress. The second wire fence is near the end and a gap existed on the right. OTHER NOTES: When paddling some of the smaller rivers in Yorkshire it is a good idea to carry a set of wire cutters for safety. I'm not sure whether the fences are there to stop us or the sheep. The fences may have been replaced since I last paddled this so just check to make sure. A great trip in spate conditions...Pen-y-Ghent Gill. CONTRIBUTED BY: Chucky. |
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