|
|
|
GUIDE TO THE RIVER SOUTH TYNE (Alston to Slaggyford) NAME OF RIVER: South Tyne. WHERE IS IT?: Alston is in the north Pennines, about 10 miles south of Haltwhistle, which is on the A69 Newcastle-Carlisle road. PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Put in at Alston, there is a carpark at the tourist railway there, GR717467. This is where the River Nent joins the South Tyne. Take out at Slaggyford, where a small roadbridge crosses the river, GR681519. APPROX LENGTH: 5 miles. TIME NEEDED: Unknown, but if there is enough water it moves along fairly quickly. ACCESS SITUATION: I presume that this is subject to the Tyne Access Agreement, which is available from http://www.the-watershed.co.uk/lets-go-canoeing/neast.shtml#tyneaccess Pete Button adds (Nov 2002)...'Alston to Slaggy (as Slaggyford id knon) is paddled at least every week by local paddlers in the season (Nov-March). It is actualy one of the best advanced open boat sections in England.' WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Needs to be in flood, or else you scrape your nice new shiny boat (whinge whinge). GRADING: 2-3. MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Overhanging trees are often a problem. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A nice run for when everything else is underwater. It may only be 2-3, but it is quite continuous and due to the fact that it has to be in spate when you run it, you always get plently of waves to play on. From the car park at Alston you can either get on at the footbridge over the river Nent or walk slightly downstream and get on at the confluence, if the 50 yards of Nent look too shallow. Roughly 500 yards downstream the tourist railway crosses the river on a small stone bridge. Just above this bridge a really nice stopper/wave (depending on level) forms, which is a good playspot. OTHER NOTES: It is possible to carry on down past Slaggyford and get out at Featherstone Castle. Also, it is possible to run the South Tyne from further upstream (Garigill?). Anyone have experience of either of these sections? There is also the South Tyne from Haydon Bridge to Hexham. CONTRIBUTED BY: Kevin Williamson <kevin.williamson@keb.ox.ac.uk> |
|
|