NAME OF RIVER: South Tyne.

WHERE IS IT?: North of England, near Alston.

PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS:

From Alston head towards Garrigill then follow the Tyne Head road out of Garrigill. Soon the road becomes narrow and the river is visible on your left, a track leads down to a suitable get in near a farm.

Take out downstream of Garrigill where the road comes close to the river near a footbridge, or take out in Garrigill itself where a roadbridge crosses the river.

APPROX LENGTH: 3 km.

TIME NEEDED: 1.5 hours.

ACCESS SITUATION: Not known.

WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Needs a reasonable amount of water to make it really worthwhile, although it flows through gorge sections which helps to concentrate available water.

GRADING: G3 with one section of G4.

MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: A considerable narrowing, or strid, after approx 2.5 km.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The South Tyne is small and narrow this high up, it flows through a series of gorges for most of this section with few significant hazards. However, It retains interest throughout with a number of ledges and stoppers; an enjoyable trip.

Shortly after the get in there is a footbridge with a sheep fence, portage, this is followed by a few river wide ledges.

The river then enters a gorge section which becomes progressively more interesting. Ashgill Beck enters on the right, stop if you can, and take the short walk up to run the beck and falls.

The Upper South Tyne continues mainly through gorges, before opening out a little. A beck then enters from the left and a roadbridge become visible. Under this bridge there is a considerable constriction which is worth a look at before running.

Shortly after a ford/ bridge on a right hand bend is encountered, beware as this ford/ bridge is built up on pipes through which water and a boat may enter, but paddler couldn't!, depending on water levels this requires a portage.

Continue on through Garrigill to the egress, river right, crossing the footbrige leading back to the road.

Pictures of the upper South Tyne

OTHER NOTES: Also consider the South Tyne below Garrigill and further down the valley.

CONTRIBUTED BY: Bob Evans.

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