|
|
|
GUIDE TO THE RIVER TEES (Whorlton Falls to Winston Bridge) NAME OF RIVER: Tees. WHERE IS IT?: In Teesdale! PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Start at Whorlton Falls and take out at Winston Bridge. APPROX LENGTH: 3 miles. TIME NEEDED: 1 hour. ACCESS SITUATION: Speak to the Access Officers, there are various agreements. Also, see notes below. Chris Parker (Feb '02)...'Access has been agreed to the River Tees between Whorlton and Winston.' WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: It's almost all paddleable in lowish levels, but it can take huge amounts of water and still be paddleable...indeed, there regularly are huge amounts of water in this river! When the fall at Whorlton is a river wide dodgy hole, then the river is really up. GRADING: 3. MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Whorlton Falls. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is probably the last bit on the Tees worth paddling for the white water enthusiast (apart from the Barrage). I have paddled it and it is good fun but do check the access agreement before you get on. The main features on this grade III section are natural rock ledges - some of which form fun playspots. However even some of the small ledges form quite sticky little stoppers which will window shade you many times and hence should not be dropped into in a sideways direction. One of my paddling friends knows this quite well. Further down the section the ledges get a bit bigger - I ran it in normal levels with few problems but in higher levels I imagine some of the stoppers could get quite meaty. We got out on river right by Winston bridge - quite tired but very happy. It is probably worth linking this section with the above section for a longer paddle. OTHER NOTES: Consider paddling one of the Tees tributaries if the river is really up, for instance the River Greta, Whorlton Beck or Eggleston Burn. Has anyone paddled the river from here to the Barrage? CONTRIBUTED BY: Mike Redding, also Mark R and Chris Parker. |
|
|