River Ure - Hack Falls to West Tanfield

[Mark R]

Read full River Guide

[Jim Pullen]

Update for river Ure (Hack Falls to West Tanfield run, nr Ripon).

Autumn 2006 - a fallen tree almost completely blocks the river between hack falls and the first weir. It is on a flat section, so is not too much of an issue and can be passed (just) on the far right. It may be a problem in hgh water.

Please add to this thread if you have any up-to-date info on this.

[nick 16]

I paddled from hack falls to slenningford campsite on the 30th Dec in low water we did not come across any tree blocking the whole channel as metioned above. There were a couple of trees at the river right bank along the section between mickley and the bridge that people might want to look out for, we didnt have any problems with them so i dont think they'll be a issue.

[hartfield]

Hi there,

Anybody know what the water levels are this weekend??

Many thanks

Steve

[Jim Pullen]

If it's still working click: http://go2h2o.co.uk/index.php. Then click on the webcam in the top right corner and enter "user" into both input fields for a live picture at Sleningford.

Either way with the amount of rain due this weekend, it should be reasonable.

[nick 16]

The web cam isnt working at the moment i tried it a few weekends back. It says there is going to be a new website so this could be reason.

[steve t]

We ran a club trip on this stretch on 27/06/09, and were challenged (in a polite and friendly manner) by a water bailiff saying we couldn't run the stretch from Hackfall down. More details on this thread:
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/foru ... =3&t=52093

Steve

[stevecane]

Evening All

Part of the 'safe bit' on the infamous West Tanfield Weir (of 999 Emergency notoriety) has collapsed .... Leaving this:



Looking like this...





So part of the safeish route now becomes a really horrible, undercut on three sides (You can't see from the fots but The Weir is actually completely hollow inside) pourover. These fots were taken in low water, with much more I reckon it'll be nasty and completely invisible from above ....

Apologies if this is commonly known and please pass it on if not ....

Ste

[Agent Nomad]

Here is a photo at very low water before the above changes/damage

[MattBibbings]

Thanks for the update and pics Steve. Useful to know before we get there with a bunch of kids!

Matt

[Mad_Erik]

Nightmare, so doesn this mean that the weir is now a 'must portage'?

[clarky999]

Still looks runnable in the pictures, just take a good look first, and make sure you make your line...

I don't know the weir though, so don't take this as gospel...

[buck197]

Still looks runnable in the pictures, just take a good look first, and make sure you make your line...

I don't know the weir though, so don't take this as gospel...

I'm not too sure this is good advice as you are not a local who may be better placed to offer safety advice.

[clarky999]

That's why I put the disclaimer in - but just because it's changed does'nt make it a "must portage." From the pics it jsut looks like the line will become a bit tighter, but no-one will really know until the levels pick up again.

Fair enough point though.

[once young]

I paddled the Ure on Friday evening with a average winter volume in it.

We also had a little walk into river & into the flow below the weir and the broken pieces of concrete which previously formed the weir apron are on the bottom and they could be a hazard in their own right.

The drop / 'bite out' was undercut all around and there was some re-inforcing bar sticking out (at least 2 pieces each about 40mm long).

The condition of the new feature is clearly still changing.

The new feature on the wier was very graby

Anyone & everyone would be well advised that this weir is now a must inspect.

[davebrads]

It's interesting that this weir has collapsed in a similar manner to one on the Goyt that a couple of years ago. I guess these weirs were built in the 19th century to provide power, and are no longer performing any function and therefore there is no need to maintain or repair them. Their collapse may sometimes reveal features that have been underwater for 200 years, perhaps this might be something to look forward to?

[Agent Nomad]

Some photos from Sunday the 13th September in low water









The safeish bit is now about 20 foot wide

[DogRich]

HI All,

With my engineers hat on I inspected the weir today (at even lower water) and it is now evident that water is flowing beneath the concrete apron and eroding the river gravels that were used to construct the weir. There is protruding steel reinforcement and evidence of the timberwork used during construction. The undercuts on both sides of the 'bite' are over a metre.

During the next high flow it is entirely possible that the whole section could be eroded upstream and form a channel through the weir so concentrating flow down the river right channel.

Not to state the obvious but some careful consideration (even more than usual) will be required until the structural stability of the weir slows down.

[TheKrikkitWars]

Has anyone contacted the EA or the landowner? They could probably do with knowing .

[DogRich]

Happy to report that the weir has today (23/09/2009) been fully repaired. The apron has been concreted and the down-stream bed has been reinstated with river cobbles/gravel.

Thanks to all those who updated the situation.

PS the Ure is as low as I've seen it in 20 years; we've had no substancial rainfall in the area for a month. You could walk right across the weir tonight in wellies.

[nick 16]

is the weir still safe to paddle?

[Jim Pullen]

Apparently there's been some access hassle on this stretch recently. See: http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/foru ... =3&t=65169

If current advice from the BCU is to be believed, provided you access and egress via public land you shouldn't have a problem.

[Jim Pullen]

So in case anyone hasn't heard, this whole issue now seems to have blown up completely.

See: http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/foru ... =3&t=66183

[tape34]

I've heard there is now a car park and a marked trail down to Hack Falls which never used to be there. Has anyone used this path instead of the usual route across the field?
Any more info?
Pete Ball

[TerryH]

Hi Pete
Yes car park and path down very good. Car Park can get a little busy, I believe it was built with walkers in mind to enjoy the woods and the view of Hack Falls.
The line of the path /track is also good and should prevent people walking a direct line across a field to the gate into the woods.
With out stirring up a hornets nest, whilst on a club trip last month a certain representative of the BCU Access / River Advisors asked us where we had put on, as the Local landowner had brought it to his attention that canoeists were causing damage to the public footpath by dragging boats.
To be fair to him he did say the only erosion visible was by walkers footprints.
I was feeling smug as I had used a trolley to get my open boat down to the river, this however may also raise a legal question about using wheels on a public footpath???????? Really please.
It's a shame where there is good access with car park and path available we are still made to feel like the great unwashed and unwanted.
Putting coat & helmet on.

[cp]

Went to paddle this today to be told there is still an agreement and if we left a car at Slenningford they would inform the Baliff so that he could be waiting for us when we get off, but we could pay £4.50 per person to park our car. What did the BCU actually do ?

[teespaddler]

There have been some MAJOR changes at Slenningford Mill

From the mill leat (The concrete wall) many Tons of boulders have infilled the back of the wall and then extended to close off the channel between the camp site and the 'island' All the water now flows down the left.

This protects the camp site from erosion and makes the main flow more significant. other small changes are noticed as a result. have a look. (Nothing that seems bad, but its different)

Also The Go2H20 shop is no longer there and the camp site is under new ownership, so access guidance may need updating.

[Jim Pullen]

Hi All,

Just going through a bit of "snagging" on the final NE English White Water Version 2 text.

Got this quote for Slenningford:

"Gauge
Situated by the small footbridge near the car park at Sleningford Watermill, 37.9m is defined as spate. There’s also an online EA gauge at Masham (no. 8133) which needs above 0.6m for a low run."

The "37.9m" comes from the original text - anyone know if this is a typo and an order of magnitude out please? Seems ridiculously high! The guide here suggests 2-3 is high?

[DogRich]

Is the access situation back to 2nd Sunday, 4th Saturday and Thursdays during the summer?

[Andrew Battye]

Paddle it whenever you want!