GUIDE TO THE YORKSHIRE RIVER DERWENT

(Breighton to Barmby)

NAME OF RIVER: Yorkshire Derwent.

WHERE IS IT?:Runs from near Scarborough in North Yorkshire, to Barmby on Marsh where it meets the River Ouse at a barrage.

PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: We tried the Derwent from Breighton, east of Goole (SE708340). We finished five miles downstream at Barmby on Marsh - good floating moorings there (SE682287).

APPROX LENGTH: Just under five miles.

TIME NEEDED: Ninety minutes with 2-3 feet of steady running flood water.

ACCESS HASSLES: "Oops, me and my mate here have only just purchased these here canoes, and did not know we needed certain licences etc"

We are now looking into this. Breighton at the 'Ferry Inn' has a private launch costing - well, it states 5 but that's for motor crafts. From experience fishing this stretch, as long as you have a beer in the Inn it's probably a couple of quid if not free.

WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: The Derwent rises and falls very quickly, often dictated by the Lock with the River Ouse.

GRADING: Grade 1 - in normal conditions it hardly flows. Generally deep, 5-25 feet. Width between 35 and 70 metres.

MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Be aware of the Barby Barrage - well signposted 400 yards in advance, with mooring.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Through rolling farmland, twisting steady placid water, good fun with a little flood water running off.

OTHER NOTES: I'm looking at going to the upper reaches in the near future - about 22 miles from Stanford Bridge to Barnby, hopefully in a day. Does anyone have info on this section? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CONTRIBUTED BY: Mark Fantorini.