PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Access where Lowfield Lane and B6271 join, roadside parking, enough for a few cars or bikes. Egress, river right just after the Road Bridge at Morton On Swale. There is a large road side car park here on the same side fo the river. and gated access to the river, from the car park. 

APPROX LENGTH: 6 miles.

TIME NEEDED: 2-4 hours

ACCESS HASSLES: The typical get in was a nice gravel beech below the At the get-in watch watch out for the man who lives close to the get-in, during COVID he must have realised he popular beech at the end of his garden. He has taken it upon himself to barb wire the access (single-line wasite height -  boats can go under). If he sees you he may approach and tell you the land is on his deeds, ask him to see a copy, he will go quiet and walk away. He may also take photos of your car, ignore him, its legal road side parking, and if he suggests escalation. recommend he calls the Police, as he has no leg to stand on. 

WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: This river is passable in most conditions except mid summer when the first few miles might mean a bit of lining open canoes on the shallows bits between Catterick and Morton-on-Swale.

GRADING: The section between Catterick Morton-on-Swale is grade I/II the remainder is grade I or plain flatwater.

MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: There are no major hazards except 1km below Catterick much reinforced concrete has been pushed into the river (from airfield repairs) and there are a number of steel bars sticking out from this.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The first several miles are through meandering rapids some of which need careful inspection as they often flow into bankside willows. The river is clear and flows over gravel bars and has a wild feel about it. Camping is easy. As you progress downriver the banks start to become higher and the river becomes deeper and slightly discoloured. There are plenty of villages to inspect and get supplies from, some nice older buildings and if you like fishing some of the places will not have seen an angler too often. There are no public camping sites but you can always find somewhere discrete to camp with no problem.

OTHER NOTES: : If you want a few nights out and a long paddle using an open canoe this is the river to use in North Yorkshire. Away from traffic noise and people - although you may be disturbed by RAF pilots in the skies above (but only between 9am - 5pm) A lovely early summer paddle.

CONTRIBUTED BY: David Perry.