GUIDE TO THE RIVER TEES
(Neasham to Over Dinsdale)
NAME OF RIVER: Tees.
WHERE IS IT?: In Teesdale! Just south of Darlington off the A66.
PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Put in at Neasham on the main street (NZ326101). Plenty of parking. There is a slip way for putting in but it is often occupied by Fisherman. Plenty of room to seal launch though.
Take out at the bridge at Over Dinsdale (NZ346114). Pull out on the left bank; there is a path up under the bridge. Not a lot of parking at bridge, what there is has been turned into passing places.
APPROX LENGTH: 6 miles.
TIME NEEDED: 3 hours.
ACCESS HASSLES: Appears to be no problem with access, land owner does not like you pulling out near Sockburn Hall. Also speak to the River Advisors, there are various agreements for different sections of the Tees.
WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Water was reasonably low when we tried it. Most of the trip the water was only 12" deep. Judging by the size of the flood defences, the river can get quite high at times.
GRADING: Mostly Grade 1 with little bits of Grade 2.
MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Weir at Low Dinsdale. Just take it straight on, no problems even for the inexperienced.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Long stetches of fast flowing flat water interspersed with short stretches of rapids.
OTHER NOTES: Excellent trip for a beginner. Plenty of wildlife. Upstream are various classic whitewater sections.
CONTRIBUTED BY: Steve, Steve, Sarah, Sue and Ed.
