GUIDE TO THE RIVER TEES
(Over Dinsdale to Yarm)
NAME OF RIVER: Tees.
WHERE IS IT?: In Teesdale! Just south of Darlington off the A66.
PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Put in at the bridge at Over Dinsdale (NZ346114, sat nav: 54.496092, -1.467094). Access via 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. Some parking available near the church 200m south.
Take out below Yarm bridge (NZ419131, sat nav: 54.510879, -1.353427). 100 yards passed the road bridge on the right bank there is a jetty with steps down to the water. Parking in Yarm can now result in parking tickets, so always check you can leave your car where you want for as long as you want.
APPROX LENGTH: 9 miles.
TIME NEEDED:
ACCESS HASSLES: Appears to be no problem with access, possibility of comments from anglers (though none were received when I did it).
WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: River is flat and nearly always deep, apart from the weir.
GRADING: Grade 1 unless the river is right up then Grade 2.
MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Weir after 2½ miles at Low Middleton, can be viewed if you park at road corner by the farm (NZ367108, sat nav: 54.490663, -1.43568) and walk SW about 200m along the Teesdale Way to the river. Beware of Giant Hogweed along the banks.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The River Tees is now mature and this section has no white water at all, with the exception of the weir, which at higher levels washes out, and at lower levels is a simple drop over, or can easily be portaged. Keep an eye out for fishermen, if only to avoid their lines. No-one spoke to us when I paddled it.
OTHER NOTES: Excellent trip for a beginner, probably best suited to beardy open boat types! Plenty of wildlife. The trip can be made shorter by getting on below the weir (the last before the Tees Barrage) at Low Worsall Pumping Station (park NZ395102, sat nav: 54.485997,-1.391383) and take the track eastward by the disused garages then through the gate and 50m along the side of the field (no right of way, so use your own judgement!) This reduces the trip to 3miles down to Yarm.
CONTRIBUTED BY: Alan Lilley.
Yarm Section:
The weir in low water:
...and the same spot in high water!
