NAME OF RIVER: Church Beck.

WHERE IS IT?: The Lake District, it flows through Coniston town into Lake Coniston.

PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: There is a pretty hard section upstream. Launch for this section in Coniston, as far upstream of the town bridge as you wish to go. Park near the pub and follow the footpath uphill for about 500m to the delapidated foot bridge. decide how far above here you want to get on and go for it.

Take out where you meet Coniston Water. There is a car park here.

Map.

APPROX LENGTH: About 1.5 km, short blast!

TIME NEEDED: 20 minutes.

ACCESS HASSLES: Unknown. Rarely paddled.

WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Needs really heavy rain to be possible and won't stay up for long. It can be run at low levels but is better with more water.

GRADING: 3-4.

MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: No.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This lower section is a medium level fun blast. Below the foot bridge it is about grade 3 or 4 all the way down to the lake with nothing nasty.

Mark Rainsley adds...'I paddled this lower section through Coniston Town into Coniston Water in mid-summer 1986(?) whilst on a Scout Camp nearby. I don't recall anything much about this epic solo descent, except that the rocks didn't do my slalom boat much good!'

OTHER NOTES: Has anyone else got experience of this river? There is also a rather extreme upper section.

Further down Coniston Water is Torver Beck if it's raining.

CONTRIBUTED BY: Guy Austin, also Mark Rainsley.