GUIDE TO TARNBROOK WYRE
NAME OF RIVER: Tarnbrook Wyre
WHERE IS IT?: Forrest of Bowland, just off the road between Quernmore and Dunsop Bridge.
PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: In the village of Tarnbrook there is a ford where access to the river is easy, however the first 1km contained lots of trees in August 2011 and access was made at the Ouzel Bridge. Parking is difficult anywhere along the road; there are few openings where 1 car can be parked. Take out either at Stoops bridge in Abbeystead or continue onto the reservoir – land on the right above the dam, there is an 1km walk along a footpath into the village of Abbeystead. A more sensible option is to portage the dam and carry on down the Wyre.
APPROX LENGTH: 4km
TIME NEEDED: 1 hour
ACCESS HASSLES: We had no problem with access.
WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Needs rain. First view of the river is from the bridge at the hamlet of Lower Lee. The river should be bank full with no rocks visible in the flow. 0.4m on the EA gauge at Abbeystead reservoir equates to a medium level.
GRADING: 2/3
MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Trees
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Fairly continuous grade 2/3 with a couple of small weirs and lots of trees. In August 2011 there was 1 tree portage required after putting in at Ouzel bridge. The first weir is pretty small and presents little danger, the second one is a bit larger and is under the bridge at Lower Lee. It forms a slide with a stopper at the bottom and can be paddled anywhere. As you approach the reservoir the river flattens out and the last 500m feels more like jungle exploration than white water kayaking.
OTHER NOTES: The Tarnbrook Wyre appears on P303 of Stuart Millers Whitewater Lake District guidebook.
CONTRIBUTED BY: Dave Goadby.