Words: Del Read
Photos: Tom Clare,
Jack Ledwith,
Andy Walker,
Kristina Erzunova &
Del Read
Del Read
https://delkayaks.co.uk
@del_likes_kayaking
Tom Clare
www.facebook.com/
tomclaremedia
@tomclaremedia
Jack Ledwith
@jled_photo
Five of my favourite WW rivers in England
Finding friends to paddle with is one thing to consider, choosing the river to paddle is another. I often get asked “What are your favourite UK rivers to paddle?” It is always a difficult one to answer! Partly because there are so many rivers well worth paddling across the UK, and each has very different characteristics which make them enjoyable. As a Nottingham girl, I thought I would start with the English rivers!
1. River Dart
The river Dart is the one river I wish I could paddle more! Dartmoor is a fair distance from Nottingham, ruling it out as a regular day trip, but when we do get the chance to go down – boy, is it worth it! There is a reason why many Dart locals choose to stay in Dartmoor for most of their paddling!
I owe my love of the Dart to my lovely friend and white water coach, Matt Brook. He took me down my first lap of the Upper Dart, and I couldn’t believe what a fantastic river it was. It starts with a series of smaller grade 3 rapids but quickly builds to continuous grade 4 rapids known as the ‘mad mile’. At lower levels, this is fun and technical, although at higher levels, it gets pretty rowdy. Paddling your first laps of the Upper with someone who knows the Dart well is recommended. A couple of distinct rapids are definitely worth knowing the line for.
The lovely thing about the Dart is the get-out for the Upper Dart is also the get-on for the Dart Loop. I have enjoyed many laps of the Dart Loop, a fun little grade 2-3 section. When the Dart gets huge, many of the UK’s best paddlers enjoy themselves on the Loop instead. It is good fun and a good day out in medium and high water.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zmeN2nknGgAL7Amp8
2. River Tees
Since moving back to Nottingham, the Tees has been one of my most common paddling day trips out. The Tees is one of those rivers that has something for everyone! I first paddled the Tees on what many consider the classic section – High force to Low force. It’s a fun little stretch of river with plenty of smaller grade 2 rapids and two larger, more distinct rapids (Dog Leg + Low Force) that you can lap as many times to your heart’s content. Low Force waterfall was my first ever waterfall, as I am sure it was for many people – a good day out with plenty to challenge yourself on.
My other favourite section of the Tees is Barnard Castle to Winston Bridge. I love to paddle this section of the Tees in autumn as it is one of the most beautiful sections of the river to paddle when the leaves change their colours. There are plenty of little rapids, surf waves, and eddy lines to keep you going, as well as a couple of larger rapids.
Many people get nervous at Abbey Rapids – but this rapid is easy to scout and relatively straightforward. I suggest the rapids above Winston Bridge and around the Lido require more care, as both can become dangerous when the river gets very high. I’ve paddled this section low and on huge and many levels in between, always having a good time. There are many other sections of the Tees worth paddling as well – from grade 1 to grade 5. It is a river that has something for everyone and is quite reliable.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/W96TFm83agV8GDKx6
3. River Swale
The Swale is another northern classic and, like the Tees, has plenty of fun sections to paddle. The most well-known section of the Swale is the Upper Swale, which is the waterfall section. If you want to avoid paddling waterfalls, it is still worth walking along this section because it is pretty impressive!
The nice thing about this section is the waterfalls are all very distinct. This is not a river for beginners; if you mess up your lineup, it has potentially quite unpleasant consequences. A couple of other sections of the Swale are also worth paddling.
Whilst these sections don’t have the waterfalls, they are beautiful and still some good grade 2 fun. The Richmond to Catterick section is a classic section, which is excellent for intermediate paddlers to work on their river running skills.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EqT8EMfp2K3cjSU56
4. River Kent
A Lake District classic, the river Kent is another river that has something for everyone. My favourite section is Scroggs Weir to Sedgwick Bridge, which ends with the classic Force Falls. This is a fun grade 2/3 river with a couple of bigger grade 3+ rapids at the end to keep you on your toes. The river flows through some stunning backdrops, and I have always been a fan of paddling through a gorge.
The last three rapids are worth paddling on their own as they are a lot of fun. I would note here that the landowners next to Force Falls will be very unhappy if you try to get out there. Paddle down instead to the bridge, where there is a footpath. It is a longer walk back up to the top drop, but it is worth it if it means keeping locals happy.
The Kent is an excellent run at higher levels, but it is worth taking extra care around the weirs as some of them can get very sticky and dangerous. Also, if you miss the line on Force Falls at those higher levels, you will feel very awake afterwards!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GMRqnu72iqsjAw1n6
5. River Leven
Another Lake District classic, I debated whether to include the Leven as well as the Kent. It is such a good, fun river, though; it was worth giving it its own shout-out. The first time I paddled the Leven, my friend described it as the ‘HPP of the Lake District’, and I could see what he meant. It is a fun river – perfect for a long play session with friends! Another stunning river, it has regular little rapids and play spots all the way down, with some larger rapids to note.
The famous Backbarrow Bridge has the most intimidating (but not necessarily the hardest) rapid of the river. Dropping down into this rapid has always got my heart racing. Nine times out of ten, I come out the other side upright and smiling. However, you can also get a bit of a beatdown if you are unlucky, and I would never question anyone wanting to portage it. When the river is huge, it is worth getting out to look at Backbarrow Rapid first, as it does get to a point where you won’t fit under the bridge upright!
The rapids immediately after Backbarrow Bridge require a bit of care. There is a yucky weir that is best portaged followed by a rapid, which can sometimes end in a very large hole. The final stretch can also have a problem with trees, which is worth being mindful of. Overall – it’s a river of continuous fun and as it is lake fed will run for a few days after it has rained. So it deserves its spot in the top five!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/C8LYnWmtCM4v39F66
The end!
There you go – five of my favourite English white water rivers. I am not suggesting that these are the BEST rivers in England, but simply five of my favourites for a variety of reasons. I considered many rivers but didn’t quite make the top five, such as the Duddon, the Erme, the Greta and, of course, the weirs on my home river of the Trent. Further details about all UK rivers can be found via the online UK rivers guidebook (www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/england).
