River Wharfe

River Wharfe
Linton Falls, on the upper Wharfe near Grassington
Country	England
Basin features
Main source	Beckermonds, Langstrothdale Chase 310 m (1,020 ft) 54°13′03″N 2°11′39″W / 54.217481°N 2.194231°W / 54.217481; -2.194231
River mouth	River Ouse at Wharfe's Mouth, near Cawood 4.9 m (16 ft) 53°50′39″N 1°07′46″W / 53.8441°N 1.129544°W / 53.8441; -1.129544Coordinates: 53°50′39″N 1°07′46″W / 53.8441°N 1.129544°W / 53.8441; -1.129544
Physical characteristics
Length	65 mi (104.6 km)

River Wharfe
Oughtershaw Beck/Green Field Beck Deepdale Bridge Deepdale Gill Hagg Gill Bowther Gill Strans Gill Hubbersholme Bridge Kirk Gill Cow Close Gill Buckden Bridge Buckden Beck Step Gill Cam Gill Beck Falcon Beard Beck Hush Gutter Kettlewell Beck B6160 Kettlewell New Bridge Black Geld River Skirfane How Beck Conistone Bridge White Beck Davy Keld Scar Lash Waterfall Dib Beck Robin Hood's Beck B6265 Grassington Bridge Captain Beck Tin Bridge (footbridge) Linton Falls Brow Well Isingdale Beck Howling Beck Suspension Bridge (footbridge) Hebden Beck Sandbed Beck Barden Beck The Old Gutter Mill Island Hall Wells Dike Foul Sike Fir Beck Bumby Dike Gill Beck Barden Bridge Footbridge Barden Beck The Strid Hollin Beck Posforth Gill Ludd Stream Islands Footbridge Cowpert Gill Stead Dike Pickles Beck Waterfall Bridge (footbridge) Raven's Gill Beck Bolton Bridge A59 Bridge Kex Beck Lathehouse Beck Wine Beck Footbridge Footbridge West Hall Beck Footbridge Dean Beck Mill Stream Hawksworth Island Footbridge New Brook Street Bridge Ilkey Footbridge Beanlands Island Denton Bridge West Beck Mill Dam Beck Boot's Beck B6451 Bridge Street Otley Footbridge River Washburn The Goit A658 Pool Bridge Railway Bridge (York-Harrogate-Leeds Line) Weeton Beck Mill Race A61 Harewood Bridge Stank Beck Woodhall Bridge (footbridge) Linton Bridge Collingham Collingham Beck Footbridge A661 Wetherby A58 Wetherby A1 Wetherby Thorp Arch Bridge Boston Spa Wharfe Bridge (dismantled railway) Hay Dike Viaduct Walk Tadcaster (footbridge) A659 Tadcaster Bridge A64 Bridge Cock Beck Railway Bridge (York-Leeds/Sheffield Line) Footbridge Owl Sike East Coast Main Line Railway Bridge Pailbank Drain The Fleet River Ouse

The River Wharfe is a river in Yorkshire, England. For much of its length it is the county boundary between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. The name Wharfe derives from the Old English weorf or the Old Norse hverfr meaning winding river.^[1]

Its valley is known as Wharfedale. The river source is at Beckermonds in Langstrothdale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and flows through Kettlewell, Grassington, Bolton Abbey, Addingham, Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Otley, Wetherby and Tadcaster. It then flows into the River Ouse near Cawood. The section of the river from its source to around Addingham is in Upper Wharfedale and has a very different character to the river downstream.

The Wharfe is 65 miles (104.6 km) long before it joins the Ouse making it the 21st longest river in Britain.^[2] It is a public navigation from the weir at Tadcaster to its junction with the Ouse near Cawood and is tidal from Ulleskelf to the Ouse.

Course

The River Wharfe meandering between Starbotton and Kettlewell.

The river source is the confluence of Oughtershaw Beck and Green Field Beck in Langstrothdale near Beckermonds. It flows east and south-east taking the flows from many small streams, whose sources are the shake holes from Yockenthwaite Moor on the north bank and Horse Head Moor on the south bank. After Hubberholme, the river flows south past Buckden and Starbotton and then south-east past Kettlewell before flowing south again. Near Conistone are the gentle waterfalls of Scar Lash. Near Grassington, the river turns south-east over Linton Falls. South of Appletreewick, the river flows south-west for a short distance until it reaches Gill Beck and returns southward. To the north of Bolton Bridge, the river narrows and goes over waterfalls in an area known as The Strid. The river winds south and south-east towards Ilkley where it heads east through Otley and Collingham. It briefly flows north to Wetherby before turning south and then south-east past Ulleskelf to the confluence with the River Ouse.

Water levels

• Low and High Water Levels are an average figure.

Natural history

Fauna

More than 230 species of bird have been observed along the river valley including eagle-owl, red grouse, stonechat, whinchat, golden plover, pied flycatcher, redstart, wood warbler, common sandpiper, grey wagtail, dipper, tawny owl, sparrowhawk, greater spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, treecreeper and, in wetter places, snipe and woodcock, chiffchaff, willow warbler, garden warbler, and twite.^[4]

The Wharfe has populations of signal crayfish and the few white-clawed crayfish remaining are at great risk.^[4]

There are populations of rabbit, red fox, grey squirrel, otter, water voles and deer.^[4][5][6]

Flora

Ferns found here include wall rue, maidenhair spleenwort, brittle bladder-fern, Hart's-tongue and hard shield-fern. In Upper Wharfedale the scars and screes support a range of plants including the alpine cinquefoil and hoary whitlowgrass. Also to be found are lesser meadow-rue, goldenrod, scabious and bloody crane's-bill with, to a lesser extent, mountain melick, limestone fern, wood crane's-bill and melancholy thistle, green spleenwort, wall lettuce and hairy stonecrop.^[4]

Lower down the valley, species including alpine cinquefoil, lily-of-the-valley, mountain melick and herb paris, blue sesleria, common valerian and wild angelica. The limestone outcrops have uncommon species including rock whitebeam and Solomon's seal as well as bird's-eye primrose, butterwort, rockrose, dropwort and limestone bedstraw.

The limestone pavements of the area are a habitat for several species usually confined to woodlands, such as dog's mercury, wood anemone and ramsons. Rarer species to be found in the grikes include baneberry and downy currant. Ferns in the moist grikes include rigid buckler-fern. Also to be found are alternate-leaved golden saxifrage, reed canary-grass and stone bramble.

Some of the inaccessible cliffs are home to ledge dwelling flora including mosses and liverworts, such as red leskea, sharp rock-bristle and the very rare Zygodon gracilis. The ledges also support woodrush, polypody and water avens, purple saxifrage, yellow saxifrage, hoary whitlowgrass and roseroot.

Blue moor-grass can also be found, with sheep's-fescue and herbs such as thyme, salad burnet and common rock-rose. There is wild thyme, common milkwort, fairy flax, bird's-foot trefoil, autumn gentian, harebell, eyebright.

Species of tree and shrub include ash, downy birch, hazel, hawthorn, yew and rowan. In the woods shrubs such as wild privet and spindle can be found. More rare is dark red helleborine.^[4][7]

Geology

Upper Wharfedale is an area whose rocks date from the Lower Carboniferous period and lies north-west of Burnsall. Its main features are the Great Scar Limestone which forms a base to the overlying Yoredale Beds, a 300-metre deep strata of hard limestones, sandstones and shale. These have been slightly tilted, toward the east. To the south-east of the area is the Millstone Grit laid down in the Upper Carboniferous period, and covered by heather moorland, hard crags and tors.^[8][9]

Weathering of the Yoredale Beds has produced a stepped profile to the valley sides, consisting of a shelf of limestone, sometimes grassy but often displaying such karst features as limestone pavement, gorges and sinkholes. During the last ice age, the local ice cap at the head of the Dales fed glaciers to produce the classic U-shaped profiles seen today.^[10]

Where the river valley changes course into Lower Wharfedale, the change of underlying rock can be seen in the darker stone in the field walls. The Millstone Grit outcrops at the Cow and Calf Rocks near Ilkley form a rolling dissected plateau. Due to the impermeable nature of the rock, blanket bogs and mires form, and drier areas have wet and dry heaths and acid grasslands.^[11]

Coarse sandstones in the area are known as Addingham Edge and Bramhope Grits. The Otley Shell Beds become exposed at Otley Chevin. At Great Dib Wood the Otley Shell Bed is sandwiched between two Namurian sandstones.

Glacial lakes once filled Lower Wharfedale in which were deposited sand and gravel. These deposits were extracted and now form the basis of the Otley Wetland Reserve, and Ben Rhydding and Knotford Nook gravel pits.^[12]

The Strid

The Strid (Grid Reference: SE064565) is a series of waterfalls and rapids associated with a deep underwater channel caused by the dramatic narrowing of the River Wharfe from approximately 30 ft (9 m) wide just to the north of the start of the Strid, to the width of a long stride less than 100 yd (91 m) later.^[13] It is especially dangerous as both banks are undercut,^[14][15] and it has been the scene of a number of fatalities including those of a honeymoon couple.^[16] The Strid walk is very popular and is accessed from the car park at Bolton Abbey.^[17]

Linton Fall

Linton Fall (Grid Reference: SE001633) are located just south of Grassington and can be accessed from the village down Sedber Lane. There is a footbridge straddling the falls for viewing.

History

The name Wharfe derives from the Old English 'weorf' or Old Norse 'hverfr' and means "winding river".^[1]

Iron Age fields and hut circles can still be seen in outline on the hills above Grassington and Kettlewell.^[9] The Romans built a road through Wharfedale that went over Stake Moss into neighbouring Wensleydale. The local British tribe of Brigantes were subdued by the Romans in AD 74. The Romans mined lead in the hills on Greenhow Hill overlooking Appletreewick until AD 410.^[9] After AD 620 the Ancient Britons were joined by Angles and increased the amount of forest clearing to establish fields for crops and animals. These were overrun by Danes initially before they too settled to farming near Burnsall and Thorpe. Vikings then settled the area in the 10th century, lending their language to some of the names of hamlets and landscape features of Upper Wharfedale, especially near the head of the valley.^[9] During Anglo-Saxon times, large estates were established and the River Wharfe and its valley came under the protection of Earl Edwin of Bolton-in-Craven. After the Norman invasion, the lands were given to Robert Romilly.^[9]

In medieval times low intensity methods were used to produce both crops and livestock but the great monasteries of Fountains, Rievaulx and Bolton Priory had large sheep flocks and sold their wool on the European market. In 1155, Alice de Romilly donated land for the establishment of Bolton Priory and land at Kilnsey to Fountains Abbey. The monasteries helped develop vast sheep farms and the founding of drove roads, which can still be seen and walked today. The success of the monasteries was also responsible for the growth of the market towns of Grassington and Kettlewell.^[9]

When the monasteries were dissolved in 1539, and wool prices fell, many tenant farmers took to cattle and sheep rearing. However, at the end of the 17th century there was still small-scale arable production. By the early 19th century there was a demand for food from the growing industrial towns and farmers and many farms began to produce milk from the lower lands and use the higher fells for sheep.^[18]

On 5 July 2014, the Tour de France Stage 1 from Leeds to Harrogate passed through Wharfedale along roads running close to the river. The route in Wharfedale started near the official start at Harewood and ended just after Buckden when the competitors turned to climb over Buttertubs Pass near Cray.^[19]

The river has had appearances in films. In 1992, the town of Grassington was used as a filming location for Wuthering Heights.^[20] The 2003 film, Calendar Girls, was filmed at several locations in the river valley including Buckden, Burnsall, Kettlewell and Kilnsey.^[21]

Economy

Kettlewell Beck joining the River Wharfe.

During the 1990s there had been an increase in second home ownership, particularly in the Upper Wharfedale area. The 1991 census had shown 13% of homes in the Craven district were classified as second properties.^[22] The 2001 census showed that the figure for Upper Wharfedale was 15%,^[23] but it had dropped to only 7% by 2011.^[24]

Upper Wharfedale has been traditionally associated with farming, but there has been a change in the numbers and types of employment. Whilst there were declines in the number of people in this industry, farming accounted directly for 9.16%^[25] of employment in 2001 but this had increased to 11.27% by 2011.^[26]

Lead mining was once the main industry in Wharfedale. From the 17th century to the late 19th century it employed hundreds of men and boys, exploiting the veins in the limestone at Greenhow, Hebden, Grassington, Linton and Conistone, Appletreewick and elsewhere. The heaps of mining waste remain, contaminated with lead, and on which little will grow. The few plants that will are known as 'lead plants' such as spring sandwort and alpine penny-cress.^[27][28]

Tourism is important to the rural economy of Wharfedale and there are many short, mid and long distance walks, with clear waymarkers. Other outdoor activities take place such as rock climbing, most notably at Kilnsey Crag, and canoeing. Other activities include cycling, mountain biking, horse riding and caving.^[29] Several long distance walks pass near or over the river:^[30]

• Dales Way (follows the river valley from Beckermonds to Ilkley)
• Lady Anne's Way (enters the valley near Hubberholme and leaves to the west of Bolton Abbey)
• Inn Way to the Yorkshire Dales (part of walk from Grassington to Buckden)
• The Way of the Roses (part of the cycle route from Appletreewick to Thorpe)

Lists

All lists are from the source of the river:-^[31]

Gallery

Along the River Wharfe

Oughtershaw beck and Green Field Beck in Langstrothdale near Beckermonds become the River Wharfe 54°13′0.6″N 2°11′39.34″W / 54.216833°N 2.1942611°W / 54.216833; -2.1942611  River Wharfe in Langstrothdale 54°12′33.62″N 2°9′22.87″W / 54.2093389°N 2.1563528°W / 54.2093389; -2.1563528  River Wharfe, Langstrothdale, east from the Dalesway Long Distance Walk 54°12′59.34″N 2°11′13.38″W / 54.2164833°N 2.1870500°W / 54.2164833; -2.1870500  River Wharfe below Grassington Bridge 54°4′6.01″N 2°0′16.38″W / 54.0683361°N 2.0045500°W / 54.0683361; -2.0045500  Linton Falls near Grassington  River Wharfe Upstream of Hebden suspension bridge  River Wharfe at Loup Scar Gorge 54°3′3.21″N 1°57′5.02″W / 54.0508917°N 1.9513944°W / 54.0508917; -1.9513944  Barden Bridge, River Wharfe 54°0′45.32″N 1°55′19.15″W / 54.0125889°N 1.9219861°W / 54.0125889; -1.9219861  The Strid near Bolton Abbey 54°0′15.18″N 1°54′13.3″W / 54.0042167°N 1.903694°W / 54.0042167; -1.903694  Bolton Abbey and the River Wharfe 53°59′0.39″N 1°53′12.53″W / 53.9834417°N 1.8868139°W / 53.9834417; -1.8868139  River Wharfe, Ilkley from footbridge 53°55′56.94″N 1°48′56.43″W / 53.9324833°N 1.8156750°W / 53.9324833; -1.8156750  River Wharfe at Otley  Bridge over River Wharfe at Otley  River Wharfe east of Otley looking upstream 53°54′38.72″N 1°40′37.97″W / 53.9107556°N 1.6772139°W / 53.9107556; -1.6772139  River Wharfe east from Harewood Bridge 53°54′49.31″N 1°31′18.97″W / 53.9136972°N 1.5219361°W / 53.9136972; -1.5219361  River Wharfe at Pool-in-Wharfedale east from A658 bridge  River Wharfe from Linton Bridge 53°54′47.53″N 1°24′38.92″W / 53.9132028°N 1.4108111°W / 53.9132028; -1.4108111  River Wharfe, Wetherby 53°55′35.68″N 1°23′21.48″W / 53.9265778°N 1.3893000°W / 53.9265778; -1.3893000  River Wharfe at Tadcaster with St Mary the Virgin Church in background 53°53′4.24″N 1°15′38.16″W / 53.8845111°N 1.2606000°W / 53.8845111; -1.2606000  Wharfe's Mouth south of Cawood 53°50′38.73″N 1°7′50.17″W / 53.8440917°N 1.1306028°W / 53.8440917; -1.1306028

References