Starting the descent of Abbey Rapids

Image: © Andy Waddington Taken: 5 Nov 2009

Above Barnard Castle, the River Tees has become a relatively easy paddle, but downstream, it cuts down again into a short gorge forming rapids a grade harder than those for many kilometres upstream. An initial wide boulder garden narrows down to a series of bedrock ledges with good eddies both sides. As the river curves left towards Abbey bridge, it narrows between short cliffs, and the ledge drops get bigger with the flow more concentrated towards the left in moderate levels such as seen here. The final drop has a grippy stopper to the right, and often a haystack in the main flow and is the scene of many upsets. Fortunately, the gorge under the bridge has deeper, slow-flowing water and is a convenient site for fishing out swimmers and equipment in all but the highest flows. The rapids are a very popular site for park-and-play boating, or as part of a longer trip such as Barnard Castle to Whorlton, or on down to Winston. They are also the scene of slalom competitions from time to time.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0