River Brathay
Encyclopedia
The Brathay is a river of north-west England
. Its name comes from Old Norse
and means broad river. It rises at a point 1289 feet (393 m) above sea level
near the Three Shire Stone
at the highest point of Wrynose Pass
in the Lake District
. Its catchment area includes the northern flanks of Wetherlam
, Great Carrs
and others of the Furness Fells
, as well as a substantial area of the Langdale Fells.
The small stream at the top of Wrynose quickly gathers pace as it descends some 930 feet (283 m) in a distance of about two miles (3.2 km), running roughly
parallel to, and south of, the Wrynose Pass road. Before flowing into
Little Langdale Tarn it subsumes the outflow from Blea Tarn. Little Langdale Tarn is also replenished by the Greenburn Beck. The Brathay drains Little Langdale Tarn at its eastern side. It continues in an easterly direction, over Colwith Force where it falls 40 feet (12 m), before turning north and flowing into the tarn of Elter Water at an elevation of 187 feet (57 m) above sea level. Elter Water is also replenished by the Great Langdale Beck.
The Brathay drains Elter Water and flows for about half a mile (0.8 km) in a south-easterly direction to Skelwith Force where it descends 15
feet (4.6 m). Passing under the A593 road at Skelwith Bridge
, and continues in an easterly direction, to the hamlet of
Clappersgate
. After another quarter of a mile (400 m) it joins the
River Rothay
close to Croft Lodge south-west of Ambleside
before flowing into the northern end of Windermere
.
The stretches of the Brathay around Clappersgate and Skelwith Force are popular
with canoeists
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/brathay.htm.
For its entire length the River Brathay forms part of the boundary between the
historic counties
of Lancashire
and Westmorland
. Since local government re-organisation in 1974 the Brathay has been within the administrative county
of Cumbria
.
The river also gives its name to Brathay Hall and Brathay exploration group
, both of which are based just south of its confluence with the River Rothay
on the edge of Windermere
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Its name comes from Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
and means broad river. It rises at a point 1289 feet (393 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
near the Three Shire Stone
Three Shire Stone (Lake District)
The Three Shire Stone is a boundary stone that marks the location where the historic English counties of Lancashire, Cumberland and Westmorland meet...
at the highest point of Wrynose Pass
Wrynose Pass
The Wrynose Pass is a mountain pass in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England between the Duddon Valley and Little Langdale.-Road:...
in the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
. Its catchment area includes the northern flanks of Wetherlam
Wetherlam
Wetherlam is a mountain in the English Lake District. It is the most northerly of the Coniston Fells, the range of fells to the north-west of Coniston village; its north-east slopes descend to Little Langdale.-Topography:...
, Great Carrs
Great Carrs
Great Carrs is a fell in the English Lake District. It stands above Wrynose Pass in the southern part of the District.-Topography:The Coniston Fells form the watershed between Coniston Water and the Duddon valley to the west. The range begins at Wrynose Pass and runs south for around 10 miles...
and others of the Furness Fells
Furness Fells
The Furness Fells are those hills and mountains in the Furness region of Cumbria, England. Historically part of Lancashire, the Furness Fells or High Furness is the name given to the upland part of Furness, that is, that part of Furness lying north of the line between Ulverston and Ireleth...
, as well as a substantial area of the Langdale Fells.
The small stream at the top of Wrynose quickly gathers pace as it descends some 930 feet (283 m) in a distance of about two miles (3.2 km), running roughly
parallel to, and south of, the Wrynose Pass road. Before flowing into
Little Langdale Tarn it subsumes the outflow from Blea Tarn. Little Langdale Tarn is also replenished by the Greenburn Beck. The Brathay drains Little Langdale Tarn at its eastern side. It continues in an easterly direction, over Colwith Force where it falls 40 feet (12 m), before turning north and flowing into the tarn of Elter Water at an elevation of 187 feet (57 m) above sea level. Elter Water is also replenished by the Great Langdale Beck.
The Brathay drains Elter Water and flows for about half a mile (0.8 km) in a south-easterly direction to Skelwith Force where it descends 15
feet (4.6 m). Passing under the A593 road at Skelwith Bridge
Skelwith Bridge
Skelwith Bridge is a small village in the southern area of the Lake District in Cumbria, North West England. It is located around 3 miles south of Grasmere and is nearby the waterfalls of Skelwith Force and Colwith Force. The nearest lakes to the village are Elter Water to the north-west and...
, and continues in an easterly direction, to the hamlet of
Clappersgate
Clappersgate
Clappersgate is a village in the South Lakeland District, in the county of Cumbria. Clappersgate is located on the B5286 road and on the River Brathay. It is near the town of Ambleside.- References :*...
. After another quarter of a mile (400 m) it joins the
River Rothay
River Rothay
The Rothay is a spate river of the Lake District in north-west England. Its name comes from Old Norse and translates literally as the red one. This has come to mean trout river. It rises close to Rough Crag above Dunmail Raise at a point about 1542 feet above sea level...
close to Croft Lodge south-west of Ambleside
Ambleside
Ambleside is a town in Cumbria, in North West England.Historically within the county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest lake...
before flowing into the northern end of Windermere
Windermere (lake)
Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. It is a ribbon lake formed in a glacial trough after the retreat of ice at the start of the current interglacial. It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and summer homes since the arrival of the Kendal and Windermere...
.
The stretches of the Brathay around Clappersgate and Skelwith Force are popular
with canoeists
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/brathay.htm.
For its entire length the River Brathay forms part of the boundary between the
historic counties
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
of Lancashire
History of Lancashire
The History of Lancashire begins with its establishment as a county of England in 1182, making it one of the youngest of the historic counties of England.-Early history:In the Domesday Book, some of its lands had been treated as part of Yorkshire...
and Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
. Since local government re-organisation in 1974 the Brathay has been within the administrative county
Administrative county
An administrative county was an administrative division in England and Wales and Ireland used for the purposes of local government. They are now abolished, although in Northern Ireland their former areas are used as the basis for lieutenancy....
of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
.
The river also gives its name to Brathay Hall and Brathay exploration group
Brathay Exploration Group
Brathay Exploration Group is a not-for-profit charity which has been providing worldwide youth expeditions since 1947. Based in Ambleside, Cumbria, aims to run around five expeditions per year, to destinations all over the world...
, both of which are based just south of its confluence with the River Rothay
River Rothay
The Rothay is a spate river of the Lake District in north-west England. Its name comes from Old Norse and translates literally as the red one. This has come to mean trout river. It rises close to Rough Crag above Dunmail Raise at a point about 1542 feet above sea level...
on the edge of Windermere
Windermere (lake)
Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. It is a ribbon lake formed in a glacial trough after the retreat of ice at the start of the current interglacial. It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and summer homes since the arrival of the Kendal and Windermere...
.
See also
- Cunsey BeckCunsey BeckCunsey Beck is one of several rivers and streams that replenish the lake of Windermere in the English Lake District. Being just over two miles in length and generally slow flowing, the stream descends some 87 feet from the southern end of Esthwaite Water, which it drains, to the western banks of...
- River Leven
- Trout BeckTrout BeckThe Trout Beck is a fast flowing river of the Lake District in North West England. It is one of the main sources of replenishment for Windermere. Its name comes from Old Norse and appears in documents from 1292 as Trutebyk...