Duddon - Middle trip details
A cracking run in the south west Lakes
Region: North West
Discipline: Whitewater
Difficulty: Intermediate
Grade: 3
Length: 11 km
Average Time: 3 hrs
Start: This section begins in the village of Seathwaite in scenic Dunnerdale. You can put on at Hall Bridge.
Finish: Take out just above (river right) of Ulpha Bridge where there is a handy car-park, or alternatively just downstream on river left.
The Duddon is a great little section, which holds typical characteristics to other rivers in the area.
The first few kilometers ease you in gently with read and run rapids. You will want to keep a whatchful eye for the Water works weir, which is about a kilometer from the start it's easy to spot by the footbridge that crosses the river here and the vertical river bank lingers above. You can inspect from the boat and the usual route is to shoot the weir face on the right. The river's characteristic picks up from here with juciy continous boulder garden rapids with a couple of bedrock drops thrown in to keep you on your toes. A collection of big rocks soon pop up on river right indicates Jill's Folly rapid. The Duddon bends sharply to the right, on the bend, a small island in the middle of the river splits the flow. This is mostly run on river right between two large boulders,you'll need to watch out for an awkwardly placed pinning rock which can catch out the off guarded paddler. If the water is high then it is possible to go left of the island.
Following this rapid you'll be into a fairly continous boulder garden that will bring you to the start of Ulpha Gorge. The river takes it up a notch in grade at this point, especially in higher flows and you'll be able to spot it and make a break out above by the clear cliff face. This can be boat scouted but inspection from the river bank is certainly worth it. Right after the gorge the grade steps back to a steady 3 and Crosby Gill flows into the Duddon on the right. You can enjoy what's left of the Duddon all the way to Ulpha bridge.
Accommodation: lots of great local B&B's and campsites. Check out www.duddonvalley.co.uk
Food and Drinks: Check out the Newfield Inn, a traditional sixteenth century Lakeland inn. They serve local Cumbrian beers and have a great menu. They also have self-catering accomodation available. www.newfieldinn.co.uk 01229 716208 Ulpha Post Office and General Store, on the road from Broughton-in-Furness, offers a good range of supplies The Blacksmiths Arms is another traditional Lakeland inn that serves excellent meals and real ales www.theblacksmithsarms.com eat@theblacksmithsarms.com 01229 716824
Canoe Shops: Brookbank Canoes Carlisle - www.carlislecanoes.co.uk Brookbank Canoes Lancaster - www.ukcanoes.co.uk
Guidebooks: British Whitewater by Terry Storry White water Lake District by Stuart Miller Rivers of Cumbria by Mike Hayward English White Water by www.pesdapress.com
Useful Websites:
www.metcheck.com
www.yha.org.uk
Kayaking and canoeing are assumed risk sports and you should take every effort to become aware of any dangers involved. These guides are not intended as instruction manuals they are just as the name suggests... guides. They can give you access and egress information and give you a flavour of the water you'll encounter, but water is an ever-changing environment. Rivers change with varying water levels, trees get stuck, and banks can collapse. Never assume a river is safe just because you read it in a guide. You must use your own judgement and experiences to make the decision whether to paddle, or not. And as rivers change so to at sea can the weather conditions and tides change. All information has been checked to the best of our ability, is given in good faith, and we hope will be helpful, but all information should be checked locally and you and you alone are responsible for your decisions to undertake any of the paddling trips contained within it. The authors and publisher can accept no responsibility for any inconvenience, injury or loss sustained by any persons as a result of information given in this guide.
Back to Guidebooks
Back to previous list
