River Swale
For other meanings of swale see Swale (disambiguation).The
River Swale is a
river in
Yorkshire,
England and a major tributary of the
River Ure, which itself becomes the
River Ouse, emptying into the
North Sea via the
Humber Estuary.
The River Swale is reputed to be the fastest river in England, it is also prone to
flash flooding, many unsuspecting swimmers have been swept to their deaths over the years due to heavy rainfall in upper
Swaledale.
The Swale begins its course high in the
Yorkshire Dales on the border of
North Yorkshire and
Cumbria a few miles south east of
Kirkby Stephen and not far from the source of the
River Eden, which later reaches
Carlisle. The river is first given its name only a few miles downstream from the source, at the confluence of the Birkdale Beck and the Great Sleddale Beck. After crossing the
Pennine Way near the hamlet of
Keld it cascades over a series of waterfalls including
Wain Wath Force and
Kisdon Force, before swinging eastwards at the village of
Muker and carving out the limestone cliffs of picturesque Swaledale, famed for its namesake
cheese.
After tumbling over several more
waterfalls, it enters
Richmond passing its famous
castle followed by the racecourse at
Catterick. Turning south through the
Vale of Mowbray it is joined by the River Wiske from
Northallerton and
Cod Beck from
Thirsk before reaching the Ure just east of
Boroughbridge at a point known as Swale Nab.
from source*
Keld*
Muker*
Gunnerside*
Low Row*
Reeth*
Grinton*
Richmond*
Brompton-on-Swale*
Catterick Bridge*
Catterick*
Great Langton*
Little Fencote*
Morton-on-Swale*
Gatenby*
Maunby*
Pickhill*
Skipton-on-Swale*
Catton*
Baldersby St John*
Topcliffe*
Cundall*
Fawdington*
Brafferton*
Helperby*
Myton-on-SwaleA river called The Swale which separates North Kent from the Isle of Sheppey was also historically known as the River Swale.
