River Wharfe: Yorkshire’s Famous Waterway
The River Wharfe winds for 65 miles through the heart of Yorkshire. It begins in the village of Buckden, then flows south-east through beautiful countryside, before joining the River Ouse near Cawood.
The river supports many otters, kingfishers and herons, always on the banks, looking for fish. Rare wildflowers and mosses thrive on this river’s limestone edges.
If out walking, follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe.
The word ‘Wharfe’ is likely from Old Norse or Saxon for ‘winding’ or ‘swift’.
The waters can be dangerous here. One young couple on honeymoon in 1998 went for a riverside walk, and their bodies were found soon after. It’s believed they got caught out through rising water, due to heavy rain. They were buried together at the church where they had married.
Stay Well Away from The Strid
The Strid is very dangerous gorge where the river is forced through a gap of 12 feet. With underwater caverns, it has 100% mortality rate, for anyone who falls in. The water can rise 5 feet in minutes, and never increases in temperature, even in summer. Some say this could be the world’s most dangerous stretch of water. So steer clear.
A local legend (depicted in William Wordsworth’s poem The Force of Prayer is that young William de Romilly was overcome by the urge to jump the Strid. His greyhound sensibly refused to jump, but William got caught around the lead, and drowned.
His mother Lady Alice (of Skipton Castle) gave land to Augustinian canons to build an abbey where they could pray for her son’s soul. That became Bolton Abbey. Is this true? No-one knows.
Keeping the River Wharfe Clean and Safe
One local couple have just embarked on a 81 mile walk, to raise the importance of clean rivers. They want to ensure rivers remain litter-free with better sewage treatment.
A recent BBC report found that residents living near the River Wharfe are upset and angry, as some tourists are leaving everything from toilet roll to dirty nappies dumped by the riverside. Others left barbecues on ‘scorched grass’ (which could cause wildfires).
One resident said ‘You want people to come to this area. I am very lucky to live here. But just take your stuff home with you’.
