River Nidd
Encyclopedia
The River Nidd is a tributary
of the River Ouse
in the English
county of North Yorkshire
. In its first few miles it is dammed three times to create Angram Reservoir
, Scar House Reservoir
and Gouthwaite Reservoir
which attract around 150,000 visitors a year. The Nidd can overflow the reservoirs, flooding the caves in the valley, in which case the river then flows along the normally dry river bed past Lofthouse
through to Gouthwaite Reservoir
. The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust YDRT has a remit to conserve the ecological condition of the river Nidd from its headwaters to the Humber estuary. The river gets its name for the Celtic word for brilliant.
The river valley, Nidderdale
, was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
in 1994.
at Nidd Head Spring on the slopes of Great Whernside
in the Yorkshire Dales
. It flows east into Angram and Scar House Reservoirs before turning south at Bracken Ridge. The river disappears underground into Manchester Hole (pot hole which, in prolonged dry weather, leaves the river bed totally exposed before normal water flow resumes to the south of the village of Lofthouse
. The river turns south south east towards Ramsgill before flowing into Gouthwaite Reservoir. Continuing on the same heading, the first major settlement is reached at Pateley Bridge
. Turning more south easterly it flows past Glasshouses and Summerbridge, where it turns south again past Dacre Bank. Passing by Darley, the river turns east before reaching Birstwith where it flow south east to Hampsthwaite. A sereies of large bends in the river take the flow north, east and then south and then east again to Scotton Banks. From here it meanders south east around the town of Knaresborough
heading north and looping south again. Near Little Ribston it meanders south easterly and easterly crossing underneath the A1 and the A1(M) near the small village of Cowthorpe
. The river continues meandering past Cattal north easterly towards Moor Monkton towards its junction with the River Ouse at Nun Monkton
.
with fluvio-glacial deposits. The overlaying soil is prone to water-logging due to its slow permeability, being composed of loamy soils on top of clay with peat on the top layer. Lower down on the flood plain, the nature of the underlying ground is Magnesian limestone
over alluvium and terrace drift deposits. On top of this is a combination of slowly-permeable and well drained fine loam over clay.
Where the river passes through the Knaresborough Gorge, Carboniferous (Namurian) and Upper Permian rock is exposed.
, which is located in Pateley Bridge, and features sections about the traditional agriculture, industries, religion, transport and costume of Nidderdale.
Lower down the river is the town of Knaresborough
, which is home to the Knaresborough Castle
and Knaresborough Museum.
There are many way-marked walking routes throughout the river valley, including the Nidderdale Way, a 53 mile circular walk starting and finishing in Pateley Bridge, that follows the river for all but a short diversion to Ripley.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the River Ouse
River Ouse, Yorkshire
The River Ouse is a river in North Yorkshire, England. The river is formed from the River Ure at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, about 6 miles downstream of the confluence of the River Swale with the River Ure...
in the English
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...
county of North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
. In its first few miles it is dammed three times to create Angram Reservoir
Angram Reservoir
Angram Reservoir is the first of three reservoirs on the River Nidd in Upper Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, England, the others being Scar House Reservoir and finally the compensation reservoir Gouthwaite Reservoir. It is located at OS map reference...
, Scar House Reservoir
Scar House Reservoir
Scar House Reservoir is the second of the three reservoirs in Upper Nidderdale, the others being Angram Reservoir and Gouthwaite Reservoir. Between them they attract around 150,00 visitors a year....
and Gouthwaite Reservoir
Gouthwaite Reservoir
Gouthwaite Reservoir is a reservoir in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, England. It is one of many in the area, others include Roundhill Reservoir and Angram Reservoir.Gouthwaites sole purpose is a compensation reservoir for the River Nidd....
which attract around 150,000 visitors a year. The Nidd can overflow the reservoirs, flooding the caves in the valley, in which case the river then flows along the normally dry river bed past Lofthouse
Lofthouse, North Yorkshire
Lofthouse is a small village in Nidderdale in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England about a mile south of Middlesmoor. It has a primary school, memorial , post office-cum-shop and public house, The Crown Hotel....
through to Gouthwaite Reservoir
Gouthwaite Reservoir
Gouthwaite Reservoir is a reservoir in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, England. It is one of many in the area, others include Roundhill Reservoir and Angram Reservoir.Gouthwaites sole purpose is a compensation reservoir for the River Nidd....
. The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust YDRT has a remit to conserve the ecological condition of the river Nidd from its headwaters to the Humber estuary. The river gets its name for the Celtic word for brilliant.
The river valley, Nidderdale
Nidderdale
Nidderdale is one of the Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire, England. It is the upper valley of the River Nidd, which flows south through the dale, forming several reservoirs including the Gouthwaite Reservoir, before turning east and eventually joining the River Ouse.The only town in the dale is...
, was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
in 1994.
Course
The Nidd rises in NidderdaleNidderdale
Nidderdale is one of the Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire, England. It is the upper valley of the River Nidd, which flows south through the dale, forming several reservoirs including the Gouthwaite Reservoir, before turning east and eventually joining the River Ouse.The only town in the dale is...
at Nidd Head Spring on the slopes of Great Whernside
Great Whernside
Great Whernside is a mountain in the Yorkshire Dales, England, not to be confused with the better known Whernside, some to the west. Its summit is the highest point of the eastern flank of Wharfedale above Kettlewell...
in the Yorkshire Dales
Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is the name given to an upland area in Northern England.The area lies within the historic county boundaries of Yorkshire, though it spans the ceremonial counties of North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Cumbria...
. It flows east into Angram and Scar House Reservoirs before turning south at Bracken Ridge. The river disappears underground into Manchester Hole (pot hole which, in prolonged dry weather, leaves the river bed totally exposed before normal water flow resumes to the south of the village of Lofthouse
Lofthouse
-Locations:* Lofthouse, North Yorkshire* Lofthouse, West Yorkshire* Lofthouse and Outwood railway station-People:* Andrew Lofthouse, Australian news presenter* Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract, British politician...
. The river turns south south east towards Ramsgill before flowing into Gouthwaite Reservoir. Continuing on the same heading, the first major settlement is reached at Pateley Bridge
Pateley Bridge
Pateley Bridge is a small market town in Nidderdale in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, on the River Nidd.It has the oldest sweet shop in England and is the home of the Nidderdale Museum....
. Turning more south easterly it flows past Glasshouses and Summerbridge, where it turns south again past Dacre Bank. Passing by Darley, the river turns east before reaching Birstwith where it flow south east to Hampsthwaite. A sereies of large bends in the river take the flow north, east and then south and then east again to Scotton Banks. From here it meanders south east around the town of Knaresborough
Knaresborough
Knaresborough is an old and historic market town, spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located on the River Nidd, four miles east of the centre of Harrogate.-History:...
heading north and looping south again. Near Little Ribston it meanders south easterly and easterly crossing underneath the A1 and the A1(M) near the small village of Cowthorpe
Cowthorpe
Cowthorpe is a village in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated north of Wetherby, from Knaresborough and from York.-St Michael's Church :...
. The river continues meandering past Cattal north easterly towards Moor Monkton towards its junction with the River Ouse at Nun Monkton
Nun Monkton
Nun Monkton is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated north of York at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Nidd. Cottages and houses are grouped around a village green of with a duck pond and a maypole...
.
Water levels
| Monitoring Station | Station Elevation | Low water level | High water level | Record high level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gouthwaite Reservoir | 122.53 m (402 ft) | 0.08 m (0.26246719160105 ft) | 1.1 m (3.6 ft) | 3.4 m (11.2 ft) |
| Pateley Bridge | 113.06 m (370.9 ft) | 0.14 m (0.459317585301837 ft) | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) | 3.73 m (12.2 ft) |
| Birstwith | 70.9 m (232.6 ft) | 0.11 m (0.360892388451444 ft) | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) | 3.66 m (12 ft) |
| Knaresborough | 36.86 m (120.9 ft) | 0.42 m (1.4 ft) | 1.3 m (4.3 ft) | 2.16 m (7.1 ft) |
| Hunsingore | 18.14 m (59.5 ft) | 0.08 m (0.26246719160105 ft) | 0.85 m (2.8 ft) | 2.92 m (9.6 ft) |
| Skip Bridge | 7.58 m (24.9 ft) | 0.22 m (0.721784776902887 ft) | 2.36 m (7.7 ft) | 5.06 m (16.6 ft) |
- Low and High Water Levels are an average figure.
Reservoirs
The two more northerly reservoirs on the course of the river were built to provide water to the Bradford area in the early 1900's. As of 2011, they are maintained by Yorkshire Water.Angram Reservoir
The reservoir takes its name from Angram, a settlement in the township of Stonebeck Up, submerged when the reservoir was built. Completed in 1919 with a dam height of 61 metres (200.1 ft) covering 34 hectares with a volume of 1,041 million gallons and a depth of 33.4 metres (109.6 ft).Scar House Reservoir
A temporary village was built at Scar House to house the workers building the reservoirs and some remains can still be seen. The old Village Hall, was moved to Darley, where it now serves as the local Village Hall. The dam at Scar House was completed in 1936. The dam height is 71 m (233 ft) with the reservoir covering area 70 hectares and a depth of36.3 metres (119.1 ft) giving a volume of 2,200 million gallons. The reservoir is fed almost exclusively from the Angram dam.Gouthwaite Reservoir
Gouthwaite reservoir is designated a Site for Special Scientific Interest. It provides a compensation release for the river. It covers an area of 126.2 metres (414 ft).Geology
The head of the river is located on moorland and the river character is affected by the run-off levels from the three reservoirs. The upper valley is primarily Millstone GritMillstone Grit
Millstone Grit is the name given to any of a number of coarse-grained sandstones of Carboniferous age which occur in the Northern England. The name derives from its use in earlier times as a source of millstones for use principally in watermills...
with fluvio-glacial deposits. The overlaying soil is prone to water-logging due to its slow permeability, being composed of loamy soils on top of clay with peat on the top layer. Lower down on the flood plain, the nature of the underlying ground is Magnesian limestone
Magnesian limestone
Magnesian limestone can refer to:* For the rock made of magnesium carbonate ie Magnesian limestone see dolomite or dolostone* For the traditional name of a specific suite of Permian age rocks in north-east England see Magnesian Limestone...
over alluvium and terrace drift deposits. On top of this is a combination of slowly-permeable and well drained fine loam over clay.
Where the river passes through the Knaresborough Gorge, Carboniferous (Namurian) and Upper Permian rock is exposed.
Leisure
Along the river valley can be found the Nidderdale MuseumNidderdale Museum
The Nidderdale Museum is housed in a former workhouse in the market town of Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire, England. Exhibits focus on rural life and include such period room and business displays as a cobbler's workshop, schoolroom, Victorian parlour, general store, 1930s hairdresser's shop and...
, which is located in Pateley Bridge, and features sections about the traditional agriculture, industries, religion, transport and costume of Nidderdale.
Lower down the river is the town of Knaresborough
Knaresborough
Knaresborough is an old and historic market town, spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located on the River Nidd, four miles east of the centre of Harrogate.-History:...
, which is home to the Knaresborough Castle
Knaresborough Castle
Knaresborough Castle is a ruined fortress overlooking the River Nidd in the town of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, England.-History:The castle was first built by a Norman baron in c.1100 on a cliff above the River Nidd. There is documentary evidence dating from 1130 referring to works carried out...
and Knaresborough Museum.
There are many way-marked walking routes throughout the river valley, including the Nidderdale Way, a 53 mile circular walk starting and finishing in Pateley Bridge, that follows the river for all but a short diversion to Ripley.
Tributaries
- Straight Dike
- Craven Sike
- Long Hill Sike
- Crook Dike
- Stone Beck
- Maiden Gill Beck
- Haw Gill Sike
- Wising Gill Sike
- Wench Gill
- Shaw Gill Sike
- Stand Sike
- Tops Gill
- Scar House Gill
- Thornet Gill
- Maddering Gill
- Turnacar Gill
- Foggyshaw Gill
- Rough Close Gill
- Limley Gill
- How Gill
- How Stean Beck
- Blayshaw Gill
- Blackstone Gill
- Boggle Dike
- Ramsgill Beck
- Lul Beck
- Byerbeck Gill
- Knott's Gill
- Colt House Gill
- Riddings Gill
- Stubnooks Gill
- Burn Gill
- Dauber Gill
- Foster Beck
- Rash Dike
- Fosse Dike
- Byril Beck
- Fell Beck
- Loftshaw Gill
- Smelt Maria Dike
- Clough Gill
- Darley Beck
- Fringill Dike
- Old Mill Race
- Tang Beck
- Cockhill Beck
- Ripley Beck/Old Nidd
- Newton Beck
- Oak Beck
- Bilton Beck
- Frogmire Dike
- The Rampart
- Gundrifs Beck
- Crimple Beck/River Crimple
- Broad Wath
- Fleet Beck
- Kirk Hammerton Beck
- Pool Beck
Settlements
- LofthouseLofthouse, North YorkshireLofthouse is a small village in Nidderdale in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England about a mile south of Middlesmoor. It has a primary school, memorial , post office-cum-shop and public house, The Crown Hotel....
- RamsgillRamsgillRamsgill is a small village in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, England about two miles south east of Lofthouse. It lies near Gouthwaite Reservoir. It is chiefly known for the Yorke Arms, a Michelin-starred restaurant on the village green....
- Wath
- Pateley BridgePateley BridgePateley Bridge is a small market town in Nidderdale in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, on the River Nidd.It has the oldest sweet shop in England and is the home of the Nidderdale Museum....
- BewerleyBewerleyBewerley is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England, about twelve miles west of Ripon. The parish includes the urban area of Pateley Bridge west of the River Nidd , and the village of Greenhow, as well as Bewerley village...
- GlasshousesGlasshousesGlasshouses is a small village in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, England. It lies about 1 mile south east of Pateley Bridge on the east side of Nidderdale and has a recently rebuilt river bridge across the river Nidd....
- Low Laithe
- New YorkNew York, North YorkshireNew York is a settlement in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is on the River Nidd, near Summerbridge, and about south east of Pateley Bridge....
- SummerbridgeSummerbridge, North YorkshireSummerbridge is a settlement in the Harrogate district North Yorkshire, England. It is on the River Nidd, about south east of Pateley Bridge....
- Dacre Banks
- DarleyDarley, North YorkshireDarley is a straggling village in the middle of Nidderdale in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England which has won many local and national 'Britain in Bloom' awards.Its westernmost end is Darley Head.- External links :*****...
- BirstwithBirstwithBirstwith is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is part of the Nidderdale, and is situated on the River Nidd. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 756....
- HampsthwaiteHampsthwaiteHampsthwaite is a small commuter village on the south bank of the River Nidd on the western edge of the Victorian spa town of Harrogate.Administratively Hampsthwaite is a civil parish in the borough of Harrogate and the county of North Yorkshire, England....
- Clint
- KillinghallKillinghallKillinghall is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England.It is located three miles north of Harrogate extending south from the bridges on the A61 over the river Nidd. The undeveloped area between Killinghall and Harrogate is known as Killinghall Moor. The...
- KnaresboroughKnaresboroughKnaresborough is an old and historic market town, spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located on the River Nidd, four miles east of the centre of Harrogate.-History:...
- Little RibstonLittle RibstonLittle Ribston is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is on the River Nidd and 4 miles north of Wetherby.-External links:...
- WalshfordWalshfordWalshford is a hamlet in the Harrogate District, in the county of North Yorkshire.- Location :Walshford is located on the A168 road and on the River Nidd.- Nearby settlements :...
- CowthorpeCowthorpeCowthorpe is a village in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated north of Wetherby, from Knaresborough and from York.-St Michael's Church :...
- Hunsingore
- CattalCattalCattal is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is on the River Nidd and one mile east of the A1 road and just off the A59...
- Moor MonktonMoor MonktonMoor Monkton is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the Ouse and north west of York.Moor Monkton is a peaceful village with around 110 houses and a handful of unique businesses....
- Nun MonktonNun MonktonNun Monkton is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated north of York at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Nidd. Cottages and houses are grouped around a village green of with a duck pond and a maypole...
Crossings
- Unnamed road near Scar House Reservoir
- Unnamed road near Foul Hole Quarry
- Unnamed road at Lofthouse
- West House Farm Road
- Nidd Bridge, Ramsgill
- Wath Bridge, Wath
- B6265 at Pateley Bridge
- Unnamed road near Glasshouses
- Glasshouses Bridge, Glasshouses
- B6451, Summer Bridge, Summerbridge
- Ross Bridge (Toll), near Birstwith
- The Pack Horse Bridge, near Birstwith
- Wreaks Bridge, Birstwith
- Hampsthwaite Bridge, Hampsthwaite
- A61, near Killinghall
- Killinghall Bridge, Killinghall
- Nidd Viaduct (disused), Bilton
- A59, Knaresborough
- B6163, Low Bridge, Knaresborough
- B6164, Grimbald Bridge, Knaresborough
- A658, Knaresborough
- Goldsbrough Mill Farm Road
- A168, Walshford Bridge, Walshford
- A1M near Walshford
- Cattal Bridge, Cattal
- Skip Bridge, York to Harrogate/Leeds Railway Line near Kirk Hammerton
- A59, New Skip Bridge near Kirk Hammerton
Sources
Ordnance Survey Maps- Lower Wharfedale & Upper Washburn Valley (297)
- Nidderdale (298)
- Yorkshire Dales - Northern & Central Areas (OL 30)