Round 1-Washburn

17:05:08-18:05:08

Round 1 kicks off in Yorkshire, deep in the hidden Washburn Valley. The exact timetable will be posted shortly but we'll be kicking things off this year with the Boto-X heats from 10am. Registration will be open from 8am in the morning. We'll be eating on Saturday night at the Hopper Lane Hotel (included in the weekend ticket) just a short walk from the campsite. Cost for the weekend ticket will be £25.00.

Timetable

Click here for the weekend timetable.

General River Info

The picturesque Washburn valley lies between the more famous Yorkshire valleys of Wharfedale and Nidderdale approximately 10 miles from Harrogate. The river Washburn has been dammed several times along its course and provides drinking water for the nearby City of Leeds and the surrounding areas. Yorkshire Water control the flow of water between the dams along the rivers original course and when the dam is open an agreement allows us as Canoeists to go and play. The river is graded a 3, some guidebooks rate the broken weir drop as a 4. Its not the deepest, nor the widest river but its got something for everybody.

The get in and general car-park for the river is beneath Thruscross reservoir and from here the river flows down into the Fewston reservoir. The more exciting parts of the river are up stream and can be walked back along after a paddle down. If want a slightly longer paddle there is a car-park at the Fewston reservoir making shuttles nice and easy. The river is narrow and flows fast so swimmers can be tricky to rescue quickly but no major dangers await an unfortunate paddler as long as they are comfortable taking an unexpected dip. At worst they can always be collected up in the reservoir with a few bruises on their butt.

Here some links with some more photos of the Washburn and surrounding area.

Reservoirs of the Washburn Valley
The Washburn Valley
PeakUK Washburn RainFest