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| Rivery Brathay | ||
|---|---|---|
| Historic Name | Braitha c.1157 | |
| Source | Widdy Gill and Wrynose Beck | |
| Source Elevation | 175 metres (574 feet) | |
| Mouth | River Rothay | |
| Length | 10.5 kilometres (6.5 miles) | |
| Waterfall(s) | Colwith Force / Skelwith Force | |
| Bridges | Slater's Bridge / Woodburn footbridge | |
| Tributaries | Multiple (see below) | |
| Coordinates | 54.417294 , -3.0993193 | |
| what3words | hippy.hesitate.cherubs | |
| Photo Gallery | River Brathay/Gallery | |
The River Brathay, synonymous with its meandering calms near Elter Water, embarks on a journey from the fells to the east of Little Langdale to the popular shores of Windermere at Waterhead, near Ambleside. The Brathay may not be sizeable in length but what it lacks here, it makes up for in other ways, especially as it passes through some beautiful countryside, taking in the sights of valley, tarn, ford, weir and waterfall.
Most of the river’s length cannot be walked as there are limited paths that lie parallel to or near its banks. There are some sections at Colwith Force, Elter Water, Skelwith Force and Skelwith Bridge that offer relaxed, peaceful walking and, in particular, some interesting photographic opportunities. There are other paved sections of A593 and B5286 at Clappersgate but these can assault the senses with the humdrum of passing traffic. The quieter sections that are walkable are on well-maintained gravel paths.
The Brathay once formed part of the boundary between the historic counties of Lancashire and Westmorland before the local government re-organisation of 1974 effectively removed Lancashire's furthest reach from the present-day county of Cumbria. Evidence of Lancashire's extent is still evident in places like the popular Three Shires Inn at Little Langdale and the Three Shire Stone at Wrynose Pass.
Etymology
Brathay comes from the Old Norse words breiðr (Old English brād) and á (cognate with Old English ēa) meaning broad + river,[1] named as such due to the historic widening of the river during heavy rainfall enveloping the lower flood plains.[2] This is a name familiar also in Iceland and the Faroes.
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The Brathay’s course
From its humble beginnings at the top of Wrynose Pass near the Three Shire Stone, the combined waters of Widdy Gill and Wrynose Beck form the Brathay at the head of where these two streams meet. It journeys towards the valley floor passing the rocky prominence of Castle Howe, the site of a possible iron age hill fort, and the ancient monument known as the Ting Mound at Fell Foot Farm. Blink and you will miss it, but it holds significant archaeological importance as the site of a man-made, early medieval open air meeting place, or Moot, dating back to the 7th–9th centuries.[3] The Brathay, along with Greenburn Beck, both flow into the beautiful surroundings of Little Langdale Tarn, which is owned and managed by the National Trust along with several farms and Silverthwaite, a holiday rental cottage just off the B5343 after Skelwith Bridge.
The Brathay weaves and winds its way, continuing east under the quirky and attractive Slater's Bridge, the 17th century Grade II listed packhorse bridge,[4] which has been trodden by millions of feet in its lifetime and photographed by many a traveller over its stone and slate arch. The stones atop, rounded and rutted by centuries of footfall, tell a story of hard work and hard times by those who crossed it during the early days of slate mining in the Tilberthwaite fells, crossing the bridge as a thoroughfare for Little Langdale and beyond. Today, most people cross the Brathay here for pleasure and a well-earned drink at the Three Shires Inn.
From there it passes a fording place to the south of Little Langdale and a set of stepping stones near High Park, before it arrives at Colwith Force, dropping a total of around 12 metres (40 ft) in tiers through a narrow gorge. There are a couple of places where the tumble and fall of white waters provides a dramatic backdrop for the casual photographer, however, caution must be advised as they have steep drops to the rock below.
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After Colwith Force, the Brathay circles around the slightly higher ground at Low Park, moving northwards towards the privately-owned Elter Water, where its other inflow is that of the Great Langdale Beck. The water here is picturesque, with an air of calm and tranquillity where Whooper Swans[a] Looking east there are superb views of Lingmoor Fell and the Langdale Pikes towering beyond. Its banks are walkable along the Cumbria Way and every direction has something to offer.
Further along is the Woodburn footbridge and shortly after that is the small-in-stature but no less charming, Skelwith Force with its 4.6 metres (15 feet) drop. Further photographic opportunities are a must before continuing on towards the hamlet of Skelwith Bridge. A suitable rest stop can be found in Chesters by the River where refreshments can be enjoyed from on outdoor space suited to watching the river flow by with its local population of birds and waterfowl. Robins frequent here in search of a tasty morsel of your unwanted scone or flapjack crumbs so be sure to get your camera ready.
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After Skelwith Bridge the Brathay continues an easterly course with the A593 until the hamlet of Clappersgate after which it joins the River Rothay, adjacent to the Roman fort of Galava in Ambleside, and its final flow into Brathay Bay at Waterhead.
Tributaries
In order of flow into the Brathay:
- Wrynose Beck, from Wrynose Fell
- Widdy Gill, from Wrynose Pass
- Bleamoss Beck, from Blea Tarn
- Greenburn Beck, in Little Langdale Tarn
- Busk Gill, In Little Langdale Tarn
- Ben Beck, south of Colwith Force
- Great Langdale Beck, in Elter Water
Additionally, the Brathay is itself a tributary of the River Rothay, which flows for approximately 300 metres before draining into Windermere at Waterhead.
Notes
- ↑ Whooper swans, pronounced hooper, also known as the common swan, is one of the most powerful and heaviest flying bird, and can be seen leisurely swimming Elter Water and the Brathay, searching for food.
References
- ↑ Whaley, Diana (2006). A Dictionary of Lake District Place-Names. English Place-Name Society. School of English Studies, University of Nottingham. p.47.
- ↑ Gambles, Robert (1985). Lake District Place-Names. 2nd Edition. Dalesman Books. p.21.
- ↑ Ting Mound at Fell Foot Farm, Little Langdale The National Trust Heritage Records. Accessed 12 March, 2023.
- ↑ Slater's Bridge Historic England Official List Entry. Accessed 12 March, 2023.