River Brathay: Difference between revisions
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{{SHORTDESC:River in the Langdale Valley}}
|image = River Brathay at Elter Water (4615).jpeg
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. ▼
|name meaning =
|name origin =
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. ▼
<!--[[File:Lancashire Administrative Map 1832.png|thumb|200px|Lancashire's boundary showing extent up to [[Elter Water]]]]-->▼
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]].▼
▲{{Infobox river 2
▲ |names = Brathay
▲ |historic-name = ''Braitha'' c.1157
|source = Widdy Gill and Wrynose Beck
|source
|mouth = [[River Rothay]]
|length = 10.5
|waterfalls = [[Colwith Force]] / [[Skelwith Force]]
|waterbodies = [[Little Langdale Tarn]] / [[Elter Water]]
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|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.
▲<!--[[File:Lancashire Administrative Map 1832.png|thumb|200px|Lancashire's boundary showing extent up to [[Elter Water]]]]-->
▲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==
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<div class="res-img">[[File:Elter Water looking towards Park Fell (4606).jpeg]]{{c|<small>The Brathay looking towards [[Park Fell]]</small>}}</div>
==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.<ref>[https://heritagerecords.nationaltrust.org.uk/HBSMR/MonRecord.aspx?uid=MNA116967 Ting Mound at Fell Foot Farm, Little Langdale] The National Trust Heritage Records.
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,<ref>[https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1245295?section=official-list-entry Slater's Bridge] Historic England Official List Entry.
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.
<div class="res-img">[[File:River Brathay at Skelwith Bridge (4662).jpeg]]{{c|<small>The Brathay from [[Skelwith Force]] looking towards [[Woodburn footbridge]]</small>}}</div>
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<div class="res-img">[[File:Skelwith Force (4644).jpeg]]{{c|<small>The waters of [[Skelwith Force]] under normal conditions</small>}}</div>
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==References==
{{reflist}}
{{hatnote|{{improve article}}}}
[[Category:Rivers of the Lake District]]
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