River Cover
Source1 locationGreat Hunters Sleets nr Woodale
Source1 coordinates54°11′2″N 2°1′29″W
Mouth locationRiver Ure nr Middleham
Mouth coordinates54°16′43″N 1°46′25″W
CountryEngland
Length22 km
Source1 elevation1,598 ft (487 metres)
Mouth elevation322 ft (98 metres)

The River Cover is a river in the Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire, England. The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust[1] has a remit to conserve the ecological condition of the River Cover. The river forms a limestone dale with ancient woodlands.[2]

Course

The source of the river lies in the shake holes that are found between Buckden Pike and Great Whernside that feed many small gills, such as East Stone Gill, West Stone Gill and Downs Gill. Where these conjoined flows meet Hazel Bank Gill is where the river becomes known as the River Cover. It flows in a north-east direction past Woodale, Braidley and Horsehouse. It turns to the north north-east towards Gammersgill before returning north-east between West Scrafton and Carlton, North Yorkshire. Immediately east of Agglethorpe, the river turns east until it joins the River Ure south-east of Middleham.[3]

The river flows north eastwards for 14 mi (22 kilometres) and drains an area covering over 20,130 acres (8,146 hectares).[4][5]

Ecology

The river is home for brown trout and grayling.[6]

Geology

The river runs along a U-shaped glacial valley over Great Scar limestone with Yoredale rock forming the valley sides. It is a gently meandering river with a characteristic stony channel and beaches leading to wooded low banks. The wooded areas extend up into the many gills that join the river.[2]

Lists

Tributaries

  • Hem Gill Brook
  • Middle Gill
  • Slape Gill
  • Crab Gill
  • Burn Gill
  • West Gill
  • Lords Gill
  • Ridge Gill
  • Fall Gill
  • Slate Gill
  • Pear Tree Gill
  • Short Gill
  • Side Gill
  • Harkers Gill
  • Dixon Gill
  • Arkleside Gill
  • Deer Close Gill
  • Hindlethwaite Gill
  • Fleemis Gill
  • Turn Beck
  • Goodmans Gill
  • Great Gill
  • Clint Gill
  • Thorow Gill
  • Humph Gill
  • South Runner
  • Caldbergh Gill
  • Red beck Gill

Settlements

  • Woodale
  • Braidley
  • Arkleside
  • Horsehouse
  • Swineside
  • Gammersgill
  • West Scrafton
  • Carlton
  • Melmerby
  • Caldbergh
  • Agglethorpe
  • Middleham

Crossings

  • Cover Bridge
  • Braidley Footbridge
  • Arkleside Bridge
  • Footbridge near Hindlethwaite Hall
  • Track to Hindlethwaite Hall
  • Hall Farm stepping stones
  • Nathwaite Bridge
  • Caygill Footbridge
  • Bird Ridding Bridge (footbridge)
  • St Simon's Bridge (footbridge)
  • Coverham Bridge
  • Hullo Bridge (footbridge)
  • Straight Lane stepping stones
  • A6108 Cover Bridge

See also

References

  1. ^ "Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust". www.yorkshiredalesriverstrust.org.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  2. ^ "Geology". Archived from the original on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  3. ^ "OpenData support | OS Tools & Support"
  4. ^ "Coverdale Catch (Trib of Ure)". environment.data.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Team goes against the flow". The Yorkshire Post. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Ecology (Fish)". Retrieved 13 October 2011.