A Canoeist's Guide to the North East

Includes an area of southern Scotland and northern England, with detailed descriptions of the rivers of the Scottish Borders, Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire down to the Aire. The coast is covered from St Abbs Head in Scotland to Flamborough Head in Yorkshire, and includes the Farne Islands, renowned for their wildlife. Caters for all paddlers.

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River Blyth

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Access: Bellasis Bridge (OS Ref 190777) or Stannington Bridge.
Egress: Bedlington riverside park. (OS Ref 277820).
Length: 16kms.
Grade: II
Optional Portage: Weir (OS Ref 263798)
OS Maps: Alnwick/Rothbury No. 81 & Tyneside No. 88.

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Introduction
The Blyth provides some easy rough water paddling through an attractive wooded valley only a few miles from Newcastle upon Tyne.

Access
Few problems as the river is rarely paddled. No L.A.O.

River course
Being a relatively small river it is best paddled in spate conditions. In high water the river Blyth can be paddled from as far up as Thornford Bridge (OS Ref 156773) or Bellasis Bridge (OS Ref 190177). However, these upper sections cannot really be recommended as the river winds slowly through some rather dull pastureland where it has cut deeply through the topsoil creating high banks which obscure much of the surrounding countryside. An additional feature of this section is innumerable sheep fences spanning the river, which interrupt the journey every kilometre or so, making the trip more like a game of musical chairs than a days paddling.

Alternatively those canoeists who live around Ponteland may wish to take advantage of the River Pont which flows through the town centre but it is 7kms of rather arduous paddling before the confluence is reached.

The best starting point for most people will be at Stannington Bridge. The new road bridge has a lay-by on the southbound carriageway which provides convenient roadside parking.

The river now passes through a pretty wooded valley which continues all the way down to the point of egress. After about 4kms a road bridge is reached which is overlooked by Hartford Hall high up on the left bank. This impressive building is now used as a rehabilitation centre by the NHS. 100m downstream a small weir with a 1m sloping drop should present no problems.

The river now begins to gather pace with a succession of Grade II rapids. After about 3-4kms a longer stretch of slack water warns of an approaching weir. In high water the 2m steeply sloping drop forms a vicious stopper which has the potential of sending many to meet their maker. Fortunately by keeping close to the right bank you can take a narrow channel which by-passes the main weir but still ends in a rather tricky 1.5m vertical drop. Those unfamiliar with this weir are advised to inspect it from the bank as some may wish to portage it. The rather smelly water present at this stage of the journey provides an additional incentive to avoid a swim.

Further minor rapids continue for two-three kilometres before a high road bridge is reached, some may wish to use this as an egress point as there is a convenient riverside park with a public footpath down to the river. This is followed by a second lower road bridge 2km downstream (OS Ref 277820) which is a suitable point to finish.

This spot may be reached by going over the River Blyth on the A189 from Newcastle and taking the first left, the B1331, and following road signs to Bedlington. After 2kms a public house called the ‘Bank Top’ is reached where another left turn takes you down to a small road bridge and riverside park. Although it is possible to continue paddling further downstream, the river soon flattens out and becomes tidal. An additional problem is that the river banks have a generous veneer of foul-smelling estuary mud which has to be negotiated before the safety of dry land is reached.

Summary of River Blyth (and River Pont)
Kms       
    0    Access   Bellasis Bridge (OS Ref 190777)
    5                   or Stannington Bridge (OS Ref 216784) best starting point,
                         or via River Pont - Ponteland Road Bridge (OS Ref 166728)
    9                   Hartford Bridge, Hartford Hall high on left bank, 100m
                         downstream - weir 1m sloping drop - easily shot.
    12                 Weir - optional portage - dangerous central stopper. 2m steep slope.       
                         Inspection advised in high water. Shoot far right. Sloping channel by-passes
                         main weir to angled vertical drop of 1.5m. (OS Ref 263798).
    14.5              A193 Road bridge.
    16  Egress   Road bridge. Egress upstream left bank. (OS Ref 277820)
    16.5              Iron railway bridge.
    17                 Road bridge A189.
                         Estuary.