View source for River Wharfe

[[File:River Wharfe looking west from aqueduct - geograph.org.uk - 207004.jpg|right|thumb|350px|The Wharfe by Bardon Scale]]
The '''River Wharfe''' is a river in [[Yorkshire]], which carves one of the finest of the [[Yorkshire Dales]]; [[Wharfedale]]. The river rises amongst the [[Pennines]] in the [[Craven]] district of the [[West Riding of Yorkshire|West Riding]] and after flowing down through Wharfedale it ultimately becomes a tributary of the [[River Ouse, Yorkshire|River Ouse]].

The name "Wharfe" is from the old British language and means "twisting" or "winding".

The river's source is at Beckermonds at Langstrothdale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Thence it flows through [[Kettlewell]], [[Grassington]], Bolton Abbey, [[Addingham]], [[Ilkley]], [[Burley-in-Wharfedale]], [[Otley]], [[Wetherby]] and [[Tadcaster]]. It enters the River Ouse near [[Cawood]]. The section of the river from its source to around Addingham is known as Upper Wharfedale and has a very different character to the river downstream.

The river is approximately 60 miles long before it joins the River Ouse. It is a public navigation from the weir at Tadcaster to its junction with the River Ouse near Cawood and tidal from Ulleskelf.

==Course==
[[File:Meander on the River Wharfe between Kettlewell and Starbotton (12th February 2013).JPG|right|thumb|250px|The River Wharfe meandering between Starbotton and Kettlewell]]
The river source is the confluence of Oughtershaw Beck and Green Field Beck in Langstrothdale near Beckermonds. It flows east and south east taking the flows from many small streams, whose sources are the shake holes from [[Yockenthwaite]] Moor on the north bank and Horse Head Moor on the south bank. After [[Hubberholme]], the river flows south past Buckden and Starbotton and then south east past [[Kettlewell]] before flowing south again. Near [[Conistone]] are the gentle waterfalls of Scar Lash. Shortly before reaching Grassington, the river turns south east over '''Linton Falls'''. South of [[Appletreewick]], the river flows south west for a short distance until it reaches Gill Beck and returns southward. To the north of Bolton Bridge, the river narrows and goes over waterfalls in an area known as '''The Strid'''. The river winds south and south east towards [[Ilkley]] where it heads east through [[Otley]] and [[Collingham, Yorkshire|Collingham]]. It briefly flows north to [[Wetherby]] before turning south and then south east past [[Ulleskelf]] to the confluence with the [[River Ouse, Yorkshire|River Ouse]].

==Waterfalls==
[[File:Linton_Falls,_River_Wharfe.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Linton Falls]]
'''Linton Fall''' ({{map|SE001633}}) are located just south of Grassington and can be accessed from the village down Sedber Lane. There is a footbridge straddling the falls for viewing.

'''The Strid''' ({{map|SE064565}}) is a series of waterfalls and rapids associated with a deep underwater channel caused by the dramatic narrowing of the River Wharfe from approximately 30 feet wide just to the north of the start of the Strid, to the width of a long stride less than 100 yards later. It is especially dangerous as both banks are undercut, and it has been the scene of a number of fatal accidents including those of a honeymoon couple.<ref>{{cite web|title=Honeymooners' death a mystery|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/217851.stm|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=24 March 2013|date=19 November 1998}}</ref> The Strid walk is very popular and is accessed from the car park at Bolton Abbey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walkingenglishman.com/dalesguide/waterfalls/master.htm|title=Waterfalls|accessdate=25 March 2013}}</ref>
{{clear}}
==Tributaries (from source)==
{| width="100%"
| width="33%"| || width="33%"| || width="34%"| 
|- valign="top"
|
*Deepdale Gill
*Hagg Gill
*Bowther Gill
*Strans Gill
*Kirk Gill
*Cow Close Gill
*Buckden Beck
*Step Gill
*Cam Gill Beck
*Falcon Beard Beck
*Hush Gutter
*Kettlewell Beck
*Black Geld
*River Skirfane
*How Beck
*White Beck
*Davy Keld
*Dib Beck
*Robin Hood's Beck
|
*Captain Beck
*Brow Well
*Isingdale Beck
*Howling Beck
*Hebden Beck
*Sandbed Beck
*Barden Beck
*The Old Gutter
*Hall Wells Dike
*Foul Sike
*Fir Beck
*Bumby Dike
*Gill Beck
*Hollin Beck
*Posforth Gill
*Cowpert Gill
*Stead Dike
*Pickles Beck
*Raven's Gill Beck
|
*Kex Beck
*Lathehouse Beck
*Wine Beck
*West Hall Beck
*Dean Beck
*Mill Stream
*West Beck
*Mill Dam Beck
*Boot's Beck
*River Washburn
*Weeton Beck
*Stank Beck
*Collingham Beck
*Hay Dike
*Cock Beck
*Owl Sike
*Pailbank Drain
*The Fleet
|}

==Towns and villages (from source)==
{| width="100%"
| width="33%"| || width="33%"| || width="34%"| 
|- valign="top"
|
*Beckermonds
*Deepdale
*Yockenthwaite
*Hubberholme
*[[Buckden, Yorkshire|Buckden]]
*[[Starbotton]]
*[[Kettlewell]]
*[[Kilnsey]]
*[[Conistone]]
*[[Threshfield]]
*[[Grassington]]
*[[Linton, Craven|Linton]]
*[[Hebden]]
|
*[[Burnsall]]
*[[Appletreewick]]
*Bolton Abbey
*[[Beamsley]]
*[[Addingham]]
*[[Nesfield]]
*[[Ilkley]]
*[[Burley in Wharfedale]]
*[[Otley]]
*[[Pool-in-Wharfedale]]
*Castley
*[[Netherby, Yorkshire|Netherby]]
*Chapel Hill
|
*Collingham
*Linton
*[[Wetherby]]
*Boston Spa
*Thorp Arch
*Newton Kyme
*[[Tadcaster]]
*[[Kirkby Wharfe]]
*[[Ulleskelf]]
*Ozendyke
*Ryther
|}

==Pictures==
<gallery>
File:Source of River Wharfe geograph-1499556-by-Richard-Buck.jpg|Oughtershaw beck and Green Field Beck become the River Wharfe
File:River Wharfe. - geograph.org.uk - 285600.jpg|River Wharfe in Langstrothdale
File:River Wharfe, Langstrothdale. - geograph.org.uk - 285537.jpg|River Wharfe, Langstrothdale, east from the Dalesway Long Distance Walk
File:River Wharfe below Grassington Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 212676.jpg|River Wharfe below Grassington Bridge 
File:Linton_Falls,_River_Wharfe.jpg|Linton Falls near Grassington
File:River Wharfe Upstream of Hebden suspension bridge.jpg|Wharfe upstream of Hebden suspension bridge
File:River Wharfe at Loup Scar Gorge - geograph.org.uk - 388029.jpg|Wharfe at Loup Scar Gorge
File:Barden Bridge, River Wharfe - geograph.org.uk - 206513.jpg|Barden Bridge 
File:The Strid - geograph.org.uk - 287365.jpg|The Strid near Bolton Abbey
File:Bolton Abbey and the River Wharfe - geograph.org.uk - 287362.jpg|Bolton Abbey and the Wharfe 
File:River Wharfe, Ilkley - geograph.org.uk - 18455.jpg|The Wharfe at Ilkley
File:River Wharfe at Otley.jpg|The Wharfe at Otley
File:Bridge over River Wharfe at Otley.jpg|Bridge over River Wharfe at Otley
File:River Wharfe east of Otley - geograph.org.uk - 46037.jpg|The Wharfe east of Otley, looking upstream
File:River Wharfe - geograph.org.uk - 152034.jpg|River Wharfe east from Harewood Bridge
File:River Wharfe at Pool-in-Wharfedale.jpg|Pool-in-Wharfedale
File:River Wharfe from Linton Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 212586.jpg|River Wharfe from Linton Bridge 
File:River Wharfe, Wetherby - geograph.org.uk - 232467.jpg|River Wharfe, Wetherby 
File:River Wharfe at Tadcaster geograph-402598-by-John-Wray.jpg|Tadcaster, with St Mary the Virgin Church behind
File:Wharfe's Mouth - geograph.org.uk - 77419.jpg|Wharfe's Mouth south of Cawood
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wharfe River}}
[[Category:Rivers of Yorkshire]] [[Category:Wharfedale]]