River Swale

For other meanings of swale see Swale (disambiguation).

The River Swale is a river in Yorkshire, England and a major tributary of the River Ure, which itself becomes the River Ouse, emptying into the North Sea via the Humber Estuary.

The River Swale is reputed to be the fastest river in England, it is also prone to flash flooding, many unsuspecting swimmers have been swept to their deaths over the years due to heavy rainfall in upper Swaledale.

The Swale begins its course high in the Yorkshire Dales on the border of North Yorkshire and Cumbria a few miles south east of Kirkby Stephen and not far from the source of the River Eden, which later reaches Carlisle. The river is first given its name only a few miles downstream from the source, at the confluence of the Birkdale Beck and the Great Sleddale Beck. After crossing the Pennine Way near the hamlet of Keld it cascades over a series of waterfalls including Wain Wath Force and Kisdon Force, before swinging eastwards at the village of Muker and carving out the limestone cliffs of picturesque Swaledale, famed for its namesake cheese.

After tumbling over several more waterfalls, it enters Richmond passing its famous castle followed by the racecourse at Catterick. Turning south through the Vale of Mowbray it is joined by the River Wiske from Northallerton and Cod Beck from Thirsk before reaching the Ure just east of Boroughbridge at a point known as Swale Nab.

Settlements

from source

A river called The Swale which separates North Kent from the Isle of Sheppey was also historically known as the River Swale.