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Crake - Grade 2, with sections of Grade 3
The Crake outflows from Coniston water to the Leven estuary at Greenodd and into Morecambe Bay. It is a good quality descent along mostly flat sections interrupted by various weirs and natural features. These give plenty of small waves and rapids to play on. Paddlers need to be capable of safely managing all of this descent’s obstacles, as you should only get on or off at the specific start and finish points.
River journey – 8km/5mls/2-2.5 hours
Water Levels – View the river from Bouthray Bridge GR SD291889 on the minor road between Water Yeat and Arklid Farm. If adequately deep here, it should be OK. Also note at Spark Bridge very high levels can leave little clearance, low levels give about 1.5m under the bridge (downstream, so can be checked on the way up valley).
Access – subject to a BCU Access Agreement with anglers. Only open to canoes and kayaks from 1st November to 31st March (signed at river outflow). This includes no egress until Spark Bridge (behind the bridge), river right. For further info tel 0901 893 0131 or visit www.bcu.org.uk
Car Parking – Brown Howe (GR SD290910, metered) gives easiest access to Coniston Water. Nearer to the river (and free) are 2 layby car parks at Blawith common GR SD287900 from where a longish carry on a path by the wall leads to boggy, open shore.
At Spark Bridge village there is roadside parking (for considerate shuttle car drivers) near the bus shelter area. There may be space for cars at the disused toilets at Greenodd, or the filling station owners may give permission to use their site by the river if asked.
Hazards – Beyond Allan Tarn (the first pool after leaving the lake) the river picks up towards a Grade 3 rapid immediately after a sharp left bend. Here the flow twists, pushing the inexperienced out left into rocks. See Guidebook first.
At several locations there are islands splitting the river; beware some of these diversions have pipes or wire across at head height!
Downstream several small weirs and Grade 2 sections, with some fast canalised sections, lead into bigger weirs the last having a 1m drop, before the larger sloping weir entry to the steep Bobbin Mill Rapid. 100m further is the road at Spark Bridge.
NB: Environment Agency/BCU signage says – “No inspection or portage of the Bobbin Mill rapid …… is possible due to residential properties and there is no prior egress point. All canoeists must be able, in the prevailing conditions to make this grade 3 descent in a competent, quiet and controlled manner, respecting the privacy of the residents.”
Most stop at Spark Bridge because the river lacks comparable interest below, but beyond here there are weirs including a 1m drop and a ‘tidal’ weir by the road bridge at Greenodd.
Maps – OS OL6 – The English Lakes SW; Harveys' Superwalker Lakeland S (includes start of river only).
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