| This most picturesque of North Yorkshire rivers has | | | | the riverside settlements also changes, growing |
| its source on the moors above Langstrothdale Chase. | | | | bigger and more industrial as the Wharfe moves |
| Whilst not the longest of rivers nevertheless it | | | | close to Leeds and Bradford. But first the river |
| encompasses a vast range of scenery and river | | | | passes the village of Addingham famous for its |
| states, from upland stream to a tidal river close to its | | | | church and the nearby suspension bridge before |
| confluence with the River Ouse near Cawood. | | | | passing through the first town in it course, i.e. the |
| Langstrothdale is the steep sided upland valley of the | | | | town of Ilkley. High above the river lie the moors |
| River Wharfe. At this point the river has a limestone | | | | made famous in the Yorkshire song about a man |
| bed and can vary considerably between being in | | | | who dies of a head cold from "courting" his girlfriend |
| spate with full flow and being almost dry in the | | | | without a hat. |
| summer months. The valley sides are littered with | | | | "On Ilkla moor bar t'at" rings out in many a coach |
| limestone caves, small waterfalls and of course the | | | | returning from a football match or a trip to the |
| drystone walls and sheep so characteristic of upland | | | | seaside. |
| Yorkshire. | | | | Ilkley itself is a grand little town with many fine |
| The valley is furnished with a narrow but very | | | | restaurants and shops and boasts fine fishing for |
| serviceable road which for much of its length is | | | | trout from the river. I, myself, have had the pleasure |
| unfenced allowing complete access to the | | | | of some great examples provided by Lord Durno |
| greensward which flanks the crystal clear stream. In | | | | who was always keen on fly fishing in the Wharfe. |
| summer this is a very popular spot for a day with | | | | The town was also the birthplace of one of |
| the children, a riverside picnic or just a stop for a | | | | Yorkshire's most popular current personalities, TV |
| quiet cup of tea at the side of the car. | | | | presenter, author and gardener Alan Titchmarsh. |
| Further down the valley at Hubberholme the fledgling | | | | Next along the river come Burley in Wharfedale and |
| River Wharfe is joined by Cray beck and this marks | | | | then the market town of Otley with its old mill |
| the start of Upper Wharfedale. Hubberholme is a | | | | buildings and riverside parks. The town is bustling |
| small hamlet boasting a superb parish church, resting | | | | without being overwhelming and you hardly notice |
| place of J.B. Priestley which also sports hand carved | | | | the overflying aircraft on their way to or from the |
| oak pews from Robert Thompson - the mouseman | | | | nearby Leeds Bradford airport. Locally the town is |
| of Kilburn. At this point the character of the river | | | | most well known for the wild uplands known as |
| changes, the valley is flatter and the river calmer, | | | | Otley Chevin. |
| deeper and less changeable. The valley has also | | | | Now the river returns briefly to the open spaces of a |
| opened out to form the classic flat bottom glacier | | | | farming valley before passing out of the dale and into |
| formed valley with the low level fields, steep sides, | | | | the Vale of York, entering the town of Tadcaster. |
| dry stone walls and field barns so typical of the | | | | Here at Tadcaster the river has for years provided |
| Yorkshire Dales. | | | | both transport and raw material for the brewing |
| Upper Wharefedale also contains a number of | | | | industry. The town is still home to several major |
| wonderful villages, packed with amenities, | | | | breweries, from the huge John Smith complex to the |
| accommodation and food and drink establishments. A | | | | smaller but still very popular Samuel Smith brewery. |
| great example is the Buck Inn at Buckden which | | | | The story of these two breweries both originally |
| provides great rooms, superb food, great Yorkshire | | | | owned by the Smith family, descendants of the |
| ale or simply a great cup of Yorkshire tea. | | | | original Samuel Smith - a butcher from Meanwood in |
| Other equally beautiful and popular villages include | | | | Leeds - reads like a historical epic with family fall outs |
| Kettlewell, Grassington and Appletreewick. | | | | and splits. The two breweries continue to exist side |
| Towards the southern end of the valley the river | | | | by side although only the Samuel Smith brewery |
| enters woods on the estate of the Duke of | | | | remains independent. |
| Devonshire and hidden in these woods is one of the | | | | Below Tadcaster the river flows through several |
| most dramatic features of the river. At The Strid the | | | | more settlements, some with very nordic names like |
| whole flow of the river is compressed into a deep | | | | Ulleskelf or Ozendyke. Around this area the river also |
| and rocky channel less than 2 metres wide. The | | | | becomes tidal with the twice daily rise and fall of the |
| resulting roaring torrent is full of strong downward | | | | waters flowing from or back into the much larger |
| currents and underwater overhangs to trap and | | | | River Ouse which has flowed down from York. |
| drown the unwary. Over the years there have been | | | | The river Wharfe finally joins the Ouse just above |
| many casualties including the medieval Boy of | | | | the urban village of Cawood - famous locally for its |
| Egremond who was later immortalised in the poem | | | | swing bridge which seems to break down with |
| by Wordsworth. | | | | depressing regularity. Cawood is also famous as the |
| Just downstream the river passes by the glorious | | | | place where Cardinal Wolsey was arrested by the |
| remains of Bolton Abbey. With the ruins of the | | | | Earl of Northumberland and taken south to stand trial |
| priory, over 80 miles of footpaths, 30,000 acres of | | | | for treason against Henry VIII. He was, however, |
| beautiful countryside and a plethora of tea shops, | | | | never to reach London; falling ill at Leicester and |
| pubs and restaurants this is quite simply a great place | | | | eventually dying of his illness. |
| for a family day out. A gem at the heart of the | | | | The waters of the River Wharfe now mingle with |
| Yorkshire Dales. | | | | those of the Ouse and continue south east to |
| Now the river changes again, the valley broadens out | | | | become the Humber Estuary below Selby and finally |
| and the river is fuller and more mature. The nature of | | | | to flow into the North Sea east of Kingston upon Hull. |
