River Rothay
Encyclopedia
The Rothay is a spate river of the Lake District
in north-west England
. Its name comes from Old Norse
and translates literally as the red one. This has come to mean trout river. It rises close to Rough Crag above Dunmail Raise
at a point about 1542 feet (470 m) above sea level
. Its catchment area covers Grasmere Common including Easedale Tarn
, the southern flanks of Fairfield
, and several of the fells to the east of Dunmail Raise, including Great Rigg
, Rydal Fell, Scandale Fell and Heron Pike
.
From its source the Rothay descends through the valley of Greenburn Bottom to the hamlet of Helmside not far from the main A591 road
over Dunmail Raise. Just north of the village of Grasmere
the river subsumes Easedale Gill and Sour Milk Gill, the latter flowing out of Easedale Tarn. In the village the river flows close to the churchyard where the poet Wordsworth
is buried. The Rothay then flows into the head of the lake of Grasmere
(elevation 208 feet/63 m). As well as replenishing Grasmere, the Rothay also drains it, flowing for just half a mile (800 m) from the southern end of the lake before replenishing Rydal Water
(elevation 181 feet/55 m) at its western extremity. The Rothay drains Rydal from its easternmost point and then flows in a general southerly direction for about three miles (4.8 km) before merging with the River Brathay
at Croft Lodge south-west of Ambleside
. From there the rivers flow into the northern end of Windermere
. In addition to those tributaries already noted, several others are subsumed by the Rothay.
About a mile (1.6 km) north of Ambleside the Rothay is crossed by a well-known set of stepping stones. Several sections of the Rothay are popular with canoeists
, including the section between Grasmere and Rydal; the river is graded as 2+. The Rothay is a trout fishery where brown trout
can be caught. Anglers
should enquire locally about licences (an Environment Agency Rod Licence is required).
The River Rothay was wholly within the historic county of Westmorland
. Since local government reorganisation in 1974 the river has been in the county of Cumbria
.
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
in north-west England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Its name comes from Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
and translates literally as the red one. This has come to mean trout river. It rises close to Rough Crag above Dunmail Raise
Dunmail Raise
Dunmail Raise is a hill in the English Lake District, the highest point of a pass on the Keswick-Kendal road, the A591, to the south of Thirlmere reservoir on the way to Grasmere, in the Lake District National Park...
at a point about 1542 feet (470 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. Its catchment area covers Grasmere Common including Easedale Tarn
Easedale Tarn
Easedale Tarn is a tarn in the centre of the English Lake District, about two miles west of the village of Grasmere. It lies in a hollow between Tarn Crag to the north and Blea Rigg to the south, about 910 feet or 280 metres above sea level...
, the southern flanks of Fairfield
Fairfield (Lake District)
Fairfield is a fell in the English Lake District. It is the highest of a group of hills in the Eastern Fells, standing to the south of the Helvellyn range.-Topography:...
, and several of the fells to the east of Dunmail Raise, including Great Rigg
Great Rigg
Great Rigg is a fell in the English Lake District, it is situated 7 kilometres north northwest of Ambleside and reaches a height of 766 metres . It is most often climbed as part of the Fairfield horseshoe, a 16 km circular walk which starts and finishes in Ambleside...
, Rydal Fell, Scandale Fell and Heron Pike
Heron Pike
Heron Pike is a fell in the English Lake District, two kilometres east of Grasmere. It is part of the Fairfield group in the Eastern Fells.-Topography:...
.
From its source the Rothay descends through the valley of Greenburn Bottom to the hamlet of Helmside not far from the main A591 road
A591 road
The A591 is a major road in Cumbria, in the north-west of England. The stretch of the road between Windermere and Keswick has been voted Britain's Favourite Road.-Route:...
over Dunmail Raise. Just north of the village of Grasmere
Grasmere
Grasmere is a village, and popular tourist destination, in the centre of the English Lake District. It takes its name from the adjacent lake, and is associated with the Lake Poets...
the river subsumes Easedale Gill and Sour Milk Gill, the latter flowing out of Easedale Tarn. In the village the river flows close to the churchyard where the poet Wordsworth
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads....
is buried. The Rothay then flows into the head of the lake of Grasmere
Grasmere (lake)
Grasmere is one of the smaller lakes of the English Lake District, in the county of Cumbria. It gives its name to the village of Grasmere, famously associated with the poet William Wordsworth, which lies immediately to the north of the lake....
(elevation 208 feet/63 m). As well as replenishing Grasmere, the Rothay also drains it, flowing for just half a mile (800 m) from the southern end of the lake before replenishing Rydal Water
Rydal Water
Rydal Water is a small lake in the central part of the English Lake District, in the county of Cumbria. It is located near the hamlet of Rydal, between Grasmere and Ambleside in the Rothay Valley....
(elevation 181 feet/55 m) at its western extremity. The Rothay drains Rydal from its easternmost point and then flows in a general southerly direction for about three miles (4.8 km) before merging with the River Brathay
River Brathay
The Brathay is a river of north-west England. Its name comes from Old Norse and means broad river. It rises at a point 1289 feet above sea level near the Three Shire Stone at the highest point of Wrynose Pass in the Lake District...
at Croft Lodge south-west of Ambleside
Ambleside
Ambleside is a town in Cumbria, in North West England.Historically within the county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest lake...
. From there the rivers flow into the northern end of Windermere
Windermere (lake)
Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. It is a ribbon lake formed in a glacial trough after the retreat of ice at the start of the current interglacial. It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and summer homes since the arrival of the Kendal and Windermere...
. In addition to those tributaries already noted, several others are subsumed by the Rothay.
About a mile (1.6 km) north of Ambleside the Rothay is crossed by a well-known set of stepping stones. Several sections of the Rothay are popular with canoeists
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, including the section between Grasmere and Rydal; the river is graded as 2+. The Rothay is a trout fishery where brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
can be caught. Anglers
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
should enquire locally about licences (an Environment Agency Rod Licence is required).
The River Rothay was wholly within the historic county of Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
. Since local government reorganisation in 1974 the river has been in the county of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
.
See also
- Cunsey BeckCunsey BeckCunsey Beck is one of several rivers and streams that replenish the lake of Windermere in the English Lake District. Being just over two miles in length and generally slow flowing, the stream descends some 87 feet from the southern end of Esthwaite Water, which it drains, to the western banks of...
- River Leven
- Trout BeckTrout BeckThe Trout Beck is a fast flowing river of the Lake District in North West England. It is one of the main sources of replenishment for Windermere. Its name comes from Old Norse and appears in documents from 1292 as Trutebyk...