Trout Beck
Encyclopedia
The 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. The river rises between the peaks of Stony Cove Pike
and Thornthwaite Crag
in the High Street
range, at a height of about 1970 feet (600 m).
Several tributaries flowing from the crags to the west of the High Street Roman road combine to form the young Trout Beck. The river descends rapidly, more or less in a southerly direction, through Troutbeck Park
and to the west of Troutbeck Tongue
. At a height of about 650 feet (200 m) the Woundale Beck, draining the eastern flanks of Broad End and Pike How, is subsumed. The engorged Trout Beck then skirts Hird Wood on its eastern side before subsuming Hagg Gill at the 460 feet (140 m) contour. This latter tributary drains the fells around the course of the old Roman road.
The river passes under Ing Bridge as it continues in a southerly direction down the Troutbeck valley through the tranquil fields of the valley bottom. The hamlets of Town Head and High Green are just to the west of the river as it enters Limefitt Park. On emerging from Limefitt the river is bridged by the A592 Kirkstone Pass
road. Continuing through a narrow area of mixed woodland the river eventually reaches the A591 road
at Troutbeck Bridge near the town of Windermere
. After less than a mile (2 km) the river enters Windermere on its eastern shore at a point close to Calgarth Hall.
From its source the Trout Beck descends some 1840 feet (560 m) in a distance of about seven miles (11 km). The river is a trout
fishery where brown trout
can be caught. Anglers should enquire locally about licences (an Environment Agency
Rod Licence is required).
The Trout Beck was wholly within the historic county of Westmorland
, and since 1974, 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
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
. It is one of the main sources of replenishment for 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...
. 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 appears in documents from 1292 as Trutebyk. The river rises between the peaks of Stony Cove Pike
Stony Cove Pike
Stony Cove Pike is a fell in the Far Eastern part of the English Lake District. It stands on the other side of the Kirkstone Pass from Red Screes, and is on the end of a ridge coming down from High Street...
and Thornthwaite Crag
Thornthwaite Crag
Thornthwaite Crag is a fell in the English Lake District, standing to the west of Haweswater Reservoir. It is a focal point of the Far Eastern Fells, standing at the head of several valleys.-Topography:...
in the High Street
High Street (Lake District)
High Street is a fell in the English Lake District. At 828 metres , its summit is the highest point in the far eastern part of the national park. The fell is named after the Roman road which ran over the summit.-History and Naming:...
range, at a height of about 1970 feet (600 m).
Several tributaries flowing from the crags to the west of the High Street Roman road combine to form the young Trout Beck. The river descends rapidly, more or less in a southerly direction, through Troutbeck Park
Troutbeck Park
Troutbeck Park is a farm to the north of Troutbeck village in South Lakeland, Cumbria. In 1923 there was a risk of it being sold for development, so Beatrix Potter bought it and kept it as a working farm...
and to the west of Troutbeck Tongue
Troutbeck Tongue
Troutbeck Tongue is a small fell located in the English Lake District, three miles east of Ambleside. It is one of 214 hills listed in Alfred Wainwright's Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells, which makes it a popular attraction for walkers who are aiming to complete all the "Wainwrights"...
. At a height of about 650 feet (200 m) the Woundale Beck, draining the eastern flanks of Broad End and Pike How, is subsumed. The engorged Trout Beck then skirts Hird Wood on its eastern side before subsuming Hagg Gill at the 460 feet (140 m) contour. This latter tributary drains the fells around the course of the old Roman road.
The river passes under Ing Bridge as it continues in a southerly direction down the Troutbeck valley through the tranquil fields of the valley bottom. The hamlets of Town Head and High Green are just to the west of the river as it enters Limefitt Park. On emerging from Limefitt the river is bridged by the A592 Kirkstone Pass
Kirkstone Pass
Kirkstone Pass is a mountain pass in the English Lake District, in the county of Cumbria. It is at an altitude of .This is the Lake District's highest pass that is open to motor traffic and it connects Ambleside in the Rothay Valley to Patterdale in the Ullswater Valley - the A592 road. In places,...
road. Continuing through a narrow area of mixed woodland the river eventually reaches the 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:...
at Troutbeck Bridge near the town of Windermere
Windermere (town)
Windermere is a town and civil parish in the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England. It has a population of 8,245. It lies about half a mile away from the lake, Windermere...
. After less than a mile (2 km) the river enters Windermere on its eastern shore at a point close to Calgarth Hall.
From its source the Trout Beck descends some 1840 feet (560 m) in a distance of about seven miles (11 km). The river is a trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
fishery where brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
can be caught. Anglers should enquire locally about licences (an Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
Rod Licence is required).
The Trout Beck 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:...
, and since 1974, 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
- River BrathayRiver BrathayThe 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...
- River RothayRiver RothayThe 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 above sea level...