Upper Dart is a section of the River Dart

River Dart

The River Dart is a river in Devon, England which rises high on Dartmoor, and releases to the sea at Dartmouth. Its valley and surrounding area is a place of great natural beauty.-Watercourse:...

, Dartmoor

Dartmoor

Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...

.

It is perhaps the second most popular section of whitewater

Whitewater

Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...

 for kayakers and canoeists in 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...

, particularly for experienced paddlers. This section is followed on by the Dart Loop

The Loop, River Dart

The Loop is a section of the River Dart, Dartmoor, also known as the Dart Loop.It is perhaps the most popular section of whitewater for kayakers and canoeists in England...

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Overview

The section's length is approximately 4.3 miles (6.9 kilometres) in length.

This section is loosely Graded

International Scale of River Difficulty

The International Scale of River Difficulty is a standardized scale used to rate the safety of a stretch of river, or a single rapid. The grade reflects the technical difficulty and skill level required associated with the section of river...

 at 4, but varies tremendously on rain and ground water levels. The Dart has been known to rise in minutes, changing drastically from a quiet trickle to a raging torrent.

Water levels

There is a gauge on the section below which gives an accurate level, however this requires you to run that section in order to see it. It is much easier to see the level at Newbridge

Newbridge, River Dart

Newbridge or New Bridge is a Grade II* listed medieval bridge over the River Dart, Dartmoor, Devon, England. It is on the road between Ashburton and Two Bridges, and connects Aish Tor to Holne Chase...

  before driving to the get in. This gauge is known as the slab,on the river left at the "putin" for the "loop" section.

• Low: from the lowest point of the slab; if the water is not up to the top edge, the water level conditions are low. Starts as a technical Grade 3, and works up to a low Grade 4.
• Medium: on or close to the edge is deemed medium water. Mainly Grade 4.
• High: when the slab is covered high water conditions apply. Grade 4+, with the last few kilometres pushing up to Grade 5.
• Spate: on the steps leading down to the water's edge is spate conditions. Later sections are a serious Grade 5+ undertaking.

Access point

The river East Dart runs through the car park, and access to the river can be made from here. The best "put in" is to walk out of the car park, over the road, and then down to the river's edge just downstream of the road bridge, just upstream from Dartmeet

Dartmeet

Dartmeet is a popular tourist spot in the centre of Dartmoor, Devon, England at .It lies at the end of the B3351 road, about east of Two Bridges. From here, the road continues eastwards as a minor road with restrictions on the size of vehicles, past Poundsgate and over Holne Bridge and New Bridge...

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Notable rapids

The Upper Dart section has an easier run in and run out of the main section of rapids in the middle of the run. Within this middle section there are a number of features on the Upper Dart, only notable rapids are mentioned here. These are referred to in English White Water by the British Canoe Union

British Canoe Union

The British Canoe Union is a national governing body for canoeing in the United Kingdom, whose stated purpose is "Helping and Inspiring people to go canoeing”....

.

Boulder Garden

The first significant steep rapid made up of numerous boulders. The entry is straight forward, and the twisting path makes for the first Class IV whitewater, where a long pool Eagle Flats awaits below.

Lucky Tor

An island divides the flow, with a long boulder garden down the left, and easy rapids to a steeper exit on the right. Towards the end of the island, the two channels join to make a steep exit into a bedrock feature.

Board Ledge

After a long straight, the river bends river and drops over 3 wide bedrock ledges, that at low and medium flows is straight forward, and the water level increases, more significant stoppers form on each of the ledges.

Mad Mile

A series of river wide ledges and slides, with a large pool, Mel Pool, half way down. Much easier in low water, but at high levels many stoppers are powerful and hold swimmers. Sneak routes exist, and should be used. A series of ledges from Broadledge, finish in a diagonal ramp at Mel Pool, where in high water makes for a huge cushion wave and the centre of difficulties when in flood. Mel Pool Steps, has a number of routes, with the a series of small slides that leads to easier water. This section also belies its name - it's closer to half a mile.

Euthanasia Falls

A diagonal drop with cushion wave, chunky stopper, large rocks with the water funnelled between them. A chicken chute exists at certain levels.

Sharrah's Pool aka Surprise, Surprise or Pandora's Box

Complex rocky set of drops, complete with siphons. River left section has a slot, middle section has rocks with a high possibility of pinning. More dangerous at lower water levels, at high levels it can wash out.

Egress point

Newbridge

Newbridge, River Dart

Newbridge or New Bridge is a Grade II* listed medieval bridge over the River Dart, Dartmoor, Devon, England. It is on the road between Ashburton and Two Bridges, and connects Aish Tor to Holne Chase...

 is the official BCU

British Canoe Union

The British Canoe Union is a national governing body for canoeing in the United Kingdom, whose stated purpose is "Helping and Inspiring people to go canoeing”....

egress point.

External links

• BCU Dart Access
• Official Dartmoor website regarding Canoeing and Kayaking