Many thanks to
Yorebridge House for facilitating this camera's location and to
The Yorkshire Dales River Trust for capitally funding it's installation. Yorebridge House offers an exceptional fishing experience on the River Ure in the Hawes and Bainbridge area, covering a stretch of 15 miles of double banked fishing. This opportunity is made possible through the High Hawes and Abbotside Angling Association, providing anglers with a truly remarkable fly fishing experience in an upland setting renowned for its Brown Trout and Grayling. The fishing techniques employed here include traditional Yorkshire spiders, nymphs, and dry flies, all of which yield fruitful catch returns due to the abundant hatches throughout the year.Historically, the River Ure supported an annual salmon catch of 3,000. However, the Industrial Revolution brought pollution that severely impacted the migratory fish population. Today, with the improvements in the cleanliness of the Humber River System, the populations of salmon and other migratory fish, including sea trout, are rapidly increasing in the River Ure. The estate actively supports The Ure Salmon Trust, an organization dedicated to restoring salmon numbers in the Ure and fostering the development of a salmon fishing industry within its catchment area.Positive signs of recovery are evident, with notable catches on our water. In 2011, 35 salmon and 14 sea trout were caught from just 50 rod outings. The following year, 2012, saw 50 salmon and 27 sea trout caught in 94 rod days. Despite challenging fishing conditions in 2013, 47 salmon and 17 sea trout were still caught. Furthermore, the fish pass at Westwick saw over 8,500 validated upcounts throughout the year, more than double the previous year's count.The geological composition of the surrounding areas varies along the course of the River Ure. Upper Wensleydale, characterized by Yoredale Beds, features a high, open, and remote U-shaped valley. The gradient gradually becomes steeper as you move further south, with glacial drumlins flanking the river. Although the river is shallow, it flows swiftly and is fed by numerous gills cutting through woodland and predominantly sheep farmsteads. The western side of the valley is traversed by the Settle to Carlisle railway.Mid Wensleydale consists of Great Scar limestone under Yoredale beds, which form stepped limestone scars on the valley sides. Glacial drift tails and moraine make up the valley floor, while the river itself flows gently in meanders through a stony channel. Several waterfalls can be observed in this area, resulting from contributions by the four tributary valleys.As the river progresses into Lower Wensleydale, it widens, and its meandering flow continues until it dramatically descends at Aysgarth, forming platformed waterfalls. The valley sides become increasingly wooded in this section.From the point of Middleham onwards, the river takes on the characteristics of a typical middle-aged river, meandering in wider arcs as it flows southeast. The valley has a rich history of human habitation, dating back to prehistoric times. The Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes showcases examples of earthworks and artifacts from the Bronze and Iron Ages, while a Roman fort was established in Bainbridge. Place names within the valley reflect the different settlers that have inhabited the area, such as the Angles and Norse, as indicated by suffixes like "ton" and "sett."During the medieval period, much of the upper dale was utilized for sheep farming, belonging to Middleham Castle and Jervaulx Abbey. In 1751, the Richmond to Lancaster Turnpike was created, initially following the Roman road from Bainbridge. In 1795, the road was rerouted through the valley to Hawes, taking the Widdale route, which is now known as the B6255 leading to Ingleton.
In more recent times, the scenic Aysgarth Falls gained recognition as a filming location, featuring in movies such as "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves" (1990), where it served as the backdrop for the fight between Robin Hood and Little John. Additionally, the falls appeared in the 1992 film adaptation of "Wuthering Heights" and the 1984 TV miniseries "A Woman of Substance."
