The River Wharfe is a river in Yorkshire, England. For much of its length it is the county boundary between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire.

Course

The valley of the River Wharfe is known as Wharfedale. Its source is at Langstrothdale Chase in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and flows through Kettlewell, Grassington, Bolton Abbey, Addingham , Ilkley, Otley, Collingham , Boston Spa, Tadcaster, then flows into the River Ouse near Selby. The section of the river from its source to around Addingham is known as Upper Wharfedale and has a very different character to the river downstream.

The Wharfe has a reputation of being very dangerous, in that people have regularly been drowned while swimming in it.

The river is approximately 97 kilometers long before it joins the River Ouse.

The Strid

Near Bolton Abbey is the Strid. Here the whole river is channeled through a narrow gorge, at some points less than 2 metres across, at the surface. The gap looks eminently jumpable, but is deceptive as the many ledges on the sides are at different heights and often very slippery. Many people have fallen in and have been drowned. Fierce currents that run through this section drag any hapless victim down where they become trapped among the underwater ledges, and hollows carved by the rapids.

See also

• Rivers of the United Kingdom