Peasey Beck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peasey Beck |
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Waterfall on the Peasey Beck near Old Hutton
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 Location of the mouth within Cumbria
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| Country | England |
| County | Cumbria |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | River Bela at Milnthorpe 54°13′28″N 2°44′27″W / 54.2245°N 2.7407°W |
| Length | 19.6 km (12.2 mi) |
Peasey Beck is a small river, about 19.6 kilometers (12 miles) long. It flows through Cumbria, England. This beck starts on Lambrigg Fell. Here, it is called the Killington Beck. It then flows into Killington Reservoir. Later, it joins Stainton Beck. Together, they form the River Bela near Milnthorpe.
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The Journey of Peasey Beck
The Peasey Beck begins its journey on Lambrigg Fell. This is a hill located between Kendal and Sedbergh. At its start, the beck is about 299 meters (980 feet) high. Here, it is known as the Killington Beck.
Killington Reservoir
About 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from its source, the beck is held back by a dam. This creates the large Killington Reservoir, also known as Killington Lake.
Building the Reservoir
The Lancaster Canal company needed more water for their canal. In 1807, they got permission to change their plans. They could now take water from Farleton Beck, Stainton Beck, and Peasey Beck. In 1810, they bought 35 hectares (86 acres) of land. This land was for building the reservoir. However, they ran out of money. Construction had to wait until they raised more funds. The reservoir was finally finished in 1819.
Size and Location
Today, Killington Reservoir covers about 57 hectares (140 acres). Its banks have been made higher several times. The M6 motorway runs right next to the western side of the reservoir. Killington Lake Services is a rest stop for drivers. It is located on the bank and can only be used by southbound drivers. These services were built in 1972, soon after the motorway opened.
Fun at the Reservoir
The reservoir is a popular spot for fishing. You can catch rainbow trout and brown trout here. There are also coarse fish like pike, tench, and bream. You can buy day tickets to fish. The lake is easy to get to from the M6 motorway.
Water Flow from the Reservoir
Below the dam, the water from the reservoir does not go directly into the canal through an aqueduct. Instead, the reservoir simply controls how much water flows into the beck. About 10 kilometers (6 miles) downstream, near Crooklands, there is a small dam. This dam sends water into the canal. By this point, the beck is called the Peasey Beck. It then joins the River Bela near Milnthorpe. The River Bela then flows into the River Kent.
