River Dove, North Yorkshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Dove |
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The River Dove near Farndale
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| Country | England |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Farndale Moor, North Yorkshire 372 metres (1,220 ft) 54°24′24″N 1°2′23″W / 54.40667°N 1.03972°W |
| River mouth | River Rye near Salton 24 metres (79 ft) 54°12′7″N 0°54′35″W / 54.20194°N 0.90972°W |
| Length | 30.22 kilometres (18.78 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 59.2 square kilometres (22.9 sq mi) |
The River Dove is a lovely river in North Yorkshire, England. It starts high up in the North York Moors and flows south. Eventually, it joins the River Rye. The River Rye then flows into the River Derwent. The top part of the River Dove's valley is called Farndale. The name "Dove" comes from an old Celtic language. It means "dark river." The main stream that flows into the River Dove is called the Hodge Beck.
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Where the River Dove Flows
The River Dove begins its journey in Farndale. It flows south-east through small villages like Church Houses. Then, it turns south and winds its way past Low Mill to Lowna. Near Gillamoor, it heads south-east again. It passes Hutton-le-Hole before turning south once more. The river flows past Ravenswick and to the east of Kirkbymoorside.
It continues past Keldholme and Kirkby Mills. Finally, it reaches Great Edstone. From there, it flows south-south-east. It joins the River Rye in the Vale of Pickering. This meeting point is close to the village of Salton.
The Environment Agency measures the river's water levels at Kirkby Mills. The average low level is about 0.2 metres (0.66 ft). The average high level is around 0.52 metres (1.7 ft). The highest level ever recorded was 2.45 metres (8 ft). This shows that the river can sometimes flood.
River Dove's Landscape
The River Dove and its tributary, Hodge Beck, flow over limestone rock. Sometimes, the water sinks into the ground. It then flows underground through the rock. Later, it comes back out further down the valley. During dry summer months, the bed of Hodge Beck can even become completely dry!
The soil on the valley floor is a mix of sand, silt, and clay. This type of soil is called loam. Underneath the soil, the main rock is Jurassic limestone. There are also some areas with sandstone.
Fun Things to Do by the River
The area between Church Houses and Low Mill in Farndale is very popular. People love to walk along the River Dove here. It's a really beautiful place!
The banks of the river are famous for their wild daffodils. People say that monks from the nearby Rievaulx Abbey planted them a long time ago. There's a special walking path called The Farndale Daffodil Walk. It's a circular path about 11.4-kilometre (7.1 mi) long. It starts at Lowna Bridge.
Rivers and Streams Joining the Dove
Many smaller streams and rivers flow into the River Dove. These are called tributaries. Here are some of them:
- Middle Heads
- Gill Beck
- Gill Dike
- Oak Beck
- Low Dike
- Green Slack Dike
- Fish Beck
- West Gill Beck
- Lapa Green Dike
- Yealand Rigg Slack
- Shortsha Beck
- Hodge Beck
- Carr Dike
Villages Along the River Dove
The River Dove flows past several small villages and towns. These include:
- Church Houses
- Low Mill
- Lowna
- Gillamoor
- Hutton-le-Hole
- Ravenswick
- Kirkbymoorside
- Keldholme
- Kirkby Mills
- Great Edstone
- Salton
Bridges and Crossings
There are many ways to cross the River Dove. Some are bridges, and some are fords (places where you can drive or walk through shallow water).
- Thorn Wath Bridge, Church Houses
- Mill Bridge (for walking only)
- Waste Bridge, Low Mill
- Mercer's Bridge (for walking only)
- Dale End Bridge (for walking only)
- Birch Hagg Bridge
- Lowna Bridge, Lowna
- Yoadwath Ford
- An unnamed road near Ravenswick
- Keldholme Bridge, Keldholme
- The A170 road near Kirkbymoorside
- An unnamed road near Salton
Gallery
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A ford crossing the River Dove
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A footbridge over the River Dove
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Another ford on the River Dove
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The River Dove near Birch Hagg House
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A fishing spot on the River Dove near Sparrow Hall
Images for kids
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The River Dove on a map of the North York Moors
