Three Rivers Cycleway - The Three Rivers

The Three Rivers

Tyne, Wear, Tees

All three rivers have there origins close to each other in the
North Pennines on the northern slopes of Cross Fell.
The sources of River South Tyne and River Tees are less than two miles apart
and at one point the two rivers are less than 1/2 mile apart.
The source of River Wear is on Killhope Moor above Nenthead not far from the C2C route.

RIVER TYNE

The river has two sources.

River South Tyne
This rises at Tynehead and heads north through Alston to Haltwhistle
where it turns east to the "Meeting of the Waters" just west of Hexham.

River North Tyne
This rises on Deadwater Fell in Kielder Forest and heads south east into Kielder Water - largest man made reservoir in Britain - before turning south to the "Meeting of the Waters" just west of Hexham.

From the "Meeting of the Waters" the now River Tyne flows east through Hexham, Corbridge,
and the conurbation of Tyne & Wear to the North Sea at Tynemouth / South Shields.

The tidal limit is at the weir below Wylam Bridge some 25 miles from the sea.

The lower stretches of the river east of Newburn were once heavily industrialised but now with industrial decline the river once again is thriving.

This tidal section has many river crossing, over, under and across.
Four high level bridges - two low level bridge - three tunnels - one ferry

The section between Newcastle and Gateshead if famous for its "The Bridges" - 7 at the last count !!
Some of which are unique, largest or world leaders when constructed.

RIVER WEAR

Rising in the Pennine chain near the Cumbria border, and traversing a valley about 6o m. in length to the North Sea, with a drainage area of 458 sq. m.

A series of streams draining from the hills between Killhope Law and
Burnhope Seat (2452 ft. are collected at Wearhead.

Then eastward, past the small towns of St Johns Chapel and Stanhope, and as far as that of Wolsingham, Weardale is narrow and picturesque, sharply aligned by high-lying moorland.

The river then takes a south-easterly bend as far. as Bishop Auckland, then turns northward
and northeastward, the course of the river becoming extremely sinuous.

The scenery is particularly fine where the river sweeps round the bold peninsula
which bears the cathedral and castle of the city of Durham.

The valley line continues northerly until Chesterle-Street is passed, then it turns north-east;
and soon the river becomes navigable, and used to carry a great traffic in coal,
and having its banks lined with factories.
At the mouth is the large seaport of Sunderland.

RIVER TEES

Rises on the eastward slope of Cross Fell in the Pennine Chain,and traverses a valley about
85 miles in length to the North Sea and drains an area of 708 square miles.

In the earliest part of its course it forms the boundary between the traditional counties of Westmorland and Durham. The head of the valley, of which the upper portion is known as Teesdale, has a desolate grandeur; the hills, exceeding 2500 feet in height at some points, consisting of bleak moorland.

A succession of falls or rapids, where the river traverses a hard series of black basaltic rocks, bears the name of "Cauldron Snout"; and from a point immediately below this to its mouth the
Tees forms the boundary between Durham and Yorkshire almost without a break.

The dale becomes bolder below Cauldron Snout, and trees appear, contrasting with the broken rocks where the water dashes over High Force, one of the finest falls in England.

The scenery becomes gentler but more picturesque as the river descends past Middleton-in-Teesdale (Durham). This locality has lead and ironstone resources. The ancient town of Barnard Castle,
Eggleston Abbey, and Rokeby Hall, well known through Sir Walter Scott's poem, are passed;
and then the valley begins to open out, and the river traverses in sweeping curves
the rich plain east and south of Darlington.

The course of the valley hitherto has been generally east-southeast, but it now turns northeast and, nearing the sea, becomes an important commercial waterway, having on its banks
Stockton-on-Tees, Thornaby-on-Tees and Middlesbrough.

For the last five miles the course, below the Tees Barrage, the river is estuarine and still industrialised.