© 2010 Halifax Canoe Club Ltd, Greenups Mill, Wharf Street, Sowerby Bridge

Registered Company No 2612775

Although not a totally new trip to the club, we haven’t paddled the Crake for quite a few years, so it was new to all of us paddling - and what a gem!

The Crake flow out of the Southern end of Coniston in the Lakes and flows out into Morecambe Bay at Greenodd about 5 miles later! It’s not often you get the chance to paddle a river from source to sea, and in just a couple of hours. (A concept that got our Chair quite excited).

After a 20 minute paddle down the lake, the reeds close in and rippling grade 1 water ‘sweeps’ you down the first 1/2 mile of river - leaving most people wondering why we had come here!

But then the river picks up eventually delivering you to a grade 3 rapid with a twisting line but no real problems.

For the rest of the river the rapids are fairly continuous, with a good assortment of smaller playspot on the way. And the tight tree-lined banks mean there’s a sort of wilderness experience to it - even though you are only a few hundred yards from the road all the way. At Spark bridge there is another tricky grade 3 on a bend - made more difficult by the fact that you can’t get out and have a look!

Below there thing start to ease off, although there scope to loose your paddle in passing trees! (Rob – we’ve told you the rescuer comes off worse - just leave Les to get his own paddle back!)

An another flat stretch to the get off at Greenodd - although we just had to paddle 200m past the get off (& back) just to go to the sea!

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