Risedale Beck is a small river that rises on Hipswell Moor, near Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, England. The name derives from Old Norse as meaning either Risi's Valley (a personal name) or translated as a valley overgrown with brushwood.[1] Risedale Beck flows eastwards into Catterick Garrison as Leadmill Gill, (also known as Cottages Beck)[2] which in turn flows into Colburn Beck, a tributary of the River Swale.[3] The length of the beck from source to the River Swale is 6.5 miles (10.4 km).[4]

A stepping stone crossing over Leadmill Beck (also known as Risedale Beck further upstream) in Catterick Garrison

As the beck passes through Catterick Garrison, its northern bank forms the edge of Foxglove Covert, a nationally acclaimed nature reserve on military land.[5] Otters have been noted at the covert and they were filmed fishing on the beck.[6]

In June 2007, the area suffered 2-months worth of rain in 48 hours. This led to the beck being swollen from what is normally a trickle to waist deep water. A British Army infantry course on their final 8 mi (13 km) fitness test forded the beck. One private was swept away to his death.[7][8]

References

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  1. ^ Smith, A H (1969). The place-names of the North Riding of Yorkshire (PDF). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 244. OCLC 16956730.
  2. ^ "SE 19" (Map). Catterick Camp. 1:25,000. Ordnance Survey. 1952. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  3. ^ "302" (Map). Northallerton & Thirsk (C1 ed.). 1:25,000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey. 2014. ISBN 9780319245545.
  4. ^ "Colburn Beck/Risedale Bk from Source to R Swale". environment.data.gov.uk. Environment Agency. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Anger at Foxglove Covert nature reserve plans to force visitors to cross Army training area". The Northern Echo. 2 February 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Otters on Risedale Beck". www.foxglovecovert.org.uk. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  7. ^ Foster, Mark (25 November 2008). "Team misjudged danger of flooded beck – inquest". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Soldier missing after river fall". BBC News. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2018.

54°23′28″N 1°42′40″W / 54.391°N 1.711°W / 54.391; -1.711