River Eden

The Eden is a freestone river (spring, lake and rain fed), and a major game fishing river of medium size, that is; it has a spring, a summer, a grilse and a big back-end/Autumn run of salmon. The average weight being around the 8-9 lbs class, although there are many 20lb plus caught every year, the average annual run is around 12,000 fish. The best of the salmon fishing is to be found from Kirkoswald/Eden Lacy downstream to Beaumont/Cargo, The season starts very early, (January 15th and ends October 14th), during the early part of spring (Jan-Apr) the best chance of a fish is on the lower sections.

To compliment this there is a decent head of wild brown trout (season Mar 15-Sept 30) throughout the river, and thus a good sea trout run, (Apr 1-30 Sept) right through the spring, summer and into Autumn, with the best fishing into darkness. The grayling population is very healthy, (Mar 15-Jun 16) with a good average weight of over a pound, there can be some good fishing day's in the winter period when the shoals consolidate, but be careful when wading not to disturb any salmon redds.

Kirkby Stephen	Langwathby Baily Bridge	Lacy Viaduct

The river flows northwards on the eastern side of Cumbria with the north Pennines to the east and the fells of the Lake District to the west. The watershed is of some 2,280 square kilometres of differing geology and landscape. Ordovician volcanic rock form the fells, limestone from fossilised coral around the Kirkby Stephen area, red sandstone around the Penrith and north of the area left from the sand dunes of the desert period some 225 million years ago. Eventually the Eden after a journey of some 90 miles finally reaches the mudstone flats/floodplain that Carlisle and the Solway estuary now sit on.

The river Eden begins life at some 2,200 feet / 670 metres above sea level near the north Yorkshire border in the moorlands above the limestone fells of the Mallerstang valley between Wild Boar Fell to the west, and Black Fell Moss to the east.

The streams, Red Gill, Slate Gutter, Eden springs and Little Grain run from the peatland of Hugh Seat and join forces to form Hell Gill Beck, the waters then run through moorland and over the waterfall Hell Gill Force to become the Eden proper.

As the valley widens it passes the medieval ruins of Pendragon Castle, then on to more open country leaving the hills behind, past the remains of Lammerside Castle. After flowing by the village of Nateby, it then enters an impressive limestone ravine at Stenkrith Bridge and contiues on to Kirkby Stephen. On toward Great Musgrave, Warcop and Great Ormside, through farming country to Appleby-in-Westmorland, home of the horse fair in June. Below Appleby the Eden picks up tributaries from Cross Fell on the eastern side and becomes somewhat wider as it meanders through rich farm land bordering the A66. This road, the A66, was built on the old Roman road that ran from York to Carlisle, and the villages of Kirkby Thore and Temple Sowerby, the half way point of the rivers journey, have relics of that period.

North of Temple Sowerby, the Eden is joined by the Lowther which flows out from Hawswater reservoir and the Eamont from Ullswater, the Eden then becomes considerably wider as it heads for Langwathby. The Baily bridge at Langwathby was supposed to be a temporary arrangement for the one that was washed away with the floods in 1968, but has stood there ever since. After Langwathby is Little Selkeld where there is an ancient stone circle called Long Meg and her Daughters. The river sweeps under the impressive Lacy sandstone viaduct that carries the Carlisle-Settle railway then over a weir and past the sandstone caves built out of the cliff face by colenel Lacy.

Through Kirkoswald and under a sandstone bridge on to Lazonby the cattle market town, the Eden starts to enter steep sided gorges and and heavy tree shade, it then picks up a bit of speed with the aid of the Croglin water. Over a weir and on to Armathwaite, with it's deep sandstone gullies, and through to Wetherall past the St Constantines Cells, engravings, gardens and viaduct. Here it turns north west and on toward the flood plain at Carlisle. The river Irthing draining from peat wetland is joined by the Kingwater and Gelt and enter the river at Warwick Hall, a few miles downstream the Caldew and Petterill make their contribution.

The pools get considerably longer as the gradient lessens and the river widens, but still holds it's pace. Through Carlisle and the city parks, past Carlisle castle with the cathederal looming in the back ground. The last leg of the spectacular scenic wander through the Eden Valley, is on to Grinsdale with it's old church stood on the hill, downstream of that, the tide influenced Beaumont/Cargo area. On the final furlong as it majesticly glides past the red cliffs of Rockcliff and Sandsfield, it spills out into the Solway Firth and onto the Irish sea.

It is probably due to the diverse geology that the Eden has the most recorded species of waterside plants, 184 at present, which is why the Eden and it's tributaries have been declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1997. Not just plants though, there are, brook, river and the migratory sea lamprey which enter the river in spring to spawn and then die.

It was Edward the 1st, (a.k.a. Longshanks) that was supposed to have died after eating a surfeit of lamprey , which was a delicacy then, along with swan, while looking across the Solway at Sandsfield deciding how to deal with the scots.

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The white clawed crayfish still exist on many of the limestone fed tributaries and middle Eden, and is a protected species, so far free from the invasive and bacteria carrying escapee signals of north America which were farmed for food.

With a very healthy invertebrate population, the river holds many species of fish and birds who rely on them like dippers, common sandpipers and wagtails to name but a few. The otters also have made a very strong comeback, and it is not unusual to have regular sightings. Water voles are also being reintroduced on the catchment, the only stronghold at present is at Alston. With the ongoing work of the Eden Rivers Trust and the Environmental Agency improving habitats this can only get better.

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