Bethell’s Bridge to Struncheon Hill Wear and beyond to Baswick landing
If you tell your friends that you are going swimming in the River Hull they are likely to think that you have finally lost it and offer to bring along a stomach pump. But the River Hull is very nice. It springs from near Driffield in East Yorkshire and runs through North Frodingham then under Bethells Bridge before twisting its way south towards the Humber River. Here it emerges 20 miles later next to ‘the Deep’, Hull’s main tourist attraction. We often swim in the shingle and clay pits in the area and decided it was time test the river at Bethell’s Bridge. These waters were regular swimming spots in previous years but the lure of a 28oC indoor pool seems to have dragged people away.
We decided to go on an early evening swim in late August when the water was around 14oC. Bethell’s Bridge is a pretty swing bridge with 30 or more river boats moored openly along the banks. The water is clear and flows south at about 1 knot. 5 of us jumped in. The water felt good enough to drink and with the current we soon felt like top swimmers heading towards Struncheon Hill Lock and Wear. There were plenty of fish to see and the fronds from the river weed brushed pleasantly, the movement of boats stopping it being too thick. On our way down, a couple on their boat were surprised to see us. We had the impression that not many swimmers went by.
We reached the lock and wear in under 20 minutes (0.75 miles). Whilst trending water 2 went to explore the wear. The first went over followed by the second, neither through choice and both felt that despite the calm of the river the wear was deceptive and probably best avoided if you wanted to avoid cuts and bruises. We all climbed out, admired the country scenery and feeling a little chilly dived in to start the up-stream swim. This was hard work. We realized that we needed to push a little to penetrate the current and swam hard for 40 minutes watched only by a lively cow before climbing out at Bethell’s Bridge again, tired but pleased and determined to swim there again.
In fact we returned a week later using 2 cars and planned a ‘downstreamer’ to Baswick Landing, starting again at Bethell’s Bridge. This was about 2½ miles.
It was a misty morning, one fisherman was amused to see us donning wetsuits and commented that the 4 foot pike would not be a problem but watch out for the weed. We swam comfortably to the wear, this time walking around and entered the water downstream. The boats of course use the lock so the next section was clean but with thicker weed. Still we swam on in lovely surrounds with a swan paddling effortlessly in front. The map shows nothing on this section and we saw nothing. The banks were about 6-10 foot mostly grass. Fortunately we had spotted an old rowing boat at the landing earlier as it would not have been easy to recognise the exit point. On the way down we would float occasionally chatting and enjoying the quiet. Something we never do in the pool. The swan having led the whole swim seemed to know where we were heading. Just as we arrived at Baswick Landing he turned and paddled past us upstream. We left the peace of the river and were glad of some hot tea in the car, having been in the water for 1 hour 10 minutes. The whole time we saw no other people.
Both swims were so much more rewarding than pool swimming and made comfortable by the use to wetsuits.
Getting there: take the Hornsea road north of Hull. Turn off at Leven. Drive through Leven and take country lanes past Billabong Lake. It is another 2 miles onto Bethell’s Bridge.
Information: Search ‘River Hull’ and take the virtual tour from Hull Bridge (at Tickton) to Bethell’s Bridge.
If you tell your friends that you are going swimming in the River Hull they are likely to think that you have finally lost it and offer to bring along a stomach pump. But the River Hull is very nice. It springs from near Driffield in East Yorkshire and runs through North Frodingham then under Bethells Bridge before twisting its way south towards the Humber River. Here it emerges 20 miles later next to ‘the Deep’, Hull’s main tourist attraction. We often swim in the shingle and clay pits in the area and decided it was time test the river at Bethell’s Bridge. These waters were regular swimming spots in previous years but the lure of a 28oC indoor pool seems to have dragged people away.
We decided to go on an early evening swim in late August when the water was around 14oC. Bethell’s Bridge is a pretty swing bridge with 30 or more river boats moored openly along the banks. The water is clear and flows south at about 1 knot. 5 of us jumped in. The water felt good enough to drink and with the current we soon felt like top swimmers heading towards Struncheon Hill Lock and Wear. There were plenty of fish to see and the fronds from the river weed brushed pleasantly, the movement of boats stopping it being too thick. On our way down, a couple on their boat were surprised to see us. We had the impression that not many swimmers went by.
We reached the lock and wear in under 20 minutes (0.75 miles). Whilst trending water 2 went to explore the wear. The first went over followed by the second, neither through choice and both felt that despite the calm of the river the wear was deceptive and probably best avoided if you wanted to avoid cuts and bruises. We all climbed out, admired the country scenery and feeling a little chilly dived in to start the up-stream swim. This was hard work. We realized that we needed to push a little to penetrate the current and swam hard for 40 minutes watched only by a lively cow before climbing out at Bethell’s Bridge again, tired but pleased and determined to swim there again.
In fact we returned a week later using 2 cars and planned a ‘downstreamer’ to Baswick Landing, starting again at Bethell’s Bridge. This was about 2½ miles.
It was a misty morning, one fisherman was amused to see us donning wetsuits and commented that the 4 foot pike would not be a problem but watch out for the weed. We swam comfortably to the wear, this time walking around and entered the water downstream. The boats of course use the lock so the next section was clean but with thicker weed. Still we swam on in lovely surrounds with a swan paddling effortlessly in front. The map shows nothing on this section and we saw nothing. The banks were about 6-10 foot mostly grass. Fortunately we had spotted an old rowing boat at the landing earlier as it would not have been easy to recognise the exit point. On the way down we would float occasionally chatting and enjoying the quiet. Something we never do in the pool. The swan having led the whole swim seemed to know where we were heading. Just as we arrived at Baswick Landing he turned and paddled past us upstream. We left the peace of the river and were glad of some hot tea in the car, having been in the water for 1 hour 10 minutes. The whole time we saw no other people.
Both swims were so much more rewarding than pool swimming and made comfortable by the use to wetsuits.
Getting there: take the Hornsea road north of Hull. Turn off at Leven. Drive through Leven and take country lanes past Billabong Lake. It is another 2 miles onto Bethell’s Bridge.
Information: Search ‘River Hull’ and take the virtual tour from Hull Bridge (at Tickton) to Bethell’s Bridge.
1 comment:
Hi I`m planning to go swimming there, where are the clay and shingle pits you swim in? I`d love to do that
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