River Dee, Cumbria

The River Dee is a river running through the extreme south east of Cumbria, a part of the Craven region traditionally part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Its name possibly derives from Brythonic deva meaning goddess, or from Dent or Dentdale, through which the river flows.[3]

River Dee
The River Dee at Stone House
Location of the mouth in Cumbria
Location
Country	England
Subdivision	North West England
County	Cumbria
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Dent Head Farm
• coordinates	54°14.083′N 2°20.689′W
Mouth	Confluence with River Rawthey
• coordinates	54°18.815′N 2°32.569′W
Length	21[1][2] km (13 mi)

The river rises above Dent Head Farm (on the Dales Way), formed from several smaller streams emanating from Blea Moor Moss, the River Dee makes its way northward past Stone House, where it is joined by Arten Gill, to Cowgill, where it turns left into Dentdale. In Dentdale, it picks up the waters of Deepdale Beck (travelling north from Whernside) before passing Dent and Gawthrop.[4]

The river later passes Lenacre and Rash on its way to meeting the River Rawthey at Catholes, near the town of Sedbergh.[5] The old water mill at Rash Bridge is thought to have been an inspiration for the folk song "The Jolly Miller of Dee".[6]

The Rawthey goes on to join the River Lune.[2]

References

1. "Dee - headwaters to conf Deepdale Bk". environment.data.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
2. "Dee - conf Deepdale Bk to conf Rawthey". environment.data.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
3. Smith, A H (1962). The place names of the West Riding of Yorkshire part VII (1 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 126.
4. "Geograph:: River Dee (Cumbria) [61 photos]". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
5. "River Rawthey and River Dee at Sedbergh | Walking Route | Sedbergh|Cumbria". www.golakes.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
6. "The River Dee from Dent | Yorkshire Dales Walks | Walking Guide". www.walkingwiththetaxidriver.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2017.