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WHERE IS IT?: The river runs from the outflow of Derwent reservoir in the North Pennines. Passing from untouched areas of Northumberland through remote County Durham and finally into Tyne and Wear finishing as it runs into the Tyne near the Metro-centre.

PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Derwent bridge OS-032512 at outflow of Derwent reservoir. Allensford park on A68 north of Castleside, loads of parking. Shotley Bridge OS-101555 access available above or below road bridge, which is above or below waterfall. Ebchester boat house put in above or below the weir, adequate parking even for groups. Rowlands Gill access to the river via the park/campsite which is sign posted, once again lots of parking

APPROX LENGTH: Almost 40Km's if paddled from top to bottom

TIME NEEDED: The fun part from Allensford park to Ebchester boathouse can be done in 2 hours

ACCESS SITUATION: No access agreement as rarely paddled, expect surprise rather than anger on the faces of people you meet along the way

WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Generally only paddled in spate, it is only in condition for a day or two due to the upstream reservoir controlling the water. At Allensford if the river has a wave under the bridge then you are probably in luck, the next 100 yards after that are the some of the most difficult to get along if the river is low, so once past there you are home and dry

GRADING: II/III all drops are easily portaged and inspected

MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Trees can block the river almost anywhere so always proceed with caution. The Gorge, a Rocky drop with a boulder in the middle and the small Water Fall are all within a kilometre or so of each other, all of them just before Shotley Bridge. A near vertical rocky weir at Ebchester boat house. A rocky drop at Lintzford Mill.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Stretch No.1 starts at Derwent bridge not long after the reservoir outflow. It is very remote all the way down to Allensford as it passes under the A68 after about 10 Kms, the main danger here being fallen trees, etc. The accent on this stretch being more on the adventure and exploration than the white water that will be encountered

Stretch No.2 starts at Allensford Park on the A68 north of Castleside If a small play wave is available under the bridge then the river is very paddleable, from here there are a number of weirs all easily and safely shot down the middle and some producing nice play waves at the bottom. Next is a really wide weir with a small wheelhouse to the left, again this produces no danger on its own but is better inspected as a lot of river debris piles up at the bottom changing the line hour by hour. Under a footbridge and the next section is a gorge, this varies from really big with waves and holes, down to a narrow and technical line that is better to inspect if the water level is low. Under another footbridge and there is a rocky drop..this drops onto a rock in the centre of the line, even if the water is high enough to hide it, beware it can still get you. You can break out on the right and actually get past the drop to inspect without even getting out of the boat. The next visual is a road bridge this lets you know that there is waterfall/rocky drop, pull out on the right and inspect from the road bridge. There are some rocks at the bottom but the worst befall any of our group has been a back loop at the bottom of the fall. From here the river drops steadily to Ebchester which has a boat house on the right and a 2 metre steep drop which can be ran or portaged. This is a nice place to finish your journey however as you start to enter the urban sprawl shortly afterwards.