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River Kent

Map showing course of River KentThe River Kent has four very different sections. Above Staveley it runs through a narrow steep sided valley that opens up slightly around Kentmere, where it is surrounded by a circuit of imposing fells. Between Staveley and Levens it runs through rolling hills, overlooked by the fells. This section is interrupted by a brief urban stretch in Kendal. Finally, close to Morecombe Bay the Kent estuary opens up and the last part of the river runs through sand banks often covered in wading birds.

The Upper Kent is most familiar to walkers, for it is in sight for most of the Kentmere Round. Here the river runs through two Kentmere Tarnpatches of open water, neither of which is entirely natural – Kentmere Reservoir was built to provide water for industry while Kentmere Tarn was once much larger, and has been partly drained to allow for the extraction of clay.

The Lower Kent has been an industrial river, powering the mills of Kendal. During the nineteenth century the wool industry was king, but the Kent also powered sawmills, corn mills and even gunpowder works.

Source

The River Kent rises at the very top of Kentdale, in a dramatic bowl formed by the crags of Froswick, Thornthwaite Crag, Mardale Ill Bell and Lingmell End.

Course

The Kent flows south down Kentdale to Staveley, where it turns south-east to run to Kendal. From Kendal it flows south to the coast, running into Morecombe Bay between Arnside and Grange-over-Sands.

Named Tributaries

Lingmell Gill (into Kentmere Reservoir)
Skeel Gill and Bryant's Gill
Ullstone Gill
Nunnery Beck
Kill Gill
Hall Gill
Park Beck
Hall Beck
River Gowan
River Sprint
River Mint
River Gilpin
River Bela
River Winster

Go to Clickable Map of Rivers of the Lake District

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