On our way to Falling Foss we stopped at Ruswarp, a little village in
North Yorkshire. I’ve been on the rowing boats before several times when
I was younger but haven’t been for quite a few years. We were able to
park on the road side right next to the River Esk and made our way over to the
boats; the couple there helped us in to the rowing boat and I sat at the end
with the ropes so that I could steer rather than attempt to row.
We paid for an hour and I was surprised how far
along the river we managed to get before we had to turn back; I suppose the
faster you row the more of the countryside you get to see. I was told
when I was little that there was a whirlpool at the end and, funnily enough, we
never ever got to it because I don’t think it actually exists! The best
bit about steering is that you’re looking the right way to see where you’re
going; I guided us into some low hanging leaves whilst managing to keep myself
out of the way!
We had a well-earned dinner at Ruswarp Riverside
Café which is located right next to the pleasure boats; the food was nice and
we were told about how the river had once frozen over many years ago.
There’s also a miniature railway next to the café.
