River Ure

The River Ure is a river in North Yorkshire, England, approximately long from its source to the point where it changes name to the River Ouse. It is the principal river of Wensleydale, which is the only one of the Dales now named after a village rather than its river. The old name for the valley was Yoredale after the river that runs through it.

The Ure one of many rivers and waterways that drain the Dales into the River Ouse. Tributaries of the Ure include the River Swale and the River Skell.

The earliest recorded name is Earp, but by 1142 it is recorded as Jor, hence Jervaulx Abbey. In 1530 it is recorded as Yeure, and local placenames include Yorebridge and Yoreburgh, but in Tudor times the antiquarians John Leland and William Camden called it by its current name.

Course

The source of the river is Ure Head on Abbotside Common where it flows west south-west to the valley floor and then turns south. Where it reaches the A684 it turns east along Wensleydale as far as Wensley. From here it flows south east to Jervaulx Abbey and shortly after south to Mickley. Here it returns east and then south to Ripon. A little...
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