River Wenning

The River Wenning is a tributary of the River Lune, flowing through North Yorkshire and Lancashire. Its name comes from the Old English word ‘Wann’, meaning dark river. The Wenning begins where Clapham Beck and Austwick Beck meet. Clapham Beck rises above Clapham, while Austwick Beck starts in Crummackdale above Austwick. From there the river runs west through villages such as High Bentham, Low Bentham and Wennington. The Wenning stretches for just over fourteen miles and drains an area of about twenty-five square miles. It joins the River Lune roughly a mile west of Hornby. The valley of the Wenning once formed part of the old Craven District in North Yorkshire, alongside Airedale, Wharfedale and upper Ribblesdale. Walkers can follow the river’s course through quiet countryside and small villages. The banks are lined with stone cottages and farm buildings. At times the water runs dark and fast, matching the meaning of its name. The route offers glimpses of the surrounding fells and dales without the crowds found on busier rivers.