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River Swale – Topcliffe

Plan a session

A cracking little River Swale venue at Topcliffe, run outright by Leeds and District Angling Association. It’s a year-book-holder-only stretch of roughly 500 yards, running from the fence above Topcliffe weir down to the downstream notice sign.

Run by Leeds and District Angling Association · checked 15 Oct 2026

River level

Measured — Environment Agency

Crakehill gauge

Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.

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We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open Crakehill on Live River Levels

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Set the level range and direction you want, and get a heads-up when this Environment Agency gauge meets them. Your conditions, real readings — not a forecast or a safety check.

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The lowdown

  • This is proper lowland Swale water, with the weir giving the stretch a bit of character and the downstream section offering a more conventional river length.
  • The main access is on the right bank. Take the left fork down Park Road before Topcliffe Bridge, then use the roadside parking near the first gate on the right.
  • From there, cross the field diagonally to reach the weir. Nice and straightforward, but follow the access details rather than making your own route across the ground.
  • There’s also a further section on the left bank below the weir. Approach it via Catton Lane from Topcliffe village.
  • For the left bank, head through the hedgerow around 200 yards down Catton Lane. There’s extra parking in a lay-by roughly 100 yards farther on.
  • The weir is the obvious focal point, while the water below gives you the downstream river length described by the association. A bit of flow and plenty to look at, bob on.
  • Topcliffe Bridge sits close to the access, carrying the road over the Swale. The venue is right beside the village, so it’s easy to locate once you’re in the area.
  • Fishing is allowed until 11pm. That’s a firm closing time, though the official details don’t advertise separate night fishing.
  • No matches are permitted on this venue, which should help keep the place a bit more relaxed. You’ll need the association year book before fishing.
  • The official venue postcode is YO7 3RG. Parking arrangements differ between the right-bank and left-bank sections, so don’t mix the two sets of instructions up.
  • We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Methods: The checked details don’t name specific methods or target species for this stretch. The weir and downstream river length are the key features anglers will be working with.

Access & tickets

Association year book

Required for this year-book-holder-only fishery. Issued by Leeds and District Angling Association.

You must hold the Leeds and District Angling Association year book to fish this venue. No day-ticket price is published because this is a members-only fishery.

Fish the club names

The club doesn't list species for this stretch, so we haven't guessed.

Key rules

  • Year-book holders only.
  • No matches are permitted.
  • Fishing is allowed until 11pm.
  • Use the stated access and parking arrangements for the relevant bank.
  • A separate vehicle charge is not published.

Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.

GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish

Where it is

Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.

Community reported

Recent angler updates

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How busy was it?

Nobody's said yet. It's part of the 20-second update below.

No live tracking — this is what anglers told us after their session, and it's never part of the venue score.

Water updates from anglers

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