Birkacre Weir

One of the most interesting looking local weirs providing an artificial waterfall that is popular with birdlife including Dipper, Heron, Wagtail and sometimes Kingfisher. The “waterfall”, although artificial is very attractive, especially when the river is high with the whole arc of the weir in use and plenty of water cascading down onto the roughly shelving bedrock exposed below.

A fine wooden viewing platform is provided at the end of the footpath but access to the stream bed is difficult, although less difficult than getting back up.

The weir itself is early 19th Century and features and original leat or mill-race on the North side which lead downstream to Higher Forge beside Big Lodge and on to the Birkacre Bleaching, Dyeing and Printing Works. The leat can be seen as a mostly dry and overgrown channel beside the downstream footpath with various sluice and associated mechanisms especially around the old mill ponds. Water from the weir that once flowed into the leat is now allowed to flow as a separate fall into the river, adjacent to the main weir.

Birkacre Weir Fish Pass

The fish pass is a modern addition but is of a very sypathetic design and fits in very well with the rest of the stonework on the South side of the weir.

Created: 10  October  2019  Edited: 29  November  2023