Stockton’s Tees Barrage which was originally opened in 1995 is a visually impressive feat of engineering which spans 70 metres wide across the River Tees and has the crucial job of controlling the flow of the river, maintaining water levels and preventing localised flooding in Stockton-on-Tees. You can walk across the barrage using the footbridge and take in the views upstream towards the long and wide unbroken stretch of water which is home to Tees Rowing Club. Overlooking the barrage itself is Tees Barrage International White Water Centre which also opened in 1995 but has more recently undergone major redevelopment. The purpose-built watersport and outdoor adventure centre boasts a wide variety of activities including white water rafting, a high ropes adventure course, powerboat trips and more.
Located a stone’s throw from the A19 and A66 between Middlesbrough and Stockton, the site’s impressive facilities have even graced the silver screen, having been used in the filming of three-time Oscar winning film 1917.
First up on my agenda was Air Trail High Ropes Course…the UK’s largest adventure course of its kind reaching heights of 18 metres! The course consists of 4 levels offering a huge range of challenges including swinging bridges, ladders, balancing beams, cargo nets and raised zip lines.
Safely harnessed from above it’s really easy to make your way around the course and let others past. The beauty is that there’s no set route so you decide where to go and you can stay on the part of the course that suits you best; for the brave just head straight to the very top! We stuck to level one and two; high enough for us! After taking on a range of challenges it was time to take on the zip line however this proved a bridge just too far. Nonetheless my children were fearless and loved it! Another huge selling point of this activity is the fantastic panoramic views on offer. Look out for Roseberry Topping in the distance. Ever helpful staff are dotted around the structure offering their support too. Explorers are required to be 1.0m to go on accompanied by an adult or 1.2m unaccompanied however there is also a cute little toddler course for those not tall enough to take on the main course. For those not up to the challenge and would prefer to keep their feet firmly on the ground there is plenty of seating so you can watch on and enjoy a hot or cold beverage; all in all, it’s lots of fun in a relaxed atmosphere.
The centre boasts two international-standard white water courses, 300 metres of rapid white water, and the steepest artificial drop in the UK which accommodates white water rafting and white water kayaking. Next up on the agenda for me was white water rafting. Available to anyone aged 14 and over – let’s see what it’s all about! Out on the water, each six person raft is surprisingly sturdy, and there is regular instruction from the expert raft guide at the back of the raft. Looking fetching in my wetsuit, life jacket, helmet and single-ended paddle, me and the rest of the raft headed towards the rapids. 300m of undulating watery buffers and cascades; it’s a lot faster than it looks, and really gets the adrenaline pumping. With each run faster than the previous one it gets more and more challenging to stay afloat long enough to get to the bottom without getting soaking wet. An incredible experience full of laughs and screams enhanced by the guides who make the session really fun, so much so that I can’t wait to come back.
Elsewhere on the site you can try out bell boating, raft building, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding in instructor-led sessions on the flat water lake. If you’re thinking of a good group activity for schools and kids’ parties, this is it! Raft building will be bags of fun, while the stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is a firm favourite, particularly as falling in and getting wet is all part of the fun. All these activities are available to try as a fun one-off, or a hilarious group visit. You can even blast down the River Tees in a unique powerboat experience taking in the famous landmarks and bridges along the way.
And the Barrage isn’t all adventure sports and derring dos; there is an abundance of amazing wildlife that inhabits the river and surrounding area; from swans and cormorants to salmon and seals that can often be seen bobbing up and down in the river. The walks around Tees Barrage take you through a mixture of woodland areas, river banks and grass land to give you the maximum wildlife experience and are a hit with families looking to enjoy days out in the great outdoors. A trip to Tees Barrage isn’t complete without a visit to the nearby nature reserves (Portrack Marsh and Maze Park) which are managed by Tees Valley Wildlife Trust.
Tees Barrage is also one of the leading providers of water rescue training in the UK, offering unrivalled water rescue training facilities and expert water safety courses for all groups and scenarios.
After a day of adventure in the great outdoors don’t forget to refuel at the onsite café at Tees Barrage or the nearby Beefeater Talpore pub. If you’ve been bitten by the adrenalin bug, stop off at the well-stocked NorthShore Watersports shop and get fully kitted out for your next adventure.
So, whether it’s a hot summer’s day or the middle of winter, Tees Barrage offers a unique, adventurous and picturesque setting for everyone to enjoy.
