Barnstaple Yeo

{{Short description|Tributary of the River Taw in Devon, England}}{{use British English|date=September 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

File:River Yeo, Barnstaple - geograph.org.uk - 1346468.jpg

The Barnstaple Yeo, also known as the River Yeo, is a tributary of the River Taw, which enters the Taw at Barnstaple in Devon, England.{{coord|51.081|-4.067|display=inline|region:GB_scale:5000}}{{cite web|title=Devon's rivers: The Taw|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/discovering/rivers/taw.shtml|website=bbc.co.uk|accessdate=14 September 2017}} It is one of several rivers of the same name, including another tributary of the Taw, the Lapford Yeo.

The Barnstaple Yeo rises on Berry Down, south of Combe Martin,{{coord|51.192|-4.024|display=inline|region:GB_scale:10000}} and flows south through the grounds of Arlington Court and past the village of Chelfham and into the River Taw at Barnstaple. The river length from source to mouth is {{convert|20|km|order=flip}}.{{cite web|title=Lower River Yeo (Barnstaple)|url=http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB108050019990|website=environment.data.gov.uk|accessdate=14 September 2017}}{{cite web|title=Upper River Yeo (Barnstaple)|url=http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB108050019960|website=environment.data.gov.uk|accessdate=14 September 2017}}

The last mile of the river is tidal and prone to flooding both when in spate, but also from the sea. A plan has been put forward to divert the river through an {{convert|25|m|order=flip}} channel in Pilton Park in Barnstaple to alleviate extreme flooding events.{{cite news|last1=Keeble|first1=Andy|title=OPPORTUNITY BARNSTAPLE: Plan to re-direct River Yeo through Pilton Park|url=http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/opportunity-barnstaple-plan-to-re-direct-river-yeo-through-pilton-park-1-4503361|accessdate=14 September 2017|work=North Devon Gazette|date=21 April 2016}}