At Crathorne it turns north and then north-east as far as Middleton-on-Leven before passing under the A19 in a north-west direction.

When river levels are high, a new flood channel diverts the excess water around the town, meeting the Leven again further downstream.

[4] The river drains from the Cleveland Hills across a mixed geology of mostly Permian and Jurassic age bedrock of low permeability.

[9] The Domesday Book records a water mill on the banks of the river in the town.

[10] In Hutton Rudby, a plaque on a bridge marks the site of a water mill that, amongst several uses, once made sailcloth.