[1] Some writers have misspelled the river Riccall,[2] possibly in confusion with an unconnected village in North Yorkshire.

The river is under the management of the Rye Internal Drainage Board, a member of the Vale of Pickering IDBs.

[3] Cowhouse Beck and Bonfield Gill meet at the end of Lund Ridge at Coning's Birks in Hag Wood to form the Riccal.

[5] The river valley, or Dale, is part of the range of upland called the Tabular Hills on the southern boundary of the North York Moors.

[6] About a mile from the village of Beadlam are the remains of a Roman villa situated on the east bank of the river.