River Guide
The Allan really needs to be high for the best run. In high water, this is a continuous run, huge surf waves, lots of great grade 3, and a couple of grade 4 rapids. At very high levels the Allan is no place for the inexperienced paddler. Any swims at high water will result in long rescues. I have witnessed a number of epics involving other groups on this river often involving loss of the kayak/paddles.
Inspect the river from the bridge at Bridge of Allan. The stopper on the weir will give a good indication of what the river will be like upstream. If the water is bankful or even better in the park then expect an excellent paddle.
In torrential rain the river rises very quickly but equally can drop fast.
After the get in, rolling waves lead shortly to Ashfield weir. Inspect and portage if you must on the Right. Unless the level is extremely high, the weir is not as difficult as it looks. Below this is the Mill Falls - a short solid grade 3/4. It runs in the middle or right in much higher water. The wave/hole on left below gives good playspot.
After Ashfield, plenty of grade 2/3 takes you into Dunblane. There can be some big stoppers in high water which have caught the unwary in the past!
The small weir before Dunblane which is immediately after the iron bridge broke up after the floods in December 2006 and was repaired with gabions river left. The line has been cleared of trees river right. In Dunblane, there is the Cathedral weir. This can be run from either right or left. It has also been run down the narrow slot on the right. In high spate levels there is a route left of centre through an huge wave with a killer hole to your right!
Below Dunblane, there are a number of grade 2/3 rapids leading after a large railway bridge to another grade 4 -The Wall of Death. It can be taken hard left down the tongue- 'The Wall' or shot Right over the ledge or if you are feeling brave down the middle. The stopper does flush out.
In flood this whole section from Dunblane feels very continuous with big waves and holes to avoid.
On the way down to Bridge of Allan the water now eases but there are some excellent play spots with defined eddy lines, boils and waves.
The final rapid is the weir under the bridge in Bridge of Allan, taking the tongue hard left works well, though others have favoured a right chute. The stopper below the weir holds boats and swimmers.
Most folk take out Right at the grass park above this weir.
