Other Local Rivers

Leny

Grade 3/4 Falls are 5- when high.

The river holds its level well after rain as it is fed by Loch Lubnaig. River levels for the Leny here. There are some good playspots above and below the falls for playboaters. Although not worth getting on for a whitewater bash at scrape levels there are still some play spots.The river is a blast at high water levels 2+ on Sepa gauge but beware of the speed and small eddies. At these levels, I would suggest that the group are all competent grade 4 paddlers. The Falls are intimidating but not too technically demanding. Don't underestimate them, though. Nearly all paddlers inspect first.

Above the falls is a bouncy rapid with a large wave. There is a hard breakout left above the large rock. The wave is surfable although the knowledge that the falls are not far downstream makes it seem harder.

The falls themselves have been run both sides in playboats at reasonable levels. They have even been run in open canoes. I have run the rest of the river at a decent level in my open canoe but have yet to run the falls ! The Right side of the Falls was first paddled in 1977.

At low levels the falls become too rocky. The right side has a huge hole in high water and undercuts to the left. I know because i've been there in my playboat and swum! The left side of the falls (pictured above) goes fine at all decent levels but is a slightly more technical line. I prefer this line when the river is massive. At medium levels the falls go fine both sides. At normal flows some of the local guys grade the falls as a 4 on the basis that they are much easier than many other grade 5's. However despite paddling the Falls many times and often soloing the river I have only ever once soloed the falls due to their seriousness. I do think at reasonable levels they are still serious if anything goes wrong, so stick by my own grading of 5-.

The gorge immediately after the falls finishes with a drop past a boulder on the left into a narrow slot. This throws you right into a boil/hole. When the Leny is at its highest this wee drop scares me more than the falls themselves. Many a paddler has been upside down banging their arm/hands along the wall to the right. Wait long enough though and you will be able to roll at the bottom. There is a large pool below this gorge to pick up swimmers!!

Next up round the corner is 'wee stinker' which can hold if taken centre in high water, a good place to practice your 'boof'. Then a nice short bouncy run down to the S bends. A good move at the bottom is to breakout left surf the wave above the final stopper breakout right, spin and down. Good playspots here at most levels. There's a sneak line left in really high water if you're freaked by the bottom stopper and don't think you can make the S.

From here on the river eases but there are still plenty of playspots left.

As this is one of our local rivers I have spent hours playing on the Leny but never tire of it when it is humping down even if it is just a quick blast down which can be done in under half an hour.

I first paddled the Leny 20 years ago in a Pyranha WWRotobat and have used my knowledge to contribute to the Scottish White Water Guidebook.

Monachyle Burn

This is one burn that i haven't paddled.

It is on the North side of Loch Voil past Balquidder. Needs stacks of water to get this going though then provides 4km of grade 4/5 action, never too steep but continuous. Head up the forest track on the Right and hoof it all the way to the put in at the end of the path.There are 2 sections to inspect and perhaps portage after the burn turns a corner and enters the forest.

Calair Burn

Grade 4 (5) depending on water levels. Upper burn and lower burn both 1km can be paddled seperately or paddle the flat water in between.

To get to the river turn left in Balquidder and right at a 4 way junction and drive all the way up the glen as far as possible. this is the get out for the upper part. hoof it from here as far as you want too. The upper part is continuous 3/4 with very small eddies. One meaty fall may merit inspection. (Photo of me above)

The lower section is generally grade4+ with a 3m ledge (shown in photo on right) with a full on run in and a similar exit out of the gorge. This section is much more committing in very high water.

Water of Ruchill

Grade 3+ (5) 12km bouldery river with a continuous drop.

Only runs after heavy continuous rain. In spate there are one or two meaty stoppers on the way down. One of the few tributaries  unaffected by either Hydro-electric schemes or water extraction.

The grade 5 gorge becomes a serious undertaking at spate levels. You will want to inspect this gorge and may want to inspect the rapid at Cultybraggan which gets up to Gr4 in high levels with big holes (photo right)

A couple of us did the first descent of this in 93? much to the annoyance of a friend, local Comrie lad Dougie Arnott who had scouted the river and paddled the Cultybraggan rapid the day before we did the rest of the river. However we portaged the grade4/5 Sput a Chleibh. It was a number of years before this was finally paddled.

Knaik

This 5km long grade3 river runs down to Braco. In spate the grade goes up to 4 and there are some viscious holding stoppers. The final rapid has 4 drops. At high flows there will be bank width stoppers on the first two. The final 6m ramp looks awesome but speed pushes you easily through the hole at the bottom.

Beyond this are a couple of more rapids, one with a very retentive stopper in flood conditions, before the end at Braco bridge.

This is another local river that we managed to grab a first descent on.

Keltie Burn

The Keltie flows into the Teith a mile before Callander. It is wellknown for the Bracklinn Falls 5+. The main rapids on this grade 4(5) river are bedrock falls interspersed with boulder gardens.

The first gorge section 4+ feels quite intimidating and ends in a larger than expected drop into Scouts Pool.

There is a lovely boulder/rapids section 3/4 down to the Falls all of which can be inspected from the boat. After the falls there are a few more rapids 3+ down to the finish.

The Keltie was changed considerably a few years ago by floods which washed away the footbridge at the falls and the old stone bridge at the get out on the Callander road.

I am told that the changes in the river bed have made the falls more possible but they still present as very scary to me!!

Duchray Water

The Duchray sources from slopes of Ben Lomond running East towards Aberfoyle where it becomes the Forth.

The river requires heavy rain to bring it up and rises and falls quickly. Personnaly I don't think it is worth getting on unless it is beginning to flood in Aberfoyle. At these high levels the 10m Linn Of Blairvaich (photo right) will be an intimidating grade 5.

Getting to the river is an offroad expedition in itself. Drive up past Loch Ard to Kinlochard and turn left towards the sailing club. Continue on this road as it becomes a forest track. At the junction at the top of the hill turn right. The next junction left will take you to the bridge above the Linn. However continue ahead until you see the first grade 4 section (photo right) where a concrete bridge carries the water pipe over the river.

The take out is either at Aberfoyle or if you want to get out/scout the last grade 5 fall up a track towards the Milton forest campsite. This fall is a difficult ramp on the Left into a huge hole and is hard to protect. To get there, on the road back to Aberfoyle turn right at Milton and head on forest track again towards the Milton campsite. The grade 5  is where there is a hill with a house on the left. Best to look at an OS map to check these.

The section between the two grade 5's gives a lovely bouncy continuous grade 3 for about 5km. Every corner feels as though there is going be another huge fall which never materialises until the last drop.

When we first ran this river many years ago in extremely high water, the other guy with me Chris Ravey swam in the gorge just above the Linn; definately not a place to be. His kayak went over the Linn never to reappear. Facing a long walk out back to the car in Aberfoyle, I decided to solo the (at that time) uninspected grade3 section portaging the 5's. I was already spooked by nearly going over the Linn which we had mistakenly thought was the grade 4 upstream. So, the grade3 section is imprinted on my memory as being a very tense adrenalin fueled paddle!

Arklet Burn

This small volume grade 3-5 creek runs from Loch Arklet to Loch Lomond. it needs a fair amount of rain to get going as it is dammed. Best on a medium/high level.

The burn finishes with a double drop and 10m fall into the Loch. This fall has not been paddled and drops into a shallow pool full of boulders.

Thanks to James Fleming - Planetpaddler.com for the photos on this page.