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GUIDE TO THE RIVER BLACKWATER NAME OF RIVER: Blackwater. WHERE IS IT?: Approx 1 hour from Perth, just north of Blairgowrie, flowing out of Glen Shee... PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Access is at Milton Bridge, I think the 2nd right heading up Glen Shee from Bridge of Cally. Egress is at Netherton Bridge (1st right heading up Glen Shee from Bridge of Cally) or at Bridge of Cally.. APPROX LENGTH: 4 km at a guess. TIME NEEDED: 1-2 hour. ACCESS SITUATION: Unknown, but probably OK as there's an SCA egress point. WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Unknown, but see info on the fall upstream of the access point. GRADING: Grade 4. MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Trees. First falls at access point at the start of the gorge. Craig Douglas Aberdeen Kayak Club...'Just to update the site, we ran the river in relatively low but passable level on Sunday 14th Feb 2004. Can confirm that currently river is free from trees although it is always worth keeping a weather eye out in front as some are in a fairly perilous state down the gorge.' GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Heading up Glen Shee a minor road leads to limited parking at Milton Bridge. A four tier fall (grade 4) is upstream of the bridge, carry up river right bank for these. These falls probably have to be runnable for the rest to be worthwhile. The final fall gives good popouts and at least two ends sometimes. From the bridge the river is tame and a bit bony for about 1-1.5 km. This section can be avoided by walking in (through private land I think) but its probably not worth the hassle, especially if you've got on for the top falls. Soon the river narrows into a gorge with a series of gorgeous twisting drops (grade 4). Bank inspection is possible, although bank protection could be hard in places. Everything can be run blind or inspected from the boat, although one horizon line generally encourages sending at least one scout along the bank. Kris Waring adds (Feb '00)...'The only tree we encountered last weekend only extended halfway across the river and was easily avoidable. Personally I wouldn't recommend running the 'gorgeous twisting drops' section blind unless it is fairly low or you are very familiar with the river. It is quite a steep series of drops with the hardest being the first and a swim here would not be nice. There is definitely potential for trees to get jammed in this section and I have seen a boat pinned against a rock halfway down here. The water is surprisingly fast with any substantial amount of water. Just downstream of this rapid is a single drop of about 4-5 feet with a nasty notch just right of center which should be avoided. However, this is a fantastic river which is well worth the trip when there is water about.' All too soon the gorge opens out and eases in difficulty. A final section of rapids around a right hand corner leads you to Netherton Bridge, there is an SCA egress point about 100m past the bridge on river right. I've heard it is possible to paddle down to the confluence with the Ardle just below Bridge of Cally but I've never thought it worth the bother. OTHER NOTES: This section is supposed to increase to grade 5 in high flows. The final section of the Ardle at Bridge of Cally looked good once in high water, anyone paddled it? The combined Blackwater and Ardle is named the Ericht and flows to Blairgowrie, I've heard rumours of it being hard but having been run, anyone with more info? The Blackwater combines well with a trip on the Tay, Tummel, Braan, South or North Esk or Westwater. NB There is another Blackwater further north in Scotland, just to confuse people. Kris Waring notes...'The Ericht was featured on the BBC's 999 Rescue program last year when a couple of beginners accidentally paddled into the gorge and spent the night there while rescue teams abseiled down the cliffs to get them.' CONTRIBUTED BY: Philip Skinner, Craig Douglas and Kris Waring. |
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