|
|
|
GUIDE TO THE RIVER FALLOCH (Falls of Falloch to Loch Lomond) NAME OF RIVER: Falloch. WHERE IS IT?: Follow the A82 north of Glasgow or south of Fort William and sooner or later you'll come to it. It's just north of Loch Lomond off the A82, and flows into that Loch. PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: There is a small carpark on the right hand side of the road as you drive up the valley north of Loch Lomond. The falls are a few hundred metres further upstream, along a footpath. There is a barrier before the Falls and you'll have to figure out how to get across yourself... Take out using a gate above Glen Falloch farm, be considerate here please as it is not a long walk back up to the top. APPROX LENGTH: A few miles down to the Loch. TIME NEEDED: 2 hours. ACCESS SITUATION: Unknown. WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: It does not need too much water, make an educated judgement by inspecting the 'Seven Dwarves' and if in doubt, run it some other day! GRADING: Grade 4 (5), MUCH harder in high water. MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: The Falls of Falloch. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The big fall is the Falls of Falloch, just north of Loch Lomond off the A82. It's about 30 foot high. Pete Bandtock adds...'The photo was taken on Good Friday 1996 at about medium flows which are probably too high for much of the gorge (grade 6 if at all) above the fall (itself a relatively easy 35 footer) and too low to make the run below the fall - which is probably a humungous 5 in high water - worth doing. We looked at both bits when we were there (you can see a video of the descent at http://www.wildwaterplanet.com/) but had already paddled the River Leny and wanted to do the River Orchy too - it was a busy day! You'll be pleased to hear that Gary toppled over slightly at the bottom of the fall and ate large quantities of paddle. Still, the Falloch itself is one which is definitely on my list to go back to and do more thoroughly.' Neil Farmer has paddled the river below the falls: 'We seal launched below the falls (back is far too precious to me!), there is a Grade 4 rapid on a sharp RH bend (seen from the walk up). Flat section follows, a few more grade 4 drops, when they become closer together, river turns left and drops into a gorge. This is the 'seven dwarves'. Inspect and protect the drops from the left bank. There are 4 drops above the A82 bridge (the last the smallest). Under the bridge is a fall with a nasty but safe hole. Set up a line here as it is very easy to get caught in the stopper and it doesn't easily flush out. Next drop, we ran left to easier water. Two more drops follow (road has now returned to the river right bank), a large fall, 'twist and shout', runs left. The last fall is rocky at the base and is the one that is visible from the road.' OTHER NOTES: When this section is too high, it can be paddled upstream of the falls or even upstream of the road. CONTRIBUTED BY: Martin Farrall, Neil Farmer, and Pete Bandtock. |
|
|