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GUIDE TO THE RIVER FINDHORN (Logie Bridge to Randolph's Leap) NAME OF RIVER: Findhorn. WHERE IS IT?: NE Scotland. PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Put in is best at the old church at Ardclach, OS sheet 27 (1:50 000 series) grid ref. 955451, and take out at Randolph's Leap, grid ref. 005 498. Map. APPROX LENGTH: 6 km. TIME NEEDED: Unknown. ACCESS SITUATION: See the SCA ACCESS NOTES ON SCOTLAND. WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Matt Hawkins (Dec 2005)...'I have paddled this in massive water when most of the river is washed out. Lots of big waves and crazy boil lines. If the shingle beach has gone, and the water is on the grass this is a good level.' GRADING: 2-3, our group had two people who had never been on a river before who both survived without a swim. In high flows it is obviously harder purely due to the amount of water flowing, large standing waves form but generally most rapids wash out. MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: None, except getting out before Randolph's Leap. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A very pleasant paddle for novices. From the put in you are led down a series of grade 2 rapids. In higher flows be careful of pinning on the large boulders at the top of this section. After a couple of miles you reach the first bridge. After this bridge is about 500m of flat water followed by a short gradient where the river splits around a rock in the centre of the current. Whilst we have never had a boat pinned on this rock it does have a tendency for tipping the unwary or beaching them on top of it, as it cannot really be seen until you are just coming upon it. The best channel around this rock is hard left. There is now a short section, 500m, of technical (grade 2/3) water with many larger rocks to tip the unwary although these are all obvious. After this the river eases again for a mile or two until you reach a short gorge. Recognised by a large shale bank on the left and high above it on the skyline, a white cottage. The river does an s-bend here turning right opposite the top of the shale bank. Follow the S-bend to reach a flat pool immediately above the gorge. The gorge (often called 'the Wall of Death' or 'Dragons Tooth') is only 100m long and can easily be seen from this pool. It is recommended if you're here after high rain to check that nothing is jammed across the bottom wave this can be done by an experienced paddler eddy hopping down the gorge or from the path on the right hand bank. The recommended route is river right following the main flow of water although if the left route is running this is also safe. Again the river eases for about 1/2 a mile until you reach the second bridge keep your eyes open a rapid precedes the bridge. The river sweeps right and then left the only deep channel is hard left. To go any other route in normal flow will put you over two rock ledges about 2 feet high. In higher flows be careful here as there are large stoppers form in the middle of the river; while the first one probably will not hold you the second one may well do so, as it can have a large tow-back. This is a good place to practice pop-outs; stick your nose into the jet from the deep channel and get vertical! This is also an alternative egress there being two laybys just by the bridge. Again the river eases for a short while before turning an obvious right then left (fairly sharp). After this left is another rapid which the best line is down the centre. From here follows a series of easy grade 2/3 rapids to the egress at Randolph's Leap take out at the large eddy on the right unless you're wanting to shoot the Leap! (grade 4-5). OTHER NOTES: That's the end of this wonderful section; keep your eyes open for Otters, Osprey, and Dipper's, all can be seen on this section...pleasant if you like that kind of thing. Other sections to consider are the Upper Section down to Dulsie Bridge, Dulsie Bridge to Logie bridge, or Randolph's Leap to Mains of Sluie. Matt Hawkins (Dec 2005)...'Over the past few months I have paddled this section in a variety of water levels a number of time. In lower water it is still good fun, but at the level described above the river has lots of play features. Just after the get on is a left hand bend. In low water there is a great shoot for tailies, but with more water this becomes a wave. Well worth some time. Round this corner is a rapid, which sets the pace for the rest of the river with lots of other play spots. There are a number of other rapids like the first, easy to see from the river with lots of potential for teaching a variety of river skills. Then you reach a road bridge. Just past this the river heads to the left and there is a large rock splitting the flow. Left is best, but when this rock is well coved a big hole is formed. Hard to get into but a great play. Again, more smaller rapids, until a flat section then a left
hand bend. Now is a rapid at the higher end of grade 2 with a really big hole
middle
right. This needs some water to be running but when it is a great play The next important rapid is 'The Dragons Tooth', easily inspected from the water, or the right bank. Below this is an awesome green wave! This will vary with the height of the water, but I'v spent over an hour surfing hear on occasions. It's wicked fun for all. The final rapid is round a left hand bend. Heading left is the preferred route but there are lots of other lines available to challenge you. Egress is before the bridge on the left, or carry on down to Randolph's Leap.' CONTRIBUTED BY: Dave Francis, also Mark Gawler and Matt Hawkins. |
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