Low water options in Scotland - again!!!

[Lancs_lad]

Going up in 10 days, come rain or no rain.

So if no rain, I have a list:

Meig - is there always a compensation flow?
Spean gorge - can this get to low?
Upper spean - does the dam only release after rain or is like the Twerynn that is released to control local river levels?
Leven - read on here it can be done on a compensation flow? Is this always on? How often does it release extra than this?
Nesk - Hear this holds it water for ages?
Findhorn - same as above?
Etive and tribs - are they empty at mo? or can we still have banter while wet seal launching?
Etive (dalness) - does this work when the middle is really low? or is it just as empty?
Garry - Not releasing this early?
Morriston - Same as above?

Any more?

Please no comments of bring boots etc, we are mates who are going up to chill out, have banter and find something to paddle (river).

[Randy Fandango]

Can't comment on the rest but I once tried out the "Spean Gorge -- can it ever be too low" question and found out (after 3 or 4 torturous hours of scrape and portage) that yes it certainly can be too low.
Giles

[Andy H]

Hi
Mieg yes allways on compensation flow we did it Thursday just gone
Findhorn gorge will go in fairly low water again just done on Thursday
Spean gorge is low but will go (had to portage constriction as gap not big enough)
Etive did Friday which was very low but still enough (you can allways scape off the drops)
Awe allways on compensation flow but only grade 2/3
Garry realease dates are up on the dates and events section.
Done leven on very low water before and it goes (just)
Keep your eye on the tariff as that realeases quite often.
last gorge on pattack will go on low water.

As Giles suggested things can get too low if no rain for weeks and only the compensation flow runs will go or you can try canyoning (great fun)

Things was looking quite low friday when we left so I suggest take your bike and climbing gear as well also check out the surf reports and if Sea Kayaking is your thing then bobs your uncle with the tropical weather Scotland is having.

Cheers Andy

[callum s]

Meig - is there always a compensation flow?
Yes, pretty dire though.

Spean gorge - can this get to low?
Yes, but probably a good bet, would take a while to get too low.

Upper spean - does the dam only release after rain or is like the Twerynn that is released to control local river levels?
Only releases after prolonged heavy rain.

Leven - read on here it can be done on a compensation flow? Is this always on? How often does it release extra than this?
I believe it can be run as a class 4 etive trib style run with only compensation, which should always be on... (?)
Not sure how often it releases proper but does need some rain. When it releases it is scary...

Nesk - Hear this holds it water for ages?
Well it goes when there isnt much juice around. "Wheres the water" will give you a good idea.

Findhorn - same as above?
Indeed.

Etive and tribs - are they empty at mo? can we still have banter while wet seal launching?
Yes and maybe, it would be up to you...

Etive (dalness) - does this work when the middle is really low? or is it just as empty?
Just as empty.

Garry - Not releasing this early?

Thursday 5th April
Saturday 7th April
Thursday 12th April

Any use to you??

Morriston - Same as above?
Releases wont start till May.

Easter weekend just happens to coincide with the best Falls of Lora days of the year. http://www.fallsoflora.info/times_and_dates_for_the_falls_of_lora.htm

Keep your eye on the tariff as that realeases quite often.

Do you mean the Tarff and have you ever done it? From what I have heard it is a classic Jackson sanbag run but I would be interested to hear if anyone has paddled it recently?

[tomcrow99]

The Leven is good at compensation flows, a step up from a low water etive bash, but more and bigger drops, nothing particularly serious.

You can always get down the North Esk, if its really low, its worth skipping the first bit of the run and getting in at the top of the gorge to avoid 2km of arse scraping over gravel bars though.

Hope this helps!

[Rhod]

The Arkaig, though MUCH better in high water.
The Orchy - As above but not a bad day out.

[Jim]

Easter weekend just happens to coincide with the best Falls of Lora days of the year. http://www.fallsoflora.info/times_and_dates_for_the_falls_of_lora.htm

It's no coincidence, why do you think I go sea kayaking at Easter every year, the Christians tied Easter into the biggest spring tide of the year! (First Sunday following the full moon that follows Vernal Equinox - biggest tide of the year is 2 or 3 days after the same full moon).

If Lora is too much for you, also check out the Inverlochy tailrace and Kinlochleven playhole (both need mid-low tide as far as I know).

Spean gorge is pretty well always on, I can recall doing it at levels where someone had to get out at Constriction to haul the boats through (if you haven't seen it low (as a constriction) you kind of need to to understand). Do remember that the lower it is, the nastier headbanger is for several reasons: the run in is steeper and rockier making it impossible to arrive at the lip with enough speed to boof clear, in low water the fall effectively moves upstream uncovering the undercut that gave it it's name but is rarely seen now most people do it at proper levels, and there is a scour hole at the base which having lost you speed and pencilled the fall hopefully missing the undercut, you have a fair chance of pinning in - even topos have scraped bottom there in low water - my advice is just walk round, it's quicker and easier...

If you end up around Oban way looking for tidal stuff and know your way around tidal planning check out Cuan sound. In sea kayaks there are some good options for going around Luing using the tides and visiting some gnarlier spots further out as a day trip, river boats are too slow for all that, but if you can work out somewhere to launch and do a shuttle Cuan sound at full tilt is like a BIG volume river.

Other than that think about bringing bikes and boots and keep your fingers crossed for some rain

[Jim Pullen]

It's also worth noting that you can cut out the flat scrapy bit of the Spean in low water, by going done the small road on river left, parking up in a layby before the travllers camp and walking down the wooded bank to the river.

That silly little burn coming into the south side of kinlochleven also "goes" in low water, in a Bob Evans, sliding over wet rock sort of way.

[ianletton]

Weather in Central Scotland has been fantastic* for past 4-5 days and is set to continue all week.

Very unusual for this time of year but I am not complaining.

In terms of kayaking, it's probably not such a good idea in my opinion.

BBQ'ing, Hillwalking, camping, climbing, mountain biking, loch canoeing, sea kayaking, kite flying/surfing, sailing and gorge walking are some of the options available just now.

Gorge walking is really good fun in good weather and keeps the kayaker in you alive. Especially if you think of yourself as a very small kayaker and imagine the lines you could do!

Embrace the dry weather and enjoy it while it lasts!

Ian

*fantastic in terms of temperature(high), sunshine(lots) and cloud cover(none)

[banzer]

I'm going to Torridon this weekend... the plan was to paddle, but in light of the forecast, I'm not even bringing a boat.

Going to go MTBing, canyoning / checking out creeks, climbing and hiking. Cannae wait.... and no midges!

[feelingjustfine]

it is absolutely beautiful here in scotland presently-an amazing time to get tanned, enjoy the midge free time of year and spend some fantastic time in the outdoors. It is not a good time however to sweat you balls off in a boat where the is no water to be had and none in sight...

[Jim]

Be advised, colleagues keep telling me that there is a forecast for snow at the weekend - personally I don't check the forecast this far in advance, but as I noted elsewhere it is not unusual to get snow in April in Scotland, nor is the odd hot day, this run of 4 or more is a bit odd though!

Banzer - if you take a boat to Torridon you can always head out to the tidal rapid at Poolewe, it's a bit of a diversion but much less than from just about anywhere else :-) It's a one hit wonder and although I've been a couple of times I don't remember anything to play on - obviously not last saturday in my carbon sea kayak, but even when I have taken a playboat down the rapid. It's not worth putting a boat on the roof for.

[tfraser]

Freshet release for the Meig is on a thursday starting at 9am for 24hrs from the 1st of June.All the other days are compensation but thursday are the best levels.Ran most of the winter over the top of the dam but unrunable at these levels.

[Kizzie_St-As]

Things I have paddled when there's been no water:
The Doon in Ayrshire runs all year and is super fun intense grade 3. The Middle Etive is a silly diversion in dry weather - triple, ski jump, crack of doom, rock slide and right angle still go (ish). Both sections of the Tummel are always runnable on compensation. Grandtully and Stanley are always fun, though not edge of your seat kind of thing! The Garry is definitely worth a paddle when it's releasing. We did the North Esk last weekend and it was quite good fun though rocky.

Some video of a low etive in this: http://s914.photobucket.com/albums/ac35 ... movie1.mp4

When we did a super low Spean Gorge it was painful and the best bit of the day was when Jamie decided he could bounce his way through constriction and splatted onto the rock with his boat on top. Other than that (and fairy steps which were ok), it was either flat, scrapey shingle bed or rocky doom. Grrr. So I am unconvinced at the "always doable" talk.

My advice: paddle some lochs. They're very pretty :)

[clarky999]

We did our 'Tour de Britain' last week, bloody terrible levels. Got the Meig and the Doon in in Scotland, both fun at compensation flows. Got drunk and jumped off stuff at the Etive, too low to bother paddling, as was the Spean Gorge. Arkaig was low but alright actually too. Then we gave up and went to the Tryweryn and Nottingham. Got the Tummel on the way back up, it sucked absolute balls. Did have a lot of fun shifting the massive tree that was pinned across the Linn though.

Did the North Esk today, it's stupidly low - at least 2-3 inches lower than I've ever seen it. You could get down it all fine (use the get-in with the car park on the other side of the road, the gravel bit above has nothing decent at any flow, only worth using when it's high to avoid the walk in), but it's the first time I thought it was too low to be enjoyable. I've paddled the Nesk a lot at all normal flows for the last three years, and even at dry summer levels (0.35+ on the gauge) it's still a lot of fun, with some nice technical bits, although obviously not as good as when really high. Bit of rain over there today, so hopefully will be back up to fun levels quickly.

[Jim]

You might get lucky with the snowmelt...... no longer a rumour, the snow has arrived here.
It would choose the week I have to cycle because I need to change the heater seals in the car so the antifreeze stays in it and not in the passenger foot well.....

[swimboater]

Freshet release for the Meig is on a thursday starting at 9am for 24hrs from the 1st of June.All the other days are compensation but thursday are the best levels.Ran most of the winter over the top of the dam but unrunable at these levels.

The Meig is on my tick list for rivers to do for the first time over Easter - It is not clear from the posts in this thread if the current compensation flow is enough? Does anyone have anymore information on this?

Both sections of the Tummel are always runnable on compensation.

Is the Tummel running compensation flow at the moment and is it on every day?

Thanks

[clarky999]

Freshet release for the Meig is on a thursday starting at 9am for 24hrs from the 1st of June.All the other days are compensation but thursday are the best levels.Ran most of the winter over the top of the dam but unrunable at these levels.

The Meig is on my tick list for rivers to do for the first time over Easter - It is not clear from the posts in this thread if the current compensation flow is enough? Does anyone have anymore information on this?

Both sections of the Tummel are always runnable on compensation.

Is the Tummel running compensation flow at the moment and is it on every day?

Thanks

Meig is - and still a lot of fun at that level. Would love to get it with just a couple of inches more water though...

Did the Tummel at compensation flow the other day, it sucked balls - would even rather have been on the Tay (other than the fun of getting the tree out).

[justin-g]

Did the Mieg once on compensation - didn't float my boat at all. If it was right by me and I wanted a paddle defo - but would I fill up the car with a tank of diesel @ 1.50 a litre and drive there - me thinks not.

Clarky is right it would be craking with a few more inches of water - it's a wierd day out that's for sure.

[SwamP]

So if no rain, I have a list:

Meig - is there always a compensation flow?
Spean gorge - can this get to low?
Upper spean - does the dam only release after rain or is like the Twerynn that is released to control local river levels?
Leven - read on here it can be done on a compensation flow? Is this always on? How often does it release extra than this?
Nesk - Hear this holds it water for ages?
Findhorn - same as above?
Etive and tribs - are they empty at mo? or can we still have banter while wet seal launching?
Etive (dalness) - does this work when the middle is really low? or is it just as empty?
Garry - Not releasing this early?
Morriston - Same as above?
Ness Glen on the Doon
Falls of Lora
Surf

I'm all over having bullet pointed lists...hence why I've reiterated bold the options above!

If you don't like surf it means you're scared of white water and kayak to stay dry....fact.

[banzer]

Righto, do you want an answer that might tick the boxes? You have to be prepared to work for it though. It's not much further than the Meig, and is way better.

A9 to Inverness. Straight across to Kinlochewe at the head of Loch Maree (about an hour). Park at the Beinn Eighe car park about half a km down the loch. Paddle across the loch to the wee burn that should just be visible in parts - the Fhasaig. Carry up until the valley starts to flatten. Put on. Enjoy the clean bedrock slides and drops. Portage the yuck bits. Bring a camera... it's real pretty.

I say this because I was biking there three days ago - after a really long dry spell - and it was almost paddleable then. There is a large upland loch that feeds it. So this recent bout of snow might just top it up a nicely.

A group of us tried to paddle it a few years back when there was a bit of rain around, and it was too big. All you have to do is look across the loch from the car park, if you can see two, three or four bits of white it's on. If there's a lot of white or none visible at all, don't bother. Good luck.

[ziehmstephen]

Go up a hill...not down!

[clarky999]

Freshet release for the Meig is on a thursday starting at 9am for 24hrs from the 1st of June.All the other days are compensation but thursday are the best levels.Ran most of the winter over the top of the dam but unrunable at these levels.

How much extra water does this equate to (compared to compensation flows)?

[Jim]

Meig gorge is perfectly runnable at compensation flows, better to do it low first time, it is a bit of a problem solving exercise.... If the small weir at the put on looks runnable, it's probably too high for your first time, it would be a serious proposition with any 'normal' kind of amount of water going down it. I'm not sure what a freshet release looks like, but just a couple of inches of water do make a big difference in there.

Once you have driven that far also bear in mind the Carron, most of the normal upper section goes in pretty low levels.

Or follow Banzers instructions for a burn I know nothing about.

Anyone know what the situation is with the Cuileag these days, I remember someone telling me there are some good drops accessible from the hydro road now, am I imagining that they may also have said something about being always runnable? The falls at the top of the Dundonnell probably don't want too much water but the rest of it does, as do most of the rivers out along the west coast. None of this is any use if you have accommodation booked in Lochaber, but if your plans are flexible....

[Jim]

It is raining here now (and did last night a bit). Y'all may get lucky.

[GlennJ]

Hello folks

I'm in Scotland this week, its very dry and we're looking at doing the Garry on dam release tomorrow.

I'm really struggling to find anything on the internet that will tell me dam releases are scheduled. The closest I can find for the Garry is a document that has dates from 28 March onwards.

Does anyone know if it releasing tomorrow - 14th March ?

Thanks

Glenn

[TechnoEngineer]

Are there any open canoe hire places in range of paddling the easier rivers?

[Neptune]

I have only ever run the Roy Gorge in high water levels, but I am told that it will go at low levels. However, I am also told that you would need to watch out for the siphons and may have to portage some sections.

Peter

[scottdog007]

Hello folks

I'm in Scotland this week, its very dry and we're looking at doing the Garry on dam release tomorrow.

I'm really struggling to find anything on the internet that will tell me dam releases are scheduled. The closest I can find for the Garry is a document that has dates from 28 March onwards.

Does anyone know if it releasing tomorrow - 14th March ?

Thanks

Glenn

Did a google and found this website saying for 2013 the first release for the year is 29 March so not tomorrow it seems. This is a Friday I thought it normally released on a Thursday!
http://experienceadventure.co.uk/2013-r ... 0-off.html

[Jim]

The releases are primarily summer compensation for the Ness system, you may occasionally drive over and see it releasing on an unscheduled day in winter but nothing you can rely on. It is on the way to the Meig Gorge from all the popular west coast accommodation, possibly the only reason you might happen to be driving past it to notice....
Of course you can also do a tour of dam fed rivers looking to see if any are releasing and it can easily be incorporated in any route that takes in the Moriston :-)

Techno - are you asking for yourself or as a suggestion? I believe there are a few canoe hire options along the Great Glen (Lochy and Ness if you want easy rivers, or the Caledonian canal).