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GUIDE TO THE RIVER MEIG (Lower Section below Dam) NAME OF RIVER: Meig. WHERE IS IT?: Ross-shire. Runs from below the dam of Loch Meig NH375560 - about thirty miles west of Inverness. To get there, drive along the A835 and come off at a small village called Marybank. Turn right (signed for Scatwell) and drive west along a minor road for about five miles until you get to the get-in at the second loch (Loch Meig). PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: This starts below a Dam. Get in just below the dam at Loch Meig. Take out river left when the gorge flattens out, the road being maybe a hundred yards through the trees. Note that after reaching the get-in, you must drive over the dam and back down the river left side to get to the takeout- park in a convenient layby when you come out of the trees (~2k). APPROX LENGTH: 2 km. TIME NEEDED: First time down, low water, about 90 mins. ACCESS SITUATION: It's so dam effected that I don't think it's of interest to salmon fisherpeople. Fine, but be discreet at the takeout, apparently the estate owners don't appreciate people getting changed in the passing place but we've never experienced any actual problems. WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: See below. Compensation flow is fine for a first descent - be aware that more than +6 inches will add a grade to most drops. GRADING: 3+/4 ... add a grade with more than compensation flow! MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: None, but the first drop might be worth looking at. Also a couple of boulder gardens are probable portages at compensation flow (not enough water). GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Lower section (below the Dam) is where the grade 4 action is at. Releases are not predictable, and to make it even worse it is rarely at an ideal level - tending to be either a trickle (not enough) or full on (death on a stick in the gorge!). However, if you are lucky enough to get a good level, it is an outstanding run with lots of blind corners and tricky little drops. It all goes, but some of it will test your nerve and get you to question the grade. Very scenic. This is a short, intense run but not as hard as it looks - first time down the deep gorge and inability to inspect most drops will make it fairly intimidating, but at low flow not particularly challenging. Solid grade 3+ boaters will be able to scrape down in one piece. There are more-or-less continous bedrock rapids for the whole 2k, ranging from constrictions to cauldrons and ledge drops -'proper' creeking... Be careful if there is a lot of water about, however, as once on it will be almost impossible to get off, especially in the second half of the gorge where the more difficult drops are. It is possible to walk five minutes down the river right bank from the dam to inspect the first (and hardest) drop - if you like the look of this, you'll love the rest. OTHER NOTES: Consider also the upper section of the Meig. The bottom section is a bit of a classic. Ideal for very short boats and if you get fed up paddling there is good rock climbing on the gorge walls at the end. We've run this is just about everything from Saltos to Dominatrix, so long as it's short you'll be fine in low flow. CONTRIBUTED BY: Dave, Edinburgh University Canoe Club, also Ron Cameron and Dave Aldritt. |
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