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GUIDE TO THE RIVER NORTH ESK RIVER NAME: North Esk. WHERE IS IT: Angus in Scotland (40mins north of Dundee (70mph)). Take Aberdeen Road from Dundee and just after Brechin take the turn off for Edzell. Drive through Edzell and you cross the river 2 mins later. PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: The get out is at the road bridge just after Edzell where you cross the river. 100 yards north of this bridge is a turn off to the left. Head up the glen here for about 3 miles and you will see a sign saying "the retreat". Just before this is a track heads down a hill turning back on the main road. We normally go down this track but not in a new car. There is a scout camp across the river to use as a reference point. The get out is 5 yards before the road bridge. A path goes up to the road then though a door in a wall! LENGTH: 6km. TIME REQUIRED: 3 hours with inspection. Longer with playing. ACCESS: Iain McKendry advises: 'As far as access goes, at the get in, as long as cars aren't parked blocking either the main road or the tracks, and no fences are climbed it's pretty much OK. the "Retreat" marker is a good pointer as in the first guide. At the get out, the path marked "private" isn't a problem, just be courteous to all the walkers (i.e. avoid planting them with the nose of your boat!). PLEASE don't park on the grass above the layby - the bloke in the house is very friendly and reasonable until someone leaves tyre marks in his newly mown lawn! If the layby is full, there's space at the start of the Glen Road, just on the left - not as handy as the layby, but let's keep the peace folks!' Jim Wallis adds: If you check the takeout before you get on you will find steps hewn from the rock a short distance above the bridge. Probably for anglers originally, but makes a much more feasible takeout than the SCA takeout below the bridge! I paddled the section during a fishing competition, luckily the only angler we met was at the put in, he was leaving and quite friendly, and thought he was furthest downstream (which he was) - I wouldn't fancy ruining someone's competition! WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: If there is a little shingle beach river left just before the bridge it is low. If not it is high. GRADING: 2-5. MAJOR HAZARDS: One big fall is tricky in high water. Prone to tree blockages. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This guide has been rewritten to hopefully clear up a rapid naming confusion, if you would rather discover the river, be aware that there are 2 rapids leading into short gorges which are harder than the rest of the river and you will want to check out (first time anyway). Another rapid further up may prompt you to take a look as well. Otherwise it is generally 2 & 3. Stop reading now unless you want the full story! From the get in point the first mile is quite easy (grade 2). In low water this section can be very scrappy. The first major rapid can be seen where the river channels to the right. Inspection recommended due to occurrence of blockages (grade 3-4). Several grade 3 rapids follow up to the first set of falls/gorge section. This has been wrongly named in some guidebooks, and there seems to be agreement that this is the "Rocks of Solitude". If you pay attention on your way up the glen road you may see a sign directing fishermen to the "Rocks of Solitude", Iain McKendry says the sign has disappeared, but Jim Wallis recalls seeing it this year. This rapid is probably more serious than it is given credit for. There are 2 reasonable size drops quite close together, with a significant rapid (and stopper) between them, A short gorge follows with an interesting corner (NUCC call it President's corner, due to a phenomenon involving several club presidents and swimming - it seems they are not the only ones!), which possibly forms a small drop at some levels (OK I'm just trying to explain why the rapid has sometimes been called triple falls, some people call it double drop which is more obvious). In high water the stopper between the drops is a monster and will sort you right out. In high water there is a jibber's chute river right. In low water take it straight through the guts. You will probably want to inspect, protect and photograph this bit, pay particular attention to the corner which can pin boats and usually makes the best paddler in the group roll or swim! The gorge opens out suddenly and a flat section allows you to prepare for the much scarier looking but actually easier rapid - "The Fishladder". This is the rapid often called the rocks of solitude by mistake, it doesn't really matter what you call the rapids, as long as you are aware that there are 2 you will want to look at, and 4 possible names for them! This rapid is marked by the pillar on the rocks river left (and I can't remember if there's actually a bridge on it now!). The lead in is about grade 3, in medium(?) water there is a sneak lead in river left, or a gnarly looking hole river right (3+ perhaps), and then about 40 or 50 yards to get onto your line over the drop. If you hit it close to the fish ladder (i.e. left of centre) it is straightforward and you wash out (even if you backloop). It is quite a big drop into a narrow channel and clearly gets harder as the river rises but shouldn't be desperate - apparently it has been shot down the Fishladder (by mistake) in high water, resulting in the breaking of a set of Schlegels, but the paddler wasn't recirculated. There are quite a few playspots in enjoyable water up to about grade 3 despite the short distance to the takeout! OTHER NOTES: Runnable at most levels. Is hard at high flows but an excellent trip. CONTRIBUTED BY: The guide was rewritten by Jim Wallis to incorporate comments by: Kris Waring, Phillip Skinner and Iain McKendry. |
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