GUIDE TO THE RIVER CREE

NAME OF RIVER: Cree.

WHERE IS IT: Near Newton Stewart up the A714 heading for Bargrennan bridge.

PUT-INS/ TAKEOUTS: Put in 2 miles north of Bargrennan Bridge, where a white cottage is on the left and a long layby is on the right, follow the stream, down to the river. Take out at Bargrennan Bridge.

APPROX LENGTH: 4 miles.

TIME NEEDED: 2-3 hrs depending on level.

ACCESS HASSLES: Don't know

WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: look over Bargrennan Bridge if there are no rocks showing then its running.

GRADING: 4 maybe 5 in bigger flows.

MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS:One particularly nasty fall on a left hand bend.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: After the put in a small constriction follows but after this the river is very flat for about a mile, so flat that the first time I ran this I thought I had the wrong put in, but once the rapids start they follow all the way to the bridge, one particular 15ft fall needs careful inspection as it can hold a boat and paddler under for quite a long time-me! There are a number of very meaty drops to watch out and inspection is always necessary if you can't see the line.

OTHER NOTES: Would make an excellent second run after the Minnoch.

CONTRIBUTED BY: Mark Lyons.