GUIDE TO THE RIVER DYE
NAME OF RIVER: River Dye (Aberdeenshire).
WHERE IS IT? Flowing down the North side of Cairn O'Mount near Banchory in Aberdeenshire next the the B974.
PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Driving up from Banchory you quickly arrive at the takeout bridge (The first time you cross the river) where there is a large forest layby on the left. From here you simply keep going up until once more the road crosses the river. If you decide to put in here please park considerately next to the old road bridge on the right. However, it is possible to put in about 1km further up this road where a small tributary passes under the road. From here it is about a 150m walk to the river.
APPROX LENGTH: 3miles.
TIME NEEDED: 2 hours.
ACCESS HASSLES: This is a seldom paddled section of river and as such no problems have ever been encountered.
WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: This needs some serious rain to bring it into condition. Only if the river is very high is it worth paddling. Look over the bridge at the takeout or put-in and if it there are no rocks showing and the river is flowing very quickly it should run OK.
GRADING: 2/3.
MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: About three quarters of the way down there is a very low bridge across the river. This consists of a couple of railways sleepers set into concrete. In very high flows this may be covered but otherwise it is a mandatory walkaround. I guess that at medium flows you may be able to roll/ swim under it but we were not for trying.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Mostly the Dye is continuous grade 2 interspersed with the occasional G3 rapid. From the off, the river swings sharply away from the road making the trip seem quite committing and if it is high enough to paddle, the trees lining the bank will become the bank making things seem even more committed. However, everything is straightforward and with the exception of the low bridge there are no surprises with the one ominous looking horizon line near the end nothing more than a straightforward flume. The Dye is a fun little river and would be a good option for introducing beginner/ intermediate paddlers to smaller spate rivers.
OTHER NOTES: If high enough, you could paddle on down until the Dye joins the Feugh and extend the trip to the Falls of Feugh which would make for a more exciting end. (Note: the Falls of Feugh are not suitable for beginners)
CONTRIBUTED BY: Kris Waring.
