GUIDE TO THE RIVER ETIVE
(Upper section to Coupall confluence)
NAME OF RIVER: Etive.
WHERE IS IT?:Above the Kingshouse Hotel which marks the start of the upper Etive run.
PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Take the tarred access track directly opposite to the Glen Etive road, drive up this and park in one of the lay-bys/ passing places on the way. Go through the gate onto the private track and walk up the dirt access track behind it until you get to an obvious flattening, around 1 mile from the gate. Take out at the hotel when you are still in sight of the cars, or contiune to the River Coupall confluence or beyond.
APPROX LENGTH: 1 mile.
TIME NEEDED: It only takes about an hour, if that.
ACCESS HASSLES: No idea, driving your car up the access track is probably a bad idea though.
WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: All rocks need to be well covered for this to be worthwhile.
GRADING: Shallow reefy Grade 3 and 4.
MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Buchaille Etive Falls.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: You can see the whole run on the walk in. It consists of shallow rocky sections with a number of nice slabby rapids on the way down. The view across the moor is stupendous. Consider carrying on dowmstream into the upper Etive, but be wary that Buchaille Etive Falls are not far dwnstream.
OTHER NOTES: If you arrive in Glen Etive and it looks as it you may die on the middle Etive run, then this - combined with the Allt A Bhalaich - make a nice run to do instead.
CONTRIBUTED BY: Douglas Rae www.levy-scot.co.uk.
