GUIDE TO THE RIVER TRUIM

(Falls of Truim)

NAME OF RIVER: Truim.

WHERE IS IT?: A tributary of the Spey. Just off of the A9 south of Newtonmore (between Pitlochry and Aviemore) and down some minor road. Use an OS map!

PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: The Falls are a bit of a one shot wonder. They are obvious from the minor road, paddle them then walk the few hundred metres back to the car.

APPROX LENGTH: 150-ish metres.

TIME NEEDED: Anywhere between 5 minutes and 1 hour depending on how much you faff (we faffed).

ACCESS HASSLES: Unknown, probably similar to the rest of Scotland. Interestingly, as we were getting on a warden turned up. We thought we were about to be asked to leave, but he just wanted a chat and recommended some other rivers to do. Scotland - how refreshing. The owner of the land does overlook the area though so be considerate (as you should be anyway).

WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Just walk the thing and have a look.

GRADING: 4-5 depending on water level, 4 when lower, probably the first fall is 5 in higher water.

MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: 3 distinct falls then that's it.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A pure one, well actually three, shot wonder. The first fall is a narrow slot into a small pool before the second drop - a rock slide into a ledge drop (sticky stopper) into a larger pool. The final fall is a series of drops into another large pool. This drop was threatening to give a few ends when we were there.

OTHER NOTES: Worth the trip for novelty value ("Falls of Truim - where on earth is that?") and best done on the way to somewhere else (Findhorn?). Easily protected from both banks. I don't think there is anything worth doing up or downstream, but I could be wrong - anyone with more info?

CONTRIBUTED BY: Philip Skinner.