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Weekend in Scotland

23rd & 24th November 2002.

Friday we travelled to Gavin's Bunkhouse at Roy Bridge near Fort William and the five of us were joined next morning by Claire from Oban, Mike from Sterling and John who was a surprise and from Doncaster.

Water levels were low and after much rifling of the guide book the Spean Gorge was reckoned to be a good option, a 6km journey getting in at Spean Bridge.

Starting as a gentle wide river soon we entered the gorge with easy rapids. Deep sided now there were huge slabs of rock forcing the flow round sharp turns and hiding the route from us. We had a couple of swims early on from John who seemed to be missing his coach. We had to stop and get out several times to inspect falls, some were tricky and you knew it could be messy if you came out. Andy, Phil and Mike would take the lead and then cover the section from eddies or with a throw-bag on the bank. Adrian did a close inspection of the river bed after exiting his boat on the first of a triple drop. This wouldn't normally put him off too much but at the bottom of this huge gorge it was different altogether. He and John decided to hike out, not an easy option. A constriction now, a tight turn and a drop, lots of boiling water that won't support Claire's roll, she hits an underwater rock with the side of her face, nice eye Claire, I bet that hurt. Ann was going great guns, I was surviving, bit edgy though. Then we were out of the gorge and soon getting off the water at Mucomuir hydro-electric power station. Yes John and Adrian were ok, we caught up with them at the put-in.

Sunday five paddled another gorge, this time the River Roy. We could see much more of the countryside today which gave an altogether friendlier feel to the route. We all carried round Head Banger the 45 ° undercut rock below fall but the playboaters Andy, Phil and Mike were straight back in at the next fall. No funny water like the previous day but very technical, lots of tight turns and at Brothers Grimm, Ann needed a shorter boat getting stuck in the wrong place after the fall! The lower 3km was gentle but a bit of a scrape then a nice rapid at Roy Bridge to finish.

Earlier ideas to tackle a second river were not having much support after our 3hr paddle. So we decided to recce the River Etive near to the Glen Coe Ski Lift to get us in the mood for the journey home.

Richard had put this trip together but unfortunately couldn't go in the end. Thanks to Andy and Phil for their leadership on the water and the whole group for making my first away trip with SOC a cracker!

Peter Ball

Last Modified: 7 May, 2003