Long run on the Braan

The sun was shining, the water was in the rivers so it was time for a trip down the Braan.

Beautiful sun at the get on.

We got on at the bridge to paddle the middle section.  We had loads of time to play and had an amazing view of a otter half way down.

Tom having a surf

Cracking boating in the sun.

Rather than get out at the normal egress, we decided to carry on down to rumbling bridge falls.

Tom on the grd. 4.

Jonny avoiding the hole on then grd. 5 above Rumbling Bridge falls

We got on again below the falls to paddle the gorge section.  It was at a great level so all the rapids were long and fun!

Sean stepped up to run Coffin Fall's near the end which he styled!

Sean plugging the hole.

Got off above the Hermatage falls and drove home for a few beers.... and then some more.

Cheers Tom and Sean for a great trip.

Middle North Esk.

After the epic rain we have had recently we bashed up to the North Esk for a run. We hadn't  paddled for a while and both the Upper and lower section were turbo.

Sam bobbing down some bouncy grade 2

The water at fish ladder had filled the exit gorge and was lapping round the left of the huge rock that people inspect.  so we decided instead that the middle section would be a better bet.

We even found a cheeky boof.

The run was great in the sun with a few good rapids and amazing scenery.

Enjoying the sun and hills

After some shuttle faff involving a 10km bike up the glen to the car, no keys in my pocket, a 10 km bike ride down the glen, removing the keys from my BA, and a return cycle ride (30km on a fold up bike)  we returned to St Andrews with smiles on our face.

Near the end

Cheers Sam and Joel for a fun trip in the sun,

West coast wetness!

We had planned to go sea kayaking however there was gale force winds and buckets of rain forecast so river paddling it was!

Sean boofing the first grd. 4 on the Pattack

On the way over we ran the Pattack at a great level then moved onto the Spean gorge.

Patrick crusing the 2nd gorge section

Sean punching through, grd. 5 Head-banger, Spean Gorge

Patrick boofing the right line of constriction

We stayed in a hostel to escape the rain which continued all night so we knew the next day was going to be great.

After an early start we drove to the Nevis which was rediculusly high and still rising so we paddled the Loy instead at a great level.

Giles and run on Loy

Then we headed to the Arkaig so all the group could paddle. It was huge, with the Loch spilling onto the road and the river pumping through the bridge at the get on. The main event was massive so we all decided to walk it!

Arkaig main event at turbo

On the way back, a tree blocked our path so we had a massive drive up to South Laggan round Loch Laggan. As we headed back down to Spean Bridge we looked at the Gloy gauge which was running at a great medium level.

Patrick enjoying the Gloy at a great level

Me and Patrick decided to paddle it so were treated to 4km of continuous grade 3/4 paddling with plenty of trees to portage.  It was a great run.

We all had a great weekend and all paddled some new runs which is always great fun.

Cheers Giles, Patrick, Thor and Sean for a great trip.

136km across, 350m up, 35h moving 3 days to cross Scotland

It has been something that both of us have wanted to do, Kinlochleven on the west coast to Perth on the east by canoe.



The starting line in Kinlochleven at 9m above sea level

We started from Kinlochleven Friday morning with a 8km climb up to the Blackwater reservoir at 350m.  This was up a really stoney path which made dragging the canoe very difficult. 

Jamie lugging the boat up the first long portage up to Blackwater res.

At the top looking over Kinlochleven

We made good time up to the dam and started on the Blackwater reservioir.  The wind was blowing due west so we sailed most of the way and managed to get a bit of lunch down us on the move. 

At the top of the lake we had to drag/float the boat up the river blackwater which had a fair amout of water in making it slightly easyer. 

Draging, tracking, paddling up the River Blackwater to the watershed.

At the top of the watershed, one of the toughest seaction sarted.  We had the drag the boat  3km down to Loch Eigheach accross bog and very difficult terain though the pooring rain.  By the time we reached camp 1 at 2200h we were both exaused and drenched.

Dragging the boat 3km accros the water shed through horrible bog.

Day 2 started with a quick paddle accros Loch Eigheach to the reservoir at the top of the River Gaur.  We got on below the dam to paddle the first section of challening whitewater of the trip.  We portaged the grade 4 on the Gaur and got back on below.  This quickly followed by a very undignified capsize.  This drenched most of our kit as the 'dry' bags didn't quite live up to their name.

Next was Loch Rannoch.  This was the longest Loch of the trip (15km) and again the wind was kind, blowing us most of the way, sometimes surfing the waves as well.  At some points the wind was so strong that we were close to capsizing which would be very bad being 1km from land.

Canoe sailing with our awesome groupshelter/spinnaker.

The next stages contained some beauliful small rivers and Loch Dunalastair which twisted and turned past Shehalion until the dam at the top of the Tummel.  We decided to portage the Upper Tummel on the road just to save time, so 6km later we arrived at the Bridge of Tummel to have dinner and get on to Loch Tummel.  Again the wind was kind to us so we sailed most of the way past some amazing houses and sceenery. 

Paddling padt Kinloch Rannoch with amazing views of Schiehallion.

We reached Clunie dam at 2200h so it was very dark.  We knew there was a great campsite 4km down the road so portaged the boat through the night beside the Middle Tummel with headtorches.  We reached camp 2 at 0000h after 14 hours on the move.  We were both drained so erected the tent up and went straight to bed.

Jamie padding accors Loch Tummel as the light faided.

The final day was going to be huge, 50km to cover of straight paddling; accors Loch Fascaly, down the lower Tummel then down the Tay to Perth.  After an interesting portage round the Pitlochery dam, we paddle constantly for the whole day.  Eating lunch on the go at Dunkeld, only stopping once to rescue a swimming WWRer.  We encountered amazing wildlife throughout the whole trip with the diving osprey being the highlight.

The long slog down the Tay to Perth.

At 1900h we reached the slipway at Perth and climbed out of the boat for the last time.  After 136km ,350m elevation, 35h moving , we had crossed Scotland and undertaken an unforgettable trip!

Over the watershed - canoeing across Scotland from Jamie Adam on Vimeo.

Here is our video diary of the trip exited by Jamie.

Cheers Jamie for all the support and encouragement.  I look forward to our next trip...

The life of a Geography student

Last week we were off on our annual geog field trip, this time to the Sierra Nevarda mountain range in Spain's sunny south.

The team at the start of the week with the hotel in the background.

The aim was to assess the evidence of climate change in the mountains and what warming was doing to the local environment.

Measuring slope profile and river charictoristics up near the snow line.

Naturally this work involved lots of time by the pool, eating tapas washed down with copious ammounts of rosé.

Sean busy assesing the impact of climate change!

Tapas, Tan and Terible hangovers

We did some field work as well.  Often in the pouring rain but it was good fun all the same.

Hunty enjoying the delights of field work

  

Important relaxation time was spent chilling in the pool

We handed the work in on the last night then enjopyed a banquet put on by the hotel.

The final banquet

Thanks to all the lecturers and students for a great trip. 

All photos by Hannah Frith.