INTRODUCTION is middle section of the Roy lies in a gorge far below the road. If you have a problem, it will be a long and strenuous climb out on river right in search of the road. A fantastic paddle with interest throughout, but never too scary. Tight bedrock rapids follow one another in quick succession. WATER LEVEL Moderately wet/Very wet. GAUGE Upstream from the road bridge at Roy Bridge, you will see a band of quartz rock on river left. If the river is up to the level of the quartz the gorge will be at a good medium/high level. In very high water the Roy Gorge is fast and unrelenting; a swim here is punished severely. ACCESS Driving up Glen Roy, the road climbs to an obvi- ous viewpoint and car park. e gorge can be seen far below. e road then descends to the river and after 2 miles the best put-in is reached. Park at the muddy gateway and walk across the field to find Rooster Tail rapid. Egress from the river is at the dilapidated bridge at Cranachan (297 846). From here a steep track leads up the hill to the road. A small stone pillar at the side of the road marks the spot where exhausted paddlers will emerge from their ascent. If the river is high you might avoid this trauma by continuing on down the Lower Roy. DESCRIPTION From Rooster Tail a section of grade 3+ rapids gets the trip under way. e whitewater gradually becomes more continuous with the banks coming in to restrict the paddler’s view as the gorge begins. Take care as Head Banger, a nasty grade 5, appears suddenly on a left- hand bend. Inspect or portage on river left. Immediately below this badly undercut rapid lies e Brothers Grim (Gd 4+), a ledge split by a large boulder. e action continues around the S-bend downstream. ere is a lot of good grade 3/4 water in the next kilometre or so. e main event, once a tricky diagonal ledge, has all but disappeared after changes to the river bed, leaving a steep ramp into a flushing wave. A river-wide ledge stands out as the next highlight and just begs to be run blind. Once past this the gorge opens out and the grade eases to allow for more playful kayaking. With one last effort the river squeezes through a 1m gap in the cliffs, and the gorge section is over. Cranachan Bridge is just around the corner and, with your last dregs of energy, the walk out is started. OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS In very high water the Roy Gorge is a continuous and committing run. What in low to medium water were fun rapids with small holes become unrecognisable and boils and holes abound. Swimming above Head Banger at this level is a dangerous sport. Head Banger, Roy Gorge | Paul McLaughlin Pesda Whitewater Mini-Guide RIVER ROY #03 WWW.CANOEKAYAK.CO.UK WHEREVER THERE’S WATER Excerpt adapted from Scottish White Water, the SCA Guidebook ISBN 0954706110, published by Pesda Press, Caernarfon. For details of this and other books, as well as downloads of mini-guides and route cards in this series, visit: WWW.PESDAPRESS.COM sponsored by

03 River Roy Whitewater Guide

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INTRODUCTION This middle section of the Roy lies in a gorge far below the road. If you have a problem, it will be a long and strenuous climb out on river right in search of the road. A fantastic paddle with interest throughout, but never too scary. Tight bedrock rapids follow one another in quick succession.

WATER LEVEL Moderately wet/Very wet.

GAUGE Upstream from the road bridge at Roy Bridge, you will see a band of quartz rock on river left. If the river is up to the level of the quartz the gorge will be at a good medium/high level. In very high water the Roy Gorge is fast and unrelenting; a swim here is punished severely.

ACCESS Driving up Glen Roy, the road climbs to an obvi-ous viewpoint and car park. The gorge can be seen far below. The road then descends to the river and after 2 miles the best put-in is reached. Park at the muddy gateway and walk across the field to find Rooster Tail rapid. Egress from the river is at the dilapidated bridge at Cranachan (297 846). From here a steep track leads up the hill to the road. A small stone pillar at the side of the road marks the spot where exhausted paddlers will emerge from their ascent. If the river is high you might avoid this trauma by continuing on down the Lower Roy.

DESCRIPTION From Rooster Tail a section of grade 3+ rapids gets the trip under way. The whitewater gradually becomes more continuous with the banks coming in to restrict the paddler’s view as the gorge begins. Take care as Head Banger, a nasty grade 5, appears suddenly on a left-hand bend. Inspect or portage on river left. Immediately below this badly undercut rapid lies The Brothers Grim (Gd 4+), a ledge split by a large boulder. The action continues around the S-bend downstream. There is a lot of good grade 3/4 water in the next kilometre or so. The main event, once a tricky diagonal ledge, has all but disappeared after changes to the river bed, leaving a steep ramp into a flushing wave. A river-wide ledge stands out as the next highlight and just begs to be run blind. Once past this the gorge opens out and the grade eases to allow for more playful kayaking. With one last effort the river squeezes through a 1m gap in the cliffs, and the gorge section is over. Cranachan Bridge is just around the corner and, with your last dregs of energy, the walk out is started.

OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS In very high water the Roy Gorge is a continuous and committing run. What in low to medium water were fun rapids with small holes become unrecognisable and boils and holes abound. Swimming above Head Banger at this level is a dangerous sport.

Head Banger, Roy Gorge | Paul McLaughlin

Pesda Whitewater Mini-Guide

RIVER ROY #03

WWW.CANOEKAYAK.CO.UK

’S

Excerpt adapted from Scottish White Water, the SCA Guidebook

ISBN 0954706110, publ ished by Pesda Press, Caernarfon. For

detai ls of this and other books, as wel l as downloads of mini-guides and

route cards in this series, v is i t : W W W . P E S D A P R E S S . C O M