Wednesday started slightly slower than the previous days – partly due to not leaving the pub until almost 0100 and partly due to no decision having been made as to which river to paddle today. Eventually we chose to head to Etive, but that was quickly changed to the Braan Gorge. Around 0900 we finally set off.
We had seen that the level was low, but we hoped that there would be enough water to paddle it. It sounded like an investing run – one definite portage around grade 6 Hermitage Falls, and potentially two other portages around a grade 5 and a grade 5+ rapid – all within a two kilometre run!
Arriving at the get-out to inspect the three potential portages, we spent a considerable amount of time looking at potential lines and portage points before all coming to the same conclusion – the river was slightly too low. There was too many rocks showing which would have made running it very dangerous. A few more inches of water to cover the worst of the rocks and it would have been a go-er.
Unsure of which other rivers in the vicinity would be running, we eventually decided on the dam-release Lower Tummel. According to one guide, this was paddleable on the minimum compensation flow from the dam. When we arrived at the get on, this was the level we were greated with so we got on. Having paddled it now, I would disagree that it was paddleable at this level. It was a bump-and-scrape most of the way down, with only the Linn of Tummel rapid providing interest. This was a double-drop rapid dropping 3-4 metres in total. A few members of the group discovered a little rock shelf upon landing the bottom drop on the left-hand side. Taking the bottom drop on the right offered a great opportunity to practice your boofs. We all ran this rapid multiple times to practice moves and try various lines. The worst line on the top drop came courtesy of Ken, who went for a fancy flair move but just ended up running the drop upside down. Winner of the worst line on the bottom drop was Simon, who bounced hard off the rock shelf. Having had our fill of fun, we moved on for the little flat water paddle to the get-out before heading to find a tea shop in Pitlochry.