keltie

The Keltie is one of those rivers (more of a burn) that you'll love it or loath it. Watch out for Kerplunck it'll bite your boat or your lower legs if your not switched on! Check out the video!

The picture, above, will give you some idea of the level you'll need. Where you see the blue wavy line in the picture, if the water is touching the first line, then it'll be good. If it's at the third it'll be bonkers!!!

To get to it you'll need to head to Callander along the A84, North of Stirling, and after about 1 mile driving into Callender (from the Stirling side) there is a right turn marked, Bracklinn Falls, at grid NN632 077. Take this narrow road and follow it all the way up a steep hill. You'll pass an old folks home.

The first noticeable sign of the Keltie Water is the car park you'll pass on the right hand side at grid NN 637 083. If you want, stop here (the blue "P" on the map), and walk down to Bracklinn Falls (V). It'll take about 15 minutes or so to walk down the obvious track. It's a bit mucky, after some rain. Once you get to Bracklinn Falls you'll stare and look at the lines and wonder if this bad boy is for you! GRRR!

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service.
Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and
Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

Back to the car you'll want to continue driving up the road to grid NN 637 100. There is a right turn here, down a track, and a place where you can leave a car for the shuttle. See the picture with the estate car. That's it.

Once here take a walk down the track, and see what awaits you. It'll take a minute or two to get to the river. Once your there check out the first rapid just under the bridge and the one further in the distance, Kerplunck.

The line on the first rapid is obvious. Watch out at Kerplunk as there is a ledge/rock at the bottom of the drop, river right, that'll dink your boat. Check this little clip out to see.

That's it... Well, erm, not quite. it's about a kilometer, or so, paddle of nothing more than grade III to Bracklinn Falls. If you were wise and checked out where this was prior to getting on the river, and i hope you have, you'll know where to get out!!!

You should be looking to get out river right and check out Bracklinn Falls.

Arguably, grade V, this is no easy section. If you have any sense you'll have a good crew that know their rescue stuff and have enough of a crew to do it. It is very long but more than that, it turns, drops and has loads of blind corners on it where one or two safety persons will not be enough, in my opinion. This is for, pure, grade V knuckleheads! I am not going to waste my time giving a description of the Falls as there are a NUMBER of medium, shallow, drops, ledges and blind corners for you to look at when you get there.

If you have run this and you are intact. Well done. If you have portaged, then good decision. Get on below the falls, river right. It's not the easiest get in. Or walk back up the track to the car park for a short run. However, it is worth a wee paddle down to the road bridge, if you have came this far. It wont get more than grade III+ and there are one or two good play spots.

Once your at the road bridge, get out river right and scramble up the bank to the cars.

Job Done!