River Grade Get in Get out
Allt a Chaoruinn
IV
 Driving along Glen Etive towards the Bridge at grid NN 198 512. Park on the left. Where you park the cars.
Video clip of parts of the river, moderate levels.

Video clip in lower water, just as much fun though.

The Allt a ChaoruinnThe Allt a Chaoruinn is the most popular of all tributaries flowing into the river Etive to paddle. 

The Allt a Chaoruinn is situated on the West coast of Scotland, North-West of Crianlarich / Tyndrum or South of Fort William. The Allt a Chaoruinn is just off the A82.

Glen Etive is popular not only for the river Etive but for the tributaries that flow into the Etive.  Allt a Chaoruinn and Allt Mheuran being the more common ones run.



Depending how large your group is it can take anything from 45 minutes to three hours, depending on experience and local knowledge.  The longest part is the 20 minute walk in.  There are 4 noticeable drops / rapids on the river, offering different grades of difficulty and challenges these are Speed (IV), Ecstasy (IV), Pinball (IV) and Chasm (IV). 

 

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



Road sign to Glen Etive.To get to the river you’ll want to take the road off the A82 along Glen Etive and get to the bridge about 6km along the road at grid NN 198 512 and park up on the left.  To gauge the level walk down to where the Allt a Chaoruinn feeds in to the Etive at grid NN 195 510.  It’ll look scrappy, but if there is enough water coming down to scrape down, then it should be okay.  If the water coming down offers a clear line and all the bedrocks are covered, then it will probably be too high.  Walk away!
To get to the start walk over the bridge and follow the signs.  It’s kinda cross-country and you’ll be sweating a bit.  Allow about 20minutes to walk up.

 

Chasm, low water.

 

Speed (IV):  The line here is straightforward. 

Ecstasy (IV):  One of the longer runs in this burn.  Make sure you have a rope at the top stopper.  It’s a grippy little sucker!

Pinball (IV):  Probably the more difficult rapid on the river!  Coming over the top lip the water will normally push you river right to pinball down the rapid.  A pool at the bottom is large enough to pick up the bits. 

Chasm (IV):  A very narrow slot looking very intimidating.