The longest, about 193 km, and more scenic rivers to paddle in Scotland is the River Tay.  On a warm sunny day or for short evenings paddle the silvery Tay has something for all paddle sports persons. 

From expedition style canoe trips, rafting trips, playboating spots, basic white water introduction and general all round fun the Tay is runnable all year round!

The Tay is fed by a number of rivers in the upper catchment area.  With its main tributaries being the Rivers Almond, Isla, Earn, Shockie, Brann, Tummel and Lyon.  It is also the largest river in the UK with a catchment area of about 2000 square Miles.  This makes it runnable all year round. 

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

The three main sections to paddle are:

1. Loch Tay, through Aberfeldy to Grandtully.
2. Aberfeldy to Grandtully.
3. Stanley to Thistlebrig. 

1. Loch Tay, through Aberfeldy and on to Grandtully will take the best part of the day but offers some great stretches of flat water with the water reaching grades I – II – III at different parts. 

The thing that is the most awkward will be the shuttle of cars along the way.  This can take anything from 30 to 45 minutes or longer if you are unsure of the roads and where to park! 

The get in will find you at the small village of Kenmore.  A lovely village there’s lots to see and do there.  From one of the lay bys close to the water you’ll be getting in at the bottom of Loch Tay where the river starts at grid NN 772 453.

Enjoy a few hours paddling, at least, from Kenmore to Aberfeldy. The river wont go much past grade III, with lots of flat water to enjoy. Stop at Aberfeldy before Wades Bridge on river right at NN 851 491 and enjoy some lunch.

From Aberfeldy to Grandtully allow similar time. The river up to Grandtully wont get much more than grade III with stretch's of flat flowing water to enjoy.

Once you come to Grandtully the river will sweep left and at grid NN 910 527 you will want to get out and have a look at Grandtully rapids. It's quite long and at grade III (III+) in high water can catch one or two novice paddlers out. There is a track on river right to walk up and down. Also watch out as there are slalom competitions held here.

2. Aberfeldy to Grandtully has already been covered.  Above. Park your cars before Wades Bridge, by the kids golf. This can offer a shorter run, with as much fun.

The river Tay now meanders its way from Grandtully towards Perth.  An ideal stretch for the open boater to paddle and explore.  

Heading North on the A9 about 7 Kilometers out of Perth you'll come to a junction marked for the small village of Stanley.

Follow this road into Stanley. As you drive through Stanley, from his direction, you'll come to an obviously sharp 90 degree left turn in the road, then you'll cross over a zebra crossing. Directly after this take a right. Follow the road to the end, about 300 meters, turn left. Then take the second right and follow the road all the way to the river.

Phew!

Get a map, it's easier!

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

3. This stretch of the Tay is, arguably, the most used stretch of water in Scotland, more so in the summer time when there are low water levels.  This stretch is very popular for club run trips where the budding novice is brought as an introduction to whitewater for some fun and easy grade III rapids. 

The get in for this is a wee bit tricky to find.  Follow the map towards grid NO 119 337 and you’ll end up driving down a single track road!  It’ll look like your getting lost, but hang in there and you’ll soon come to the river.  Park on the left. 

The shuttle will take about 15 minutes or so. You'll want to park in the car park above the get out at grid NO 107 320.

Once your group is ready make your way down to the river.  On the river start to paddle up river.  Yes, up river!  This will take you to Campsie Linn at grid NO 123 339.  This is a very popular site for those wanting to explore and play on one of the waves.  The river left wave is the more popular one to try and surf.  It can be quite fast flowing here and beware of those pesky little boils. 

Once you have finished paddle downstream some 50 meters to the ‘wall’.  A very prominent eddy line with a large eddy behind a wall.  Possibly my all time favourite spot for playing.  It’s not a grade IV monster or a difficult grade II rapid.  It’s a flowing piece of water with a great eddy line, quite flat.  Stronger flowing in high water.  I love going there in the warm summer days and nights.  Tail-dipping, cart-wheeling or just messing around.  It’s supper fun!  Love it.  It’s also good to take the beginner coaching breaking in and out .  I can honestly spend hours there, playing away or sitting in the eddy and watching others…

From here make your way down the river.  You’ll pass the point where you got on the actual river.  From the river will take a left hand turn and a weir will present itself at grid NO 117 332.  You can inspect or portage it on river left.  It’s grade III.  A swim here for the novice might see them in the water for some time.  There are three channels to take.  Left, middle or right.  The middle line is normally taken.  Beware here!  As the weir has been weathered by the water some of the metal poles have been exposed.  They look like spikes.  I haven’t heard of any serious injury, just be careful!
If you take the middle shoot, break out river right and have another surf on the wave, if it’s forming.

Paddling from here you’ll go through some grade II+ bouncy stuff, river left.  The river will sweep round to the right and take you through Hell Hole Corner (HHC).  Don’t worry.  Stay river right and it’ll take you thorough some easy grade III standing waves.   There is a large area at the bottom here is there to pick up any swimmers.  

After HHC the river will settle for some time before it takes another sweeping turn to the left.  You’ll see some houses high up on the cliff face here.  As you pass the houses you start to come to Thistlebridge.  Stern grade III standing waves await.  In high water they be III+! 
Directly below Thistle Bridge, on the river right there is a rocky little alcove.  That’s your get out!  There is a stiff 5-8 minute walk out up some steep steps!  At the top watch out as you’ll come on to a busy ROAD!

Alternately, if the river is high, carry on about some 200 meters and on the right hand side a small wave / hole forms, Wee Eric.  It’s a nice little play feature and can easily eat your time away as your playing away.  Get out here and walk back up the track to the get out.