Clyde

A positive access story and mention of a cooperative landowner...

Thanks and congratulations to the folks at Monklands Canoe Club who, with the assistance of the landowner involved, recently spent a day repairing and improving the access path to the River Clyde below Stonebyres.

As always, if you're using this access, please respect the landowner's wishes and stick to the extreme edge of the field on the way down.

The gorge below Bonnington Linn to above Corra Linn has just been paddled in April 2003 at Grade IV with a Grade V hole just below Wallace's Cave just above the get out. From here there is about 100 m of flat water to the top of Corra Linn (BIG DROP!) make sure you are not swimming at this point! Below Corra Linn to Stoneybyres there is a 4 km of grade III/IV. The best get out is the bridge at Kirkfield Bank. The weir at New Lanark should be taken hard right.

At low water quite a good play hole forms on the Clyde at Garrion Weir. Access is as follows. Turn off the M 74 from Glasgow to Lanark - if you get to the big roundabout formed by two bridges over the river you've gone too far, but can see the weir upstream, so head back the way you've come and turn right downhill (to a nursery/garden centre) and follow that road all the way back to a dead end next to the roundabout. Carry your boat across the roundabout and then 20 m or so up the road to Lanark. There's a track down to the river (don't park here). Walk/paddle to the weir. The river flow which is directed down river right forms quite a good stopper with a hole at the left hand end. The pool is deep, but shallows quickly so its quite a safe place to swim! Back loops, tailys etc are possible. To date this site has only been tested at low flows, so approach with care at higher flows.