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Etive The National Trust for Scotland has produced a leaflet on access in Glen Etive and contacted the SCA about the wording of the leaflet in regard to canoeing. It had been a useful exercise as the SCA had been able to mitigate the desires of the landowners to put in words like "canoeing is permitted" and replace it with more accurate and less biased words of advice. Signs on the Lower Etive saying "No-canoeing - June - October" have no legal weight and are out of step with the mood of proposed legislation: it is unacceptable that they should stay up. This sign is very discouraging to paddlers and it is recognised that many people would rather not bother with the paddle than face possible confrontation, or choose not to paddle within those times anyway. However it is important to recognise that paddlers are at liberty to paddle the river at their own discretion throughout the whole year, and should feel free to do so. During the stated months there will be angling activity on the river, and you will not necessarily be made welcome - but paddlers can continue to be 'good ambassadors' by following the Code of Conduct and trying to mitigate any conflict with sensible discussion. There is no reason (other than lack of water) why this river should not be paddled at any time of year. You might get challenged, but rather than back down see if you can find out where the anglers expect to be and offer to communicate a way round them - but not by road! In 2000 the fall known as the Crack of Dawn on the Middle Etive, which had been described as "not advised" because of shallow rocks at the base which have pinned a number of paddlers in the fall, changed substantially for the better. By 2002 further movements of boulders have made this line less agreeable than at first. Paddlers should make a careful assessment of this fall and take account of the fact that it has a history of creating incidents and causing injury and damage to boats when deciding whether to paddle or not. Contributed
by SCA Office |
