Gloy

There have been some problems on this river recently with the landowner/farmhand who seems to be watching out for paddlers. One group recently reported that he was very active in restricting access at the usual get in and argued the toss for 20 mins onwards. They've built ponds and other 'agricultural' developments at the get in which seem partly to be a device to have a 'genuine' plea not to get in at the bridge but half way down the river (near the grade 4/5). When asked if the developments are partly there to create an excuse the reply "no comment" was given.

In the past he has said that paddlers might scare his sheep into the water (don't sheep normally run away from what they're scared of??)

Best advice seems to be to keep groups small on this river or get on a quarter of the way down.

Just in ....the Glen Gloy has just been put up for sale (5/1/02), which may be why the farmer is so concerned about anything he feels may affect its saleability. Anyone with £170000 to spare?

More importantly, recent massive tree falls into the lower gorge, in one place totally blocking the river and in various other places creating life threatening hazards to all but
the very skilful (or lucky!), have rendered this section dangerous and very dangerous at high levels. It seems unlikely that these obstructions will move for many years so massive are they and advice to all paddlers at this time is that the lower Gloy is no longer worth
paddling as the danger and inconvenience of these obstacles far outweigh any pleasure gained from the trip.

Contributed by S. Williams/EKC
J Picken
C Dickinson