Pesda White Water Mini-Guide
RIVER LYON
#01
WHEREVER THERE’S WATER
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Glen Lyon | ©iStockphoto.com Mark Connelly
INTRODUCTION The Lyon drains part of Rannoch Moor, between Loch Rannoch and Loch Tay. The large catchment
DESCRIPTION The first 2km are straightforward grade
3 / 4, with the river running through a variety of weird little
area provides a good volume run that holds its water really
gorges. The initial section has a couple of tight slots, which
with the forest occasionally providing a leafy canopy.
about 1½km, the rapids get more continuous until you find a
well. This run is through a bizarre gorge full of weird features,
are passable with care, and one or two fun playspots. After series of drops ending in a constriction. Although it does get
WATER LEVEL Medium wet / Wet. The Lyon is heavily
run, at almost all levels this constriction merits a portage and
mally left with a reliable but measly compensation flow.
eddy well above this spot before you get on the river. After
GAUGE Check the bridge at the take-out. If the water is
large pour-over in high water; this is run down either edge.
affected by various dams in its upper reaches and you are nor-
covering the concrete, the river is running high. If the water is 6˝ below the concrete, the river is still OK.
ACCESS From the A9 take the A827 to Aberfeldy. Turn
right in the town onto the B846, cross the Tay and continue
until you reach Keltneyburn. Take the left turn here, sign-
is very dangerous. Make sure that you have noted a suitable
this, the river eases off until one final 1m drop, which forms a
OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS Remember to smile at all
times in case the fishermen are taking photos and do not get
caught stealing ‘No Canoeing’ signs! Hillwalkers and kayakers
alike have had problems accessing the hills and rivers in Glen Lyon. The landowner’s attitude has been quite obstructive in
posted to Glen Lyon. After about 3 miles, just after Fortin-
the past and you would be best to have your arguments well
fork leads down to a bridge over the Lyon - this is the take-
glen with the main white water run and the Invervar Burn
gall (famous for its ancient yew tree), the road splits. The left out. To reach the put-in return to where the road forks. Turn left up the glen and continue for about 3 miles to where the
river levels out again. At the time of writing, handy ‘No Canoeing’ signs in the lay-by marked the put-in nicely.
prepared. This is particularly the case in the lower part of the being points of contention.
Contributors: Dave Kwant and Alan Meikle
Excerpt adapted from Scottish White Water, the SCA Guidebook ISBN 0954706110, published by Pesda Press, Caernarfon. For details of this and other books, as well as downloads of mini-guides and
W WW.C ANOE K AYA K. CO . U K
route cards in this series, visit:
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#01 RIVER LYON
PESDA WHITE WATER MINI-GUIDE
OS SHEET GRADE
0
1km
OS map data reproduced with the kind permission of the Ordnance Survey
3 km
LENGTH
51 3/4 (5)
Design & text adapted from the SCA guide to Scottish White Water, published by Pesda Press, Caernarfon.