The nervous anticipation before you start.  Paddling across the eddy line.   Hitting the line at the right angle.   The perfect break-in.   Edging the boat to hold that ferry glide.   Putting in a key sweep-stroke or using that all important low-brace at the right time.    Now travelling with the current, reading the water, and looking ahead.   Spotting your next eddy and paddling into it.   Yes!   Now where to next………..?

The basic techniques are the same but every river trip is unique and that’s part of the draw to river paddling. Different water levels and weather conditions all interact in a dynamic way to provide different experiences, each time you venture down a river. Add to the mix improving skill levels and river paddling can become very addictive.

Scotland provides a big variety of styles of river and whitewater kayaking, from multi-day trips down the Spey, to pool-drop rivers like the Etive, or continuous alpine-style rivers like the River Kinglas or Tilt.