Ok, so not a proper paddling trip, but today Dave Young and I did a wee recky of the Abhainn Cuileig (meaning the ‘Fly River’ as far as I can tell – and true to form given the midges!) near the Braemore Junction en route to Ullapool.

We’d heard interesting things about three 3m to 4m falls at the end of the gorge section and thought we’d have a wee scout in preparation forsome kayak fun sometime over the summer.

After a long walk down to the gorge (0.5km or thereby) and a scramble through the undergowth, we found the third fall just up from the power station. Defo looked like a good’un, even in low water; a great photo opportunity too!

The other falls are back up stream, but you probably need to cross either by the power station (paddle across the flow and walk up the opposite bank) or risk your life crossing the old iron/timber bridge; I lost my bottle half way across the bridge and that was without a boat and full kit!

Word is that you can paddle down to the end of the Abhainn Cuileig, where it meets with the Abhainn Droma (the one the flows out of Corrieshalloch Gorge) and becomes the River Broom, then keep going for a bit until access becomes a little easier; maybe nearer Auchindren bridge? 

Alternatively, you could walk back up the forestry track to the road above the get-in, but I have to say, that would be one tough uphill struggle and was hard enough without boats…

UKRGB river guide for the Abhainn Cuileig: http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2516:scotlandfarnorth-cuileig&catid=31&Itemid=117

Video clip of some ICC paddlers running the Cuileig this year: http://vimeo.com/22208152

Lower falls on the Lower Abhainn Cuileig: