Water of Minnoch, Galloway, 1st Sept 2009

Kicked off September 2009 with a great day out in Galloway.

Left Spean early at 0500 and drove via Ayr to the Water of Minnoch that drains the west side of The Merrick. This is a wet area of southwest Scotland. Callum had never done the Minnoch and neither of us had done the Cree. The area had been doused the previous evening by heavy rains, the SEPA gauges showed some huge flows peaking at midnight.

We reckoned we would have good water by time of our arrival. The Minnoch was at a great level.

It starts gradually and eventually leads to the stiff upper falls. A slide on river left, seen here, avoids the nastiness in the main drop where the main current smashes into the undercut right wall..


Callum heads into the drop.........

Chris digs through the hole at the bottom.........................

High flow and sunshine in early September. Yeah!!

Things starting to pick up again.............

Chris runs the Falls of Minnoch, first run by him more than 20 years ago.....

Callum portages this one!!!!!!!!! That makes a change!!

Classy rapids, holes and ledges mark the middle part of the Minnoch gorge.......

Black Linn, another class 5 drop, is an impressive "must boof" drop in the gorge.

Chris re-surfacing at Black Linn.........................

Stroan Bridge rapids............... a steep rapid leading quickly to.............

The strange and slightly violent "Dog Leg Falls"

Class 5 Dog Leg Falls with some pushy water.

The lower Minnoch is easier but very pleasant paddling with some surprising rapids unfolding on bends and this beautiful old bridge.

The Minnoch finishes with a bang at Borgan Bridge rapid (4). Just a great run. 10kms.
Brought back memories of many previous runs with Mike Sullivan, Steve McCreadie, Mousey and Andy Jackson.