Drymen (Endrick) Bridge to Balmaha
A nice 'river' trip is down the Endrick from the Drymen bridge (472874) to Balmaha. It can be done single handed in that you can get a bus back from Balmaha to Drymen Bridge.
Park immediately N of the bridge at the
field/track gate. Boat will need to be carried / dragged / wheeled 100m over smooth
grass to the river.
After depositing the gear, drive to Balmaha and catch the
bus back [You will have timed this beautifully, or brought a bike - it is only
7.4km of road so 15mins peddling]
The river looks as if it will not go at
that point (by the bridge). It does. Immediately (20m) round the corner it opens
out to be a wide meandering river with occasional sand bars.
The trip is
quite long (11.3km to Endrick mouth) in that the river has lots of meanders. The
flow is almost non existant so its a grade 0 river. The river is often tree
lined providing some shelter, but the meanders will make some lengths as 'into
the wind'. There are some major infestations of giant hogweed as well, but not
anywhere you would want to land!
The final section to Balmaha is 1.3km is on
the open loch but the normal wind direction holds you to the shore (rather than
blowing you into the loch).
The exit at Balmaha (419909) is 15m from the road
and 200m from the car park. Whilst it is double yellow lines, you can argue you
are Loading/unloading, while putting the boat back on the roof [especially if
single handed]
On a fine summers day, with two paddlers, there is no problem
in paddling across the loch, through the islands to Luss and then back [a Full
Day!]
Philip Oakley
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